Alcuin
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Alcuin. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
an English ecclesiastic, born at York in 735. He was a pupil of Bede and of Egbert, whose librarian he became, and who appointed him director of the school of York. His reputation reached Charlemagne, who called him to France in 782 to aid in his designs for education in the empire. Charlemagne became himself a pupil of Alcuin. Alcuin's teaching was in the seven liberal arts of that time, which include music and astronomy; and to these were added Biblical exegesis. Under his influence schools were established at Lyons, Orleans, and Tours. He was so much trusted as to be made a member of the Council of Frankfort (794), where Felix, Bishop of Urgel, was condemned for heresy. Charlemagne loaded Alcuin with riches, and allowed him to have more than 1,000 slaves. He made with his own hand a copy of the Scripture, which he presented to Charlemagne, and which became of great assistance to later editors. His importance lies not so much in his erudition as in the fact that he transplanted the wisdom of antiquity into the the kingdom of Charlemagne, and thus into the greater part of Europe. Till his death here in 804, 04, he still corresponded constantly with Charlemagne. His works comprise poems, works on grammar, rhetoric, and dialectics, theological and ethical treatises, lives of several saints, and over 200 letters.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
al'kwin (735-804), an English prelate and scholar. He was born at York, England, and died at Tours, France. Alcuin wrote treatises on grammar, rhetoric, history, spelling, argumentation, theology, and other subjects. Charlemagne invited him to settle on the continent and to become the master of the "School of the Palace." During his lifetime Alcuin was the confidante and adviser of Charlemagne in education and in church affairs. The following extract is taken from a letter written (in Latin, of course,) by Alcuin to Charlemagne. The monastery of St. Martin was at Tours: "In obedience to your exhortation and wise desire, I apply myself in serving out to some of my pupils in this house of Saint Martin the honey of the holy writings; I essay to intoxicate others with the old wine of antique studies; one class I nourish with the fruits of grammatical science; in the eyes of another, I display the order of the stars." ... "I have schools of singers, many of whom are already sufficiently instructed to be able to teach others.... I have also done in this church what lay in my power, as to copying books.... I have roofed the great church of this town,... and have reconstructed a portion of the walls; ... for the priests, I have constructed a cloister." See Charlemagne 2026 Editor's Note: Alcuin was the mind behind the 'Carolingian Renaissance,' and we read his legacy daily: the clear lowercase script his scholars perfected, Carolingian minuscule , is the direct ancestor of the small letters in this sentence and of Roman typefaces. The rescue of classical texts by his copyists saved much of what survives of antiquity. (Ed: BR 2026-06-12)