Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Rare Books and Special Collections hosts a regular seminar, the History of the Book Seminar Series, highlighting the interdisciplinary realm of study related to the history of books, readers, and collections. Within their collections are medieval manuscript leaves that allow students to engage with medieval scribal traditions. One leaf, a 13th century French bible leaf, contains a historiated initial of an uncertain identity, perhaps the figure is Solomon, perhaps Ecclesia.This leaf will be at the center of an upcoming seminar on February 2, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Founders Memorial Library Rare Books and Special Collections Reading Room, Room 403.
John Hosta, a student in the M.A. program in Art History, will present this seminar. Hosta has special interests in medieval art and the history of printmaking, and is currently an intern at the NIU Museum. Hosta has also participated in an internship at the Elmhurst History Museum and assisted Professor Catherine Raymond, both as a volunteer and as a graduate assistant, with work on NIU’s Burma Art Collection. After he graduates, he hopes to pursue a career in the museum field.
