A Folger Orientation to Research Methods and Agendas: Difference between revisions

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Weeklong Intensive Skills Course
Weeklong Intensive Skills Course


Directed by [[Caroline Duroselle-Melish]], [[Kathleen Lynch]], and [[User:OwenWilliams | Owen Williams]]
Directed by [[Caroline Duroselle-Melish]], [[Kathleen Lynch]], and [[user:OwenWilliams | Owen Williams]]
In the promotional blurb for this immersive workshop, we described a goal of developing a set of research-oriented literacies through an exploration of the Folger’s collections of early modern materials. We promised examinations of bibliographical tools and their logics, opportunities to hone early modern book description skills, and improve your understanding of the cultural and technological histories of texts. Through a mix of moderated discussions, small group work and individual work with items in the collection, we will be prompting reflexive questions about the nature of primary sources from this period, the collections that house them, the tools whereby one can access them, and the kinds of research projects for which they provide evidence. On Friday morning, in small group reports, you will present the kinds of things you found interesting during the course of the week and explain how you would take next steps in investigating them. Also, each individual will describe how he or she will apply what was learned in their own work.       
 
In the promotional blurb for this immersive workshop, we described a goal of developing a set of research-oriented literacies through an exploration of the Folger’s collections of early modern materials. We promised examinations of bibliographical tools and their logics, opportunities to hone early modern book description skills, and improve your understanding of the cultural and technological histories of texts. Through a mix of moderated discussions, small group work and individual work with items in the collection, we prompted reflexive questions about the nature of primary sources from this period, the collections that house them, the tools whereby one can access them, and the kinds of research projects for which they provide evidence. On Friday morning, in small group reports, participants presented the kinds of things they found interesting during the course of the week and explained how they would take next steps in investigating them. Also, each individual described how he or she would apply what was learned in their own work.       


== '''Schedule''' ==
== '''Schedule''' ==
Line 15: Line 16:




=== <br> Tuesday, 24 May ===
=== Tuesday, 24 May ===


Folger staff assisted each of the three small groups to set up their rare books and manuscripts. Participants spent half of the morning session examining their materials and the other half discussion what questions were coalescing around the readings, their research interests, and the materials.
The participants were divided into three small groups, and looked at their selected rare books and manuscripts under the guidance of Folger staff members. Participants spent half of the morning session examining their materials and the other half discussing what questions were coalescing around the readings, their research interests, and the materials.


[Caroline Duroselle-Melish] then led the session, "Introduction to Printing Practice," in which participants learned about papermaking, typesetting, and presswork. Participants were given the opportunity to set their own type and watch as Folger staff operated a replica handpress. Each participant was given a copy of resulting broadsheet.  
[[Caroline Duroselle-Melish]] then led the session, "Introduction to Printing Practice," in which participants learned about papermaking, typesetting, and presswork. Participants were given the opportunity to set their own type and watch as Folger staff operated a replica handpress. Each participant was given a copy of the resulting broadsheet.  


In the afternoon, [Heather Wolfe] led a brief session on paleography and scribal culture, including an examination of the different hands used in the early modern period and how to best open, read, and understand a letter from the early modern period.  
In the afternoon, [[Heather Wolfe]] led a brief session on paleography and scribal culture, including an examination of the different hands used in the early modern period and how to best open, read, and understand a letter from the early modern period.  


[[Thomas Fulton|Tom Fulton]], a long-term NEH-Folger fellow, concluded the day with a presentation on working in archives, including strategies on how to make best use of one's limited time with rare materials.  
[[Thomas Fulton|Tom Fulton]], a long-term NEH-Folger fellow, concluded the day with a presentation on working in archives, including strategies on how to make best use of one's limited time with rare materials.  




=== <br> Wednesday, 25 May ===
=== Wednesday, 25 May ===
'''8:45-10:00'''
 
Convene in Small Groups with rare materials and EEBO, ESTC exercises
Find your book in EEBO, ESTC, other editions, within other bindings. What are the effects of mediation?
 
