This physical and online exhibit looks at the progression of medieval handwriting primarily in liturgical books, lay prayer books and Bibles. While not all types of medieval handwriting are in the exhibit, scripts such as Carolingian, Gothic, and Humanist among others are featured. The exhibit was curated by Casey Welby, Classical Languages and History Major ’21 as part of her Honors Project and as a student humanities fellowship at the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Humanities. Welby worked with Special Collections Librarian Prof. Michael Knies, Digital Services Librarian Prof. Colleen Farry, with the support of Digital Services Web Developer Jennifer Galas. The Heritage Room will be hosting the physical exhibit of the Sims medieval manuscript leaf collection from February 8 through May 21. However, due to COVID restrictions, the campus is closed to the general public. The online version of the exhibit can be viewed here: digitalprojects.scranton.edu/s/sims-exhibit.
For more information please contact Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies at michael.knies@scranton.edu
A selection of rare materials from McHugh Special Collections is currently on view in the Library’s 5th floor Heritage Room. This week we are highlighting three 18th century liturgical books (2 breviaries and a missal) from the exhibit “From Medieval to Modern”. These books are special for their ecclesiastical coats of arms and elaborate decorated bindings.
The first is the Diurnale Ebroicense (1740) by Pierre Jules César de Rochechouart (1698-1781), a French ecclesiastical man who served as Bishop of Evreux and then as Bishop of Bayeux. A Diurnale is a condensed version of a breviary, and in this case, the summer volume Pars Aestiva, from Pentecost though the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. However, this volume also contains sections for the autumn. The Diurnale Ebroicense is based on the rites practiced in Ebroicense, also known as Évreux, a diocese in northern France. This red leather binding features the coat of arms of an unidentified ecclesiastical, possibly a Bishop.
The next is the Breviarium Romanum (1740), which is a very elaborately decorated breviary that features repeating floral designs on red leather, gilt edges, and the arms of an unidentified ecclesiastical, possibly a Bishop. Finally, there is the Canon Missae. Canon Missae is the name used in the Roman Missal for the fundamental part of the Mass that comes after the Offertory and before the Communion. This impressive volume was printed at the Vatican in 1784. The engraving of the Last Supper was engraved by Carolus Grandi after an original by Joseph Passarus. The ornate gold-tooled binding features rather large floral tools that would have required significant strength to impress into the leather. It also features the arms of an unidentified ecclesiastical, possibly a Bishop.
Cover: Rochechouart, Pierre J. C. Diurnale Ebroicense, 1740Cover: Catholic Church. Breviarium Romanum, 1740.Cover: Catholic Church. Canon Missae, 1784.
To read more about the Weinberg Library’s Rare Book Collection visit our collection page here. “From Medieval to Modern” will be on display during normal library hours through Tuesday, April 25. On Tuesday, April 11th, Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies will discuss the exhibit at 6 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Library. A reception will immediately follow the talk. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please email michael.knies@scranton.edu or call 570- 941-6341.
A selection of rare materials from McHugh Special Collections is currently on view in the Library’s 5th floor Heritage Room. This week we are highlighting the Book of Hours from the exhibit “From Medieval to Modern”.
The Book of Hours was a Christian devotional book that became popular in northern Europe during the 14th century and has been called the Medieval best seller as many educated men and women owned them. The Book of Hours was a distillation, for laypeople, of the series of prayers said by priests, monks, nuns, etc. during the course of the day divided into sections from morning through the night. Although containing a similar collection of texts, prayers, and psalms, there is a high variation in quality depending on the budget of the purchaser. As result, each manuscript was unique with its illumination and binding. Most examples are small books with little illumination, often restricted to decorated capital letters at the start of psalms and prayers. However, the books made for the wealthy can be extremely lavish and heavily illuminated with full-page decorations and have extravagantly decorated bindings.
On display in the Heritage Room are several examples of the Book of Hours from Special Collections: two medieval leafs, a simple book, and a fine art facsimile. The first leaf is from a fine Book of Hours with inhabited borders (ca. 1440). The second leaf is from an undistinguished Book of Hours (ca. 1450-75), but has significance because it records information in French on the Dumesnil family from Loire.
Leaf from a fine Book of Hours with inhabited borders, France, ca. 1440.Book of Hours, French Flanders, Circa 1450-75.
There is a Book of Hours (1685) bound in a simple blind ruled black Morocco. This binding has an unfortunately added shelfmark in addition to damaging adhesive tape. Finally, there is a fine art facsimile of a miniature, illuminated Book of Hours from the Vatican Library in brown leather with raised bands and gilt decoration.
Officium Beatæ Mariæ Virginis, Nuper Reformatum … Cum Indulgentius & Orationibus A Pio V. Ordinatis, & Hymnis Ab Vrbano Viii. Correctis. Accedunt Psalmi Vesperarum & Completorij, Etc. Antuerpiæ: ex Officina Plantiniana, 1685.Fine Art Facsimile: Thomas, Marcel. Livre D’heures Vat. Ross. 94: Fin Du Xvème Siècle. Fribourg: Éditions d’art Ebory, 1984.
To read more about the Weinberg Library’s Rare Book Collection visit our collection page here. “From Medieval to Modern” will be on display during normal library hours through Tuesday, April 25. On Tuesday, April 11th, Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies will discuss the exhibit at 6 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Library. A reception will immediately follow the talk. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please email michael.knies@scranton.edu or call 570- 941-6341.
The exhibit will be on display during normal library hours through Tuesday, April 25. On Tuesday, April 11th, Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies will discuss the exhibit at 6 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Library. A reception will immediately follow the talk. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please email michael.knies@scranton.edu or call 570- 941-6341.
Castello, Alberto, and Luca-Antonio Giunta. Biblia Cum Concordantijs Veteris Et Noui Testamenti e Sacrorum Canonum. Venetijs: Per Lucamantonium de giunta, 1511.Domínguez de Toledo, Julián. Oracion panegyrica de las virtudes, y milagros del B. Juan Francisco Regis, sacerdote professo de la Compañia de Jesus, Impressa por Eugenio Antonio García, 1716.Illuminated Leaf from a Book of Hours with Inhabited Borders, France, ca. 1440
The Weinberg Memorial Library's collection of medieval manuscripts will be featured in a Schemel Forum evening course, taught by Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies
The Spring 2010 Schemel Forum schedule is officially out!
If you’re into Arthurian Legend, Shakespeare, or medieval books, this semester’s evening courses are for you. University of Scranton faculty members Rebecca Beal, Richard J. Klonoski, Michael Friedman, and the Library’s own Michael Knies will be engaging community members in discussions of books, films, and philosophy relevant to each of their respective topics.
For a look at modern global politics, take a look at this semester’s luncheon seminar series. Author Parag Khanna returns to the University this year on February 17 to discuss “Global Politics and Economics: A 21st Century View.” We’re also looking forward to February 26, when Alex Thier from the United States Institute of Peace will speak on “Enigma and Dilemma: Our Fraught Relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan,” and March 5, when CNN correspondent Jill Dougherty will speak on “Who Runs Russia? Deciphering Moscow’s Centers of Power.”
Finally, be sure to clear your calendar for the Schemel Forum’s spring concerts. On April 18, contemporary Zimbabwe pianist Jeanette Miklem will perform “A Schumann Recital,” while on June 28, “Tango Power Returns!” will showcase the music of tango masters Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla.
For more information or to register for any Schemel Forum Events, contact Kym Fetsko at fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu or 570-941-7816.
