No. 51: Latin Paleography, 1100-1500

7 - 11 August 1995

An introduction to this neglected field of paleography, including reading (and expanding abbreviations proper to various disciplines), identification, classification, dating and localization of the principal kinds of Gothic and humanistic script. Examples of Latin texts (and, exceptionally, French and English ones) will be studied from photographs, photocopies, and slides. Designed for all those who have to deal with late medieval MSS. Applicants should have a good basic knowledge of Latin and of paleography.

1. How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Very useful and I wish I owned all the books. 2-3: Very useful. 4: De Hamel was good background. Brown would have been useful if I could have got a copy. Bischoff I tried to read, but found impenetrable. Now at the end of the course it would make sense. 5: They got me in the mood.

2. Did your instructor prepare sufficiently to teach THIS course? Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful?

1: The bound stack of Xeroxes that was handed out will be a reference book on my shelf at home for years to come. 2: Yes --very knowledgeable. Everything appears useful. 3: ``Adequately'' doesn't even begin to describe how well the instructor was prepared. The materials were useful both in class and (I hope) in the future. 4: Yes. 5: Yes --he is organized, punctual, prepared.

3. Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate?

1: The intellectual level was easily twice that of any other I have taken (outside the field of rare books). 2: Yes --challenging, but not overwhelming. 3-5: Yes.

4. Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description? Did the course in general meet your expectations?

1: My expectations were very high (as I knew AD) and they were certainly met. 2: Yes. 3: Yes, and beyond. 4: I feel the course's center of gravity tipped toward those with more experience than the course description led me to expect. I expected a more basic introduction, or rather one that more consistently remained on that level. 5: At least.

5. What did you like best about the course?

1: The beginning, the middle, the end, and everything in between --but the instructor is the course, with both knowledge and enthusiasm, and the ability to transfer each to his students. 2: 1) The introductory overview lecture. 2) The lectures describing each category. 3) the manuscript investigation of each slide, proving that its inclusion in the category was correct. Also: the instructor's knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to his subject. Extremely qualified. 3: The high level of instruction. 4: The instructor. AD is a very knowledgeable and gracious person whose long-suffering patience made such a rush-course possible. I hope that RBS continues to engage him. 5: AD's strenuous expectations.

6. How could the course have been improved?

2: The Taylor Room is too cold to concentrate. A bit more patience and encouragement. It does not help to be told a manuscript one has struggled to transcribe is ``easy.'' The instructor did not seem to realize most students had no previous experience and therefore made remarks that everything should be obvious. We needed more praise and encouragement --some of us felt discouraged at times. Give the instructor a pointer for his overheads. 3: Couldn't have been --unless there was a second week. 4: The course should be maintained on a basic level. It is described as an introduction. The fact that students with considerable experience were present served to pull the level of the course up beyond basic. It is possible to keep lectures and homework at a basic level and still accommodate advanced students with in-class exercises selected for their own level of expertise. The homework, as a result, I believe, for this reason also became too difficult and discouraging. After an extremely intensive classroom day, homework should not exceed a small passage that can be done in an hour. 5: I should not have been accepted, as my Latin was not good enough and I held others back. RBS should not have taken my $550 so hastily [or perhaps you should have been more honest when you submitted your application about the level of your proficiency in Latin. --Ed.].

7. Any final thoughts?

1: Come with comfortable writing instruments, extra spectacles, a magnifying glass, and a Latin dictionary; be prepared for lots of lucubration in Latin. 2: Some scholarships or partial scholarships should be available to returning students who must pay their own way but would like to attend as second course. Very well organized and run. Food and beverages were well considered and delicious. A wonderful overall experience. 3: Anyone who takes this course will benefit from it. 4: Bring a Latin grammar and dictionary.

Number of respondents: 5

There were two rare book librarians (40%) and one full-time student, one teacher/professor, and one person who had a general interest in such matters (20% each).