Alumni Cantabrigienses

This ten-volume directory, Alumni Cantabrigienses, details all known alumni of the University of Cambridge until 1900, serving as a vital resource for historians.

First published between 1922 and 1954, Alumni Cantabrigienses is a ten-volume work compiled by the esteemed Cambridge scholars John Venn and his son J. A. Venn. This comprehensive directory serves as an invaluable resource for historians and genealogists alike, documenting all known alumni of the University of Cambridge up to the year 1900. Among the notable figures featured in this extensive compilation is the philosopher George Santayana, highlighting the directory's significance in tracing influential intellectuals.

The Venns meticulously organized this ten-part work, which boasts over 125,000 entries, into two alphabetical sequences. The first sequence covers the university's foundation in the thirteenth century up to 1751, while the second spans the years from 1752 to 1900. John Venn senior (1834–1923) is renowned not only for his contributions as a philosopher and logician but also for his dedication to the university and his interests in genealogy and antiquarian studies. His passion for research, drawn from various sources including episcopal registers, laid the groundwork for this monumental project.

After the passing of John Venn senior, his son, John Archibald Venn (1883–1958), took on the responsibility of completing the work. The result is a thorough and reliable directory that is recognized for its extraordinary value to both historians and genealogists. Volume 2, Part 5 (1953) of Alumni Cantabrigienses covers the range from 'Pace to Spyers', further emphasizing the depth and breadth of this remarkable collection.