For anyone studying the Middle Ages, there is no substitute for hands-on experience of actual medieval manuscripts. Our way of making this happen is a unique and innovative program, “Manuscripts in the Curriculum,” which lends colleges, universities, and other educational institutions in North America a group of manuscripts during a segment of the academic year (semester, quarter, or summer session). Although public display of the manuscripts is encouraged, central to the philosophy of the new program is the integration of real manuscripts into the curriculum in courses where students can work closely with original material under the guidance of a professor.
Manuscripts in the Curriculum III
The third cycle of this program will begin in January 2024. A group of nine manuscripts will be available for loan, representing manuscripts from across Europe in Latin and the vernacular from various dates; it is possible to customize the program with the addition of two “wild card” manuscripts especially suited to the needs of the participating institution (a sample list of manuscripts is here).
There is a nominal cost ($5,500) for North American institutions to contribute towards the out-of-pocket expenses of the program (with an additional fee for participating Canadian institutions for international shipping and customs). The fee covers administration, insurance, shipping, and condition reports. The program also includes a zoom-meeting with the supervising curator and faculty to discuss the loan, and one class session on the manuscripts presented via zoom by Sandra Hindman and Laura Light (at a time mutually agreed upon by Les Enluminures and the participating institution).
It is our hope that the program will serve as a springboard, enabling participating institutions to discover and implement ways that manuscripts can continue to be used creatively in their curricula.For examples of how the manuscripts have been used by past participants in the program, see our "Program in action" pdfs below; you can also find news about MITC on our text manuscripts blog.
For further information, please contact: lauralight@lesenluminures.com
MANUSCRIPTS IN THE CURRICULUM III - THE PROGRAM
MANUSCRIPTS IN THE CURRICULUM II - THE PROGRAM
MANUSCRIPTS IN THE CURRICULUM I - THE PROGRAM
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - IOWA LIBRARIES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - WALDO LIBRARY WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION - NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION: SUDENTS POSTERS, NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION: ILLUMINATING LIFE, EXHIBITION CATALOGUE, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
THE PROGRAM IN ACTION: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Medieval manuscripts illuminate Pitt-Greensburg course on the history of books
Blog: MANUSCRIPTS IN THE CURRICULUM II: NEWS FROM THE FIELD. A GUEST BLOG FROM SUNY GENESEO