Final answer:
Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. donated 76 illustrated folios from the Tahmasp Shahnama to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1970. Reverend Freer donated a collection to the British Museum in 1900, and Henry II's donation to the cathedral of Bamberg, later transferred to the Bavarian State Library, represents significant gifts of collected works to historical institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question regarding to whom the collection of written works was donated, we look into several historical instances. Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., the American magnate and bibliophile, donated 76 illustrated folios from the Tahmasp Shahnama to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1970. These donations were made as a part of the museum's centennial celebration and were funded by various sources, including the Brisbane Di- ck, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift in 1975.
Additionally, the Reverend Freer received a collection from his associate Summers in the 1890s, which he then donated to the British Museum in 1900. Lastly, after Henry II inherited a manuscript from his cousin Otto, he gifted it to the cathedral of Bamberg, which he founded, and eventually, it was transferred to the Bavarian State Library.
Thus, donations of collections to various institutions have been a common practice, particularly in the realms of artistic and historical works. Each donation not only contributes to the preservation of these works but also provides wider access for public appreciation and academic study.