May 5 - 9

Humanistic Script in Italy
Stefano Zamponi

NOTE: The language of instruction for this class is Italian.

This class is devoted to Latin book scripts in Italy from the late fourteenth century to the early sixteenth, with special emphasis on the origin and development of humanistic script. The topics to be discussed include: the handwritings of Petrarch and Boccaccio and the problem of the origin of humanistic script; humanistic scripts in Florence at the beginning of the fifteenth century (Coluccio Salutati, Poggio Bracciolini, Niccolo Niccoli and others); the Venetian form of littera antiqua (Guarino Veronese, Niccolo Borsa and others); Ciriaco d’Ancona; the antiquarian tradition from 1450 onwards (Padua, Verona, Venice: from Mantegna and Biagio Saraceno to Felice Feliciano); the origins of the “cancelleresca italica” and Bartolomeo Sanvito; the models of humanistic script in early Italian writing-books. The codicology of the humanistic manuscript will also be discussed. The course will, additionally, provide an overview of the documentary and book scripts used in Italy in same period (late XIVth- early XVIth century). Students will have first-hand experience of studying Italian manuscripts in the Beinecke Library’s collection and in transcribing Latin and vernacular texts of Italian origin.

Stefano Zamponi, Professor of Latin Palaeography, is Director of the "Dipartimento di Studi sul Medioevo e il Rinascimento," and Director of the School of Doctoral Studies in Philology and Textual Transmission at the University of Florence, and President of the Comité International de Paléographie Latine. His main research areas include scripts and books of the later Middle Ages (XII-XV centuries), books and libraries of the Friars Minor, medieval bookbindings, scientific cataloguing of medieval manuscripts. Since 1992, he has acted as coordinator of the census of the dated manuscripts of Italy, and scientific director of the census of medieval manuscripts programme sponsored by the Regione Toscana in collaboration with Sismel.

Coordinator for this class is Robert Babcock, Curator, Early Books and Manuscripts.
Please write to Robert.Babcock@yale.edu to apply or call 203-432-2968.

May 19-23

Pictures as Primary Sources
Martha Sandweiss

Although historians have long used images as illustrations to support or reiterate arguments developed through the study of more conventional literary sources, this seminar asks how pictures can be used as distinctive primary sources. Using photographs, prints, watercolors and illustrated books from the Western Americana Collection, the class will consider the documentary and ideological content of images through an examination of such issues as patronage, the politics and economics of production and publication, the technological constraints placed on image makers and publishers, the relationship between visual images and literary texts, and viewer response. Particular attention will be paid to representations of Native Americans and to the images produced in conjunction with western exploring expeditions. Participants will pursue brief research assignments in the context of class discussions.

Martha Sandweiss, Professor of American Studies and History, Amherst College, was formerly Curator of Photographs at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth and Director of the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College. She has written extensively on the history of the American West and American photography. Her newest book, "Print The Legend: Photography and the American West" received the Ray Allen Billington Prize from the Organization of American Historians. She has also written "Laura Gilpin: An Enduring Grace," "Carlotta Corpron: Designer with Light," co-authored "Eyewitness to War: Prints and Daguerreotypes of the Mexican War" and was editor and contributor to "Photography in 19th Century America."

Coordinator for this class is George Miles, Curator of Western Americana.
Please write to George.Miles@yale.edu to apply or call 203-432-2958.

May 19-23

English Paleography and Archival Sources, 16th-18th Century
Maija Jansson

NOTE: To be assured of consideration in this limited-enrollment class, prospective students are asked to apply for this class no later than Friday, April 18th. 

This course will combine a study of 16th-18th century English handwriting (script and numerals) with an introduction to manuscript documents and using archives. Students will learn to recognize and read various hands. They will also learn how to begin archival research, what questions to raise regarding documents, dates, authors, and provenance. Although the class will work only with English language materials, the principles explored in the course can be applied across a broad range of research in the history of early-modern Europe.

Maija Jansson, Director of the Yale Center for Parliamentary History, has edited multi-volume editions of Parlimentary proceedings from the 17th century. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, her most recent journal article concerns the impeachment of Inigo Jones. It appeared in Renaissance Studies, December 2003.

Acting coordinator for this class is Diane Ducharme, Archivist.
Please write to Diane.Ducharme@yale.edu to apply or call 203-432-8125.