Medieval Manuscript Studies
and Contemporary Book Arts:
Extreme Materialist Readings of Medieval Books

Scholars of the Middle Ages have long engaged deeply with medieval manuscripts, yet they rarely confront the practical, technological, and artistic challenges of making books. Book artists solve these very challenges as they fabricate books—sometimes drawing on medieval techniques—yet they rarely come into contact with scholars of book history or of the Middle Ages. In summer 2008, the Obermann Center in collaboration with the Center for the Book will offer participants an exciting new research opportunity by bringing book artists and medieval scholars together in a two-week seminar that integrates scholarly study and engaged artistic practice.

Seminar discussions will be anchored through the involvement of key participants from the UI Center for Book: Tim Barrett (papermaking), Gary Frost (binding and structures), and Cheryl Jacobsen (calligraphy). The Seminar was designed and will be directed by Jon Wilcox, Department of English, The University of Iowa.

Participants and Projects

The English Cluster

Matthew Hussey, English, Simon Fraser University, Canada
“Frankish Books and English Letters: A Case of Cultural Transmission in Eighth-Century Anglo Saxon England”
Würzburg, Universitätsbibliothek, M.p.th.f.79

Karen Louise Jolly, History, University of Hawaii at Manoa
“(Re)Making the Book: Tenth-Century Additions to the Durham Ritual”
Durham Cathedral Library MS A.iv.19

Patrick W. Conner, English, West Virginia University
“ Identifying and Analyzing Matched Scribal Hands with Special Attention to Exeter, Dean and Chapter MS 3501, the Exeter Book”

Elaine Treharne, English, Florida State University
“Interpreting the Architexture of Medieval Manuscripts”
Eadwine Psalter (12c): Cambridge, Trinity College, R. 17.10

Martha Rust, English, New York University
“Lymned to His Awne Use: The Illuminated Realm of John Lacy, Book Artisan and Anchorite, in Oxford, St. John’s College Library MS 94”

The Matter in Theory and Practice

Constance Berman, History, The University of Iowa
“Reviewing and reassessing the evidence for changing Cistercian practice using Trent 1711: Establishing new protocols for description of manuscripts.”

Jennifer Borland, Art, Oklahoma State University
“Unruly Reading: The Consuming Role of Touch in the Experience of a Medieval Manuscript”
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Clm. 1133 (12c Latin, includes illustrated Passion of Saint Margaret)

Elsi Vassdal Ellis, Art, Western Washington University
“The East-West, Then-Now Binding Nexus”
The Glazier Codex, although maybe encourage to Stonyhurst Gospels?

Karen Gorst, Independent Scholar, Center for Book Arts, New York
“Underneath it All” – study of parchment

Tim Barrett, Center for the Book, University of Iowa
On the study of historical papers

Gary Frost, Library Conservator, University of Iowa
Medieval Bookbinding

Cheryl Jacobsen, Center for the Book, University of Iowa
Insights of a working scribe