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Minnesota Manuscript Research Laboratory

Sponsored by the Center for Medieval Studies at the University of Minnesota

Applications now being accepted for

"MAY TERM" 2009 Manuscript Workshop

May 31- June 5, 2009

at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Saint John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota

for application please contact Center for Medieval Studies

Archive file from Spring Semester 2006 MMRL Program

NEXUS PERUTILES ~ Useful Links

Overview of Minnesota Manuscript Research Laboratory:

The Center for Medieval Studies sponsors the Minnesota Manuscript Research Laboratory as a resource for students and scholars who wish to deal with pre-modern manuscript books and documents. The Laboratory offers hands-on learning experiences and seminars as well as guidance for online self-teaching. The purpose is to provide practical introductory training in the following areas:

The focus is primarily on Latin manuscripts of the European Middle Ages, including the classical tradition, and secondarily on manuscripts in European vernaculars. Other languages (e.g. Hebrew, Greek, Ge'ez etc.) can be included depending on the interest of individuals.

In conjunction with the Minnesota Manuscript Research Laboratory, the Colloquia series sponsored by the Center for Medieval Studies will include talks and informal seminars on manuscript studies by scholars from other institutions.

Why do we need the Minnesota Manuscript Research Laboratory?

In scholarship today, the historian, the literary scholar, the musicologist, the art historian are all concerned with primary sources. For much of our history, these sources are in manuscript form, the majority still unedited. And those that have been edited must be used with caution in conjunction with the true primary sources, the manuscripts themselves.

Across many departments and disciplines, therefore, there is a need for "basic training" in the study of manuscripts. Graduate students too often receive this training by being thrown on their own into dissertation research with no preparation. Or mature scholars may avoid using manuscripts because they are unsure of how to work with them. Here we offer manuscript "boot camp" with guidance for all.

Study components of MMRL may include:

•  Independent study online and in U of MN libraries

•  Week-long workshops or special lab sessions with instructors

•  Attendance at occasional lectures and workshop sessions with guest speakers

•  Work at Hill Monastic Manuscript Library in
Collegeville, Minnesota

•  Possible work at one of our partner institutions, the Newberry Library in Chicago (some travel money available)

•  Other – individualized according to scholar's needs

Content Elements of MMRL:

•  Latin manuscripts:

•  European vernacular languages (Roman alphabet): Latin manuscripts will be used as a springboard for studying manuscripts in other European languages. Consult with the Director of the Center for Medieval Studies regarding your interests.

•  Other languages – Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Armenian, Ge'ez etc. -- consult with the Director of the Center for Medieval Studies regarding your interests.

Academic Credit for MMRL:

Graduate students at the University of Minnesota may normally receive credits for MMRL, the number of credits to be determined by the Director of the Center for Medieval Studies in consultation with the academic departments. Credit depends on a consistent level of participation in the entire program.

For further information contact:
Dr. Ruth Mazo Karras, rmk@umn.edu
Center for Medieval Studies, 612-626-0805
www.cmedst.umn.edu

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Last updated October 16, 2008 .

 


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