Summary
Emanuel Green (1832-1919) was a distinguished antiquarian and local historian of Somerset.
He was born in Holcombe, near Frome, but he resided in Albemarle Street, London, many years, and it was there that he got together his splendid library of Somerset books and pamphlets.
He was a prolific writer, and from 1867 wrote some two dozen articles, published in the Transactions Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. He also wrote some papers published by the Bath Field Club, and edited a number of volumes published by the Somerset Record Society. He also wrote a number of single books.
In 1902, Green published his Bibliotheca Somersetensis: a Catalogue of Books, Pamphlets, Single Sheets and Broadsides, in some way connected with the County of Somerset. It comprised 3 substantial quarto volumes containing some sixteen hundred pages. The first volume was devoted to Bath books, and contained the titles of several hundred items. In the general introduction, Mr. Green gave an able survey of the literature of the county. This was followed by a review of local literature from that time onward. The other volumes covered the rest of the county and the work is concluded with a comprehensive Index.
Time, travel, trouble did not count, and he spent several thousand pounds on his collection, which he bequeathed to the Public Library at Bristol, for use in the reference department.
Also see this page for Emanuel Green’s account of the 1645 Storm of Bridgwater.