Thomas Bowman (Merton)

Thomas Bowman (1918 – 1990) was a British academic and librarian specializing in the library holdings of Merton College, Oxford. While not widely known outside of academic circles, he made significant contributions to the cataloging and preservation of Merton's extensive historical manuscript and printed book collections. His primary focus was on the medieval and early modern periods. Bowman's work involved meticulous documentation, providing future scholars with invaluable insights into the college's intellectual and cultural heritage. He also published several articles on specific aspects of Merton's library and its holdings, often focusing on provenance research and the identification of previously unknown or misattributed works. He spent the majority of his professional life at Merton College, dedicating himself to its library and contributing substantially to its accessibility for researchers. He is remembered as a diligent and knowledgeable scholar by those who worked with him.