Begin to develop research strands to pursue, based on, for example:
 
•Other titles by author
 
•Similar items in genre
 
•Products of the same printers or publishers
 
•Items in the same collection
 
'''10:00-1:30'''
 
Work in Reading Room on your own; lunch on your own
 
'''1:30-3'''
 
Images and Visual Culture (BR)
 
• Illustrated folios 
 
• Woodcuts vs. Engravings
 
•Early Modern graphic works
'''3-3:30'''
 
Folger Tea (TR)
 
'''3:30-4:30'''
 
Convene with Small Groups to sharpen questions, follow up on implications, and begin planning presentations for Friday morning
 


Homework: Bowers & Carter on collation and your choice of readings from the Dropbox Course Library, your own selections through the Hamnet exercise, and other resources like the Collation, exhibition catalogues, Folgerpedia articles.
Participants convened in small groups with their rare materials and attempted to find their books on EEBO, ESTC,  in other editions, within other bindings, and on other online archives to answer the question, "What are the effects of mediation?"


=== <br> Thursday, 26 May ===
During their free time in the Reading Room, participants began to develop research strands to pursue, based on:
'''8:45-10:15'''
*Other titles by author
*Similar items in genre
*Products of the same printers or publishers
*Items in the same collection


Deeper dive into book manufacture, processes in printing house (BR)
In the afternoon, [[Caroline Duroselle-Melish]] led a session on "Images and Visual Culture" with particular attention on illustrated folios, woodcuts, and engravings.


•[[Media: Links_to_posts_and_resources_on_collation_signatures_sheets.pdf | Collation formulae]], books formats
The small groups convened after tea, in order  to sharpen questions, follow up on implications, and begin planning presentations for Friday morning.


•Are we looking to describe the object or to address sociological, economic, or political issues?
=== Thursday, 26 May ===


•Discussion on how to find more information on early modern people (ODNB, Hamnet notes, STC/Wing indices)
[[Caroline Duroselle-Melish]] began the day with a deeper dive into book manufacture, book formats and processes in printing houses. The session concluded with a discussion on how to find more information on early modern people ([http://www.oxforddnb.com/ ODNB], Hamnet notes, STC/Wing indices).


'''10-noon'''
Participants then broke into small groups to discuss their Friday presentations. Afterwards, they were given the option to attend a Fellows Roundtable on "Editing Early Modern Texts," with [[Elaine Hobby]], [[Claire Bowditch]], and [[Jason Powell]] or to have free time in the Reading Room.


Small Group work to finalize Friday presentations
=== Friday, 27 May ===


'''Noon-1:00'''
Each small group gave a brief presentation on what they found interesting about their group of materials during the course of the week, and discussed next steps in investigating them.  Each participant then had five minutes to discuss three images from their book or manuscript.


Fellows Roundtable: Editing Early Modern Texts with Elaine Hobby, Claire Bowditch, and Jason Powell (FCR)
The participants had free time in the Reading Room until the closing reception in the Founder's Room.  
 
'''1:00-3:00'''
 
Time in Reading Room
 
'''3-3:30'''
 
Folger Tea (TR)
 
'''3:30-4:30'''
 
Final Small Group work to finalize Friday presentations
 
=== <br> Friday, 27 May ===
'''9:00-9:30'''
 
Setting Type Experiment (TR)
 
'''9:30-noon'''
 
Presentations (45 minutes per group)
 
We expect each group to present the kinds of things you found interesting during the course of the week and explain how you would take next steps in investigating them. Also, each individual will describe how he or she will apply what was learned in their own work.
 
'''Noon-4:30'''
 
Free time in Library
 
'''4:30-6'''
 
Closing Reception (FR)


== '''Associated Materials and Resources''' ==
== '''Associated Materials and Resources''' ==
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-PmfdV_cZU On papermaking]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-PmfdV_cZU On papermaking]
*[http://www.graphicsatlas.org/ On printmaking] [http://mantis.risdmuseum.org/Brilliant-Line/ techniques]
*[http://www.graphicsatlas.org/ On printmaking] [http://mantis.risdmuseum.org/Brilliant-Line/ techniques]
*[Using Early English Books Online]
*[[Using Early English Books Online]]
*[History of Early English Books Online]
*[[History of Early English Books Online]]
*[[Media: Links_to_posts_and_resources_on_collation_signatures_sheets.pdf | Collation formulae]]
 
[[Category:Folger Institute ]] [[Category:Scholarly programs ]] [[Category:Program archive ]] [[Category:2015-2016 ]]
[[Category:Folger Institute ]] [[Category:Scholarly programs ]] [[Category:Program archive ]] [[Category:2015-2016 ]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, 20 July 2016

Anon-A declaration of great Lucifer-Wing-D609-73 E 461 4 -p1.jpg

Weeklong Intensive Skills Course

Directed by Caroline Duroselle-Melish, Kathleen Lynch, and Owen Williams

In the promotional blurb for this immersive workshop, we described a goal of developing a set of research-oriented literacies through an exploration of the Folger’s collections of early modern materials. We promised examinations of bibliographical tools and their logics, opportunities to hone early modern book description skills, and improve your understanding of the cultural and technological histories of texts. Through a mix of moderated discussions, small group work and individual work with items in the collection, we prompted reflexive questions about the nature of primary sources from this period, the collections that house them, the tools whereby one can access them, and the kinds of research projects for which they provide evidence. On Friday morning, in small group reports, participants presented the kinds of things they found interesting during the course of the week and explained how they would take next steps in investigating them. Also, each individual described how he or she would apply what was learned in their own work.

Schedule

Monday, 23 May

After gathering for coffee and donuts in the Founders Room, participants went to the Board Room to introduce themselves, and begin with a Rare Materials "Speed Dating" exercise. Participants went around a table, examining fifteen rare items from the Folger Collection, including books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and woodblocks. They had five minutes to examine each item and fill out a "Speed Dating" sheet. Once each participant had examined a plurality of the items, they reconvened for a group discussion and formulated the initial questions that would guide their research throughout the week.

In the afternoon, participants were instructed on how to use Hamnet and other electronic resources, as well as best practices for rare book handling. Each participant found and then called up one rare book and one maniscrupt from the Folger collection. They were then taken on a guided tour of the Folger. Participants ended the day with a happy hour at Capitol Lounge.


Tuesday, 24 May

The participants were divided into three small groups, and looked at their selected rare books and manuscripts under the guidance of Folger staff members. Participants spent half of the morning session examining their materials and the other half discussing what questions were coalescing around the readings, their research interests, and the materials.

Caroline Duroselle-Melish then led the session, "Introduction to Printing Practice," in which participants learned about papermaking, typesetting, and presswork. Participants were given the opportunity to set their own type and watch as Folger staff operated a replica handpress. Each participant was given a copy of the resulting broadsheet.

In the afternoon, Heather Wolfe led a brief session on paleography and scribal culture, including an examination of the different hands used in the early modern period and how to best open, read, and understand a letter from the early modern period.

Tom Fulton, a long-term NEH-Folger fellow, concluded the day with a presentation on working in archives, including strategies on how to make best use of one's limited time with rare materials.


Wednesday, 25 May

Participants convened in small groups with their rare materials and attempted to find their books on EEBO, ESTC, in other editions, within other bindings, and on other online archives to answer the question, "What are the effects of mediation?"

During their free time in the Reading Room, participants began to develop research strands to pursue, based on:

  • Other titles by author
  • Similar items in genre
  • Products of the same printers or publishers
  • Items in the same collection

In the afternoon, Caroline Duroselle-Melish led a session on "Images and Visual Culture" with particular attention on illustrated folios, woodcuts, and engravings.

The small groups convened after tea, in order to sharpen questions, follow up on implications, and begin planning presentations for Friday morning.

Thursday, 26 May

Caroline Duroselle-Melish began the day with a deeper dive into book manufacture, book formats and processes in printing houses. The session concluded with a discussion on how to find more information on early modern people (ODNB, Hamnet notes, STC/Wing indices).

Participants then broke into small groups to discuss their Friday presentations. Afterwards, they were given the option to attend a Fellows Roundtable on "Editing Early Modern Texts," with Elaine Hobby, Claire Bowditch, and Jason Powell or to have free time in the Reading Room.

Friday, 27 May

Each small group gave a brief presentation on what they found interesting about their group of materials during the course of the week, and discussed next steps in investigating them. Each participant then had five minutes to discuss three images from their book or manuscript.

The participants had free time in the Reading Room until the closing reception in the Founder's Room.

Associated Materials and Resources