The Medieval Academy Blog

The Medieval Academy of America strongly encourages graduate programs and university libraries to adopt policies that allow doctoral candidates the option of withholding their Ph.D. dissertations from university-mandated open-access digital publication for up to six years. The Academy also encourages the disclosure of options available to students so they can make an informed choice.

Many universities require doctoral candidates to submit their dissertations digitally. Instead of conveying hardcopies to the university library or archive, they must post the digital dissertations online where they are freely accessible. The decision as to whether to allow immediate, free, digital access to research or to withhold such access for a limited period, should remain with the doctoral candidate. This decision is best made in close consultation with the student’s dissertation advisor and other mentors who can provide field-specific advice regarding career and publishing paths.

Signed,
William Chester Jordan, President
Barbara Newman, Vice-President
Carmela Vircillo Franklin, Second Vice-President
and the Council of the Medieval Academy

The Medieval Studies Seminar is pleased to