Workshop in the History of Material Texts

The Workshop in the History of Material Texts is a weekly seminar that features scholars presenting a wide variety of research in book history, bibliography, manuscript studies, history of reading, publication and printing, and related topics.

Drawing of a physician picking herbs from Paris, BnF lat. 6862, f. 18v (detail)

Founded in 1993 by Professor Peter Stallybrass (English, emeritus) and the Penn Libraries, the Workshop in the History of Material Texts is a weekly seminar, held in the library, that features scholars presenting a wide variety of research in book history, bibliography, manuscript studies, history of reading, publication and printing, and related topics. Subjects range widely in chronology and in geography: from the ancient world to the modern and with a global scope. The usual format of the workshop is a presentation of approximately thirty minutes, followed by discussion. Talks are accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, handouts, or other visual materials. Materials from Penn's special collections are often displayed as part of the workshop.

All are welcome to attend. Participants, including faculty, librarians, graduate and undergraduate students, conservators, booksellers, and others, come from a wide range of disciplines.

 

Workshops

Fall 2022 Workshops

Unless otherwise noted all meetings are held at 5:15pm in the Class of 1978 Pavilion, in the Kislak Center for Special Collections on the 6th floor of the University of Pennsylvania's Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center.

Spring 2022 Workshops

For Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, we will present the Workshop in person in the Class of 1978 Pavilion, at the Kislak Center for Special Collections on the 6th floor of the University of Pennsylvania's Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, and via Zoom. If you would like to receive details on how to attend upcoming meetings, please sign up for our listserv using this link or visit the Workshop website.

Unless otherwise noted all meetings are held at 5:15pm.

Featured Image: Drawing of a physician picking herbs, labeled 'scolapius' (from Asclepius, the god of medicine). Paris, BnF lat. 6862, f. 18v (detail).