This four-week residential course will examine French manuscripts and archival materials from the 13th to the 17th century. Professor Smith will provide a summary outline of the history of handwriting in France, followed by intensive training in reading from facsimiles. Students will become familiar with the development of handwriting as well as further aspects of written communication in the late-medieval and early-modern periods.

The institute will enroll 15 participants by competitive application. First consideration will be given to advanced graduate students and junior faculty at U.S. colleges and universities, but applications are also accepted from advanced graduate students and junior faculty at Canadian institutions, from professional staff of U.S. and Canadian libraries and museums, and from qualified independent scholars. This graduate-level course is taught entirely in French; advanced language skills are required.

All successful applicants will receive a stipend of $1,200; non-local participants will receive reimbursement of up to an additional $2,400 for travel, housing, and food. There are no fees associated with the institute.

Request application materials from kdecker@getty.edu. The application deadline was March 1, 2013.

Visit the Newberry Center for Renaissance Studies to learn more about the Mellon Summer Institutes in Vernacular Paleography, and view the list of paleography resources for English, French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. Funded by a major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.