ABSTRACT
The tradition of obituary lists was venerable, reaching at least as far back as the eighth century. These early lists were kept by religious institutions and stated the names of prominent patrons, in order to include them in daily prayers on their death anniversary. Religious houses often exchanged rolls of names in order to maximize the number, and thus the benefits, of these prayers. Examining the Book of Donors within such a context demonstrates, above all, the unique quality of the manuscript. The other obituary manuscripts of Strasbourg cathedral were kept for use by the canons and their deputies the vicars, both as liturgical aids in the daily office and as account records of incoming goods and their destined use. Much of the funding that made canonical independence possible was derived from the very devotional gifts. The manuscript tradition of the canons' obituaries is comprised of numerous fragments, lost originals, and copies both medieval and modern.
