MEMS and The Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts South-east England (CHASE) are delighted to announce the launch of Bookscapes – a set of four workshops designed to provide CHASE doctoral students with advanced training in palaeographical, codicological and bibliographical skills. Its aim is to help students unlock the evidential potential of manuscripts and early printed books both as single material objects and as constituents of collections. It does so by organising sessions based in the rich — and often understudied — range of libraries in the East of England.
Led by Dr David Rundle, Lecturer in Latin and Manuscript Studies (University of Kent) the first session is to be hosted by the University of Essex and by the Plume Library in Maldon. It is a residential workshop which will take place on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December, with the first day at the University’s campus of Wivenhoe Park, where we will be have a hands-on session with the books owned by Samuel Harsnett, archbishop of York (1561-1631). The group will be taken to Maldon the next morning where we will visit the disused church which was converted into a library by the local-born archdeacon of Rochester, Thomas Plume (1630-1704). The session will, therefore, consider both printed books and manuscripts (medieval and early modern), and individual books and the nature of a library as both collection and building. Please note (1) that places are limited for this event and (2) access to the Plume Library is solely by a steep spiral staircase.
Bookscapes – workshop one
Sloman Library, University of Essex
Friday, 6 December 2019, 12:00 – Saturday, 7 December 2019, 20:00
Please note that while first refusal will be given to CHASE students, it is hoped that there will be space for others in the MEMS community.
To book a place or for more information, please contact bookscapes@kent.ac.uk