diff --git a/src/module/header.js b/src/module/header.js
index d5fb94b6..18cb777d 100644
--- a/src/module/header.js
+++ b/src/module/header.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  * @date    @@date
  *
  * @license
- * Copyright (C) 2011-2013 Almende B.V, http://almende.com
+ * Copyright (C) 2011-2014 Almende B.V, http://almende.com
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not
  * use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy
diff --git a/src/timeline/Timeline.js b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
index cceebc7b..ec122d74 100644
--- a/src/timeline/Timeline.js
+++ b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
@@ -340,3 +340,12 @@ Timeline.prototype.getItemRange = function getItemRange() {
     max: (max != null) ? new Date(max) : null
   };
 };
+
+/**
+ * Change the item selection, and/or get currently selected items
+ * @param {Array} [ids] An array with zero or more ids of the items to be selected.
+ * @return {Array} ids  The ids of the selected items
+ */
+Timeline.prototype.select = function select(ids) {
+  return this.content ? this.content.select(ids) : [];
+};
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/Group.js b/src/timeline/component/Group.js
index 74fac5dc..e95091f2 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/Group.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/Group.js
@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@ Group.prototype.setItems = function setItems(items) {
   }
 };
 
+/**
+ * Change the item selection, and/or get currently selected items
+ * @param {Array} [ids] An array with zero or more ids of the items to be selected.
+ * @return {Array} ids  The ids of the selected items
+ */
+Group.prototype.select = function select(ids) {
+  return this.itemset ? this.itemset.select(ids) : [];
+};
+
 /**
  * Repaint the item
  * @return {Boolean} changed
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/GroupSet.js b/src/timeline/component/GroupSet.js
index 970a83d6..79d13fdd 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/GroupSet.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/GroupSet.js
@@ -149,6 +149,26 @@ GroupSet.prototype.getGroups = function getGroups() {
   return this.groupsData;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Change the item selection, and/or get currently selected items
+ * @param {Array} [ids] An array with zero or more ids of the items to be selected.
+ * @return {Array} ids  The ids of the selected items
+ */
+GroupSet.prototype.select = function select(ids) {
+  var selection = [],
+      groups = this.groups;
+
+  // iterate over each of the groups
+  for (var id in groups) {
+    if (groups.hasOwnProperty(id)) {
+      var group = groups[id];
+      selection = selection.concat(group.select(ids));
+    }
+  }
+
+  return selection;
+};
+
 /**
  * Repaint the component
  * @return {Boolean} changed
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
index f68a3572..4b5fa24a 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ function ItemSet(parent, depends, options) {
     }
   };
 
-  this.items = {};    // object with an Item for every data item
-  this.queue = {};       // queue with id/actions: 'add', 'update', 'delete'
+  this.items = {};      // object with an Item for every data item
+  this.selection = [];  // list with the ids of all selected nodes
+  this.queue = {};      // queue with id/actions: 'add', 'update', 'delete'
   this.stack = new Stack(this, Object.create(this.options));
   this.conversion = null;
 
@@ -110,6 +111,69 @@ ItemSet.prototype.setRange = function setRange(range) {
   this.range = range;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Change the item selection, and/or get currently selected items
+ * @param {Array} [ids] An array with zero or more ids of the items to be selected.
+ * @return {Array} ids  The ids of the selected items
+ */
+ItemSet.prototype.select = function select(ids) {
+  var i, ii, id, item, selection;
+
+  if (ids) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(ids)) {
+      throw new TypeError('Array expected');
+    }
+
+    // unselect currently selected items
+    for (i = 0, ii = this.selection.length; i < ii; i++) {
+      id = this.selection[i];
+      item = this.items[id];
+      if (item) item.unselect();
+    }
+
+    // select items
+    this.selection = [];
+    for (i = 0, ii = ids.length; i < ii; i++) {
+      id = ids[i];
+      item = this.items[id];
+      if (item) {
+        this.selection.push(id);
+        item.select();
+      }
+    }
+
+    // trigger a select event
+    selection = this.selection.concat([]);
+    events.trigger(this, 'select', {
+      ids: selection
+    });
+
+    if (this.controller) {
+      this.requestRepaint();
+    }
+  }
+  else {
+    selection = this.selection.concat([]);
+  }
+
+  return selection;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Deselect a selected item
+ * @param {String | Number} id
+ * @private
+ */
+ItemSet.prototype._deselect = function _deselect(id) {
+  var selection = this.selection;
+  for (var i = 0, ii = selection.length; i < ii; i++) {
+    if (selection[i] == id) { // non-strict comparison!
+      selection.splice(i, 1);
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * Repaint the component
  * @return {Boolean} changed
@@ -234,6 +298,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype.repaint = function repaint() {
             // create item
             if (constructor) {
               item = new constructor(me, itemData, options, defaultOptions);
+              item.id = id;
               changed++;
             }
             else {
@@ -253,6 +318,11 @@ ItemSet.prototype.repaint = function repaint() {
 
       case 'remove':
         if (item) {
+          // remove the item from the set selected items
+          if (item.selected) {
+            me._deselect(id);
+          }
+
           // remove DOM of the item
           changed += item.hide();
         }