Materials that Made the Manuscript

Raymond Clemens

A live-only, six part webinar series scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays, 12–1 p.m. ET, 28 September–15 October 2020, via Zoom. 

All twelve seats have filled; registration is now closed.

Rather than survey the manuscript book in depth, this webinar series will focus on several key areas and types of books to suggest the richness inherent in studying these materials. Participants will be provided in advance with a reading for each session (either a passage from Introduction to Manuscript Studies or an article or book chapter), and each session will begin with the presentation of images of manuscripts that will highlight or challenge the readings. Sessions will be devoted to the discussion of the materials rather than lecture; registrants should expect to participate in the conversation throughout each session. Registrants are also expected to attend all six sessions.

This webinar series will run every Monday and Thursday, 12–1 p.m. ET, beginning Monday, 28 September: 

  • Session 1: Monday, 28 September. Writing Supports: Metal
  • Session 2: Thursday, 1 October. Writing Supports: Wax
  • Session 3: Monday, 5 October. Writing Supports: Papyrus
  • Session 4: Thursday, 8 October. Writing Supports: Parchment
  • Session 5: Monday, 12 October. Writing Supports: Wood
  • Session 6: Thursday, 15 October. Writing Supports: Paper

The first iteration of this series ran 18 May–4 June 2020; participants in the first iteration were then invited to participate in three subsequent and optional series on, respectively, inks and pigments, writing, and binding the finished book. The series on inks and pigments featured a special demonstration by Marie-France Lemay, Paper Conservator in the Preservation Department of Yale University Library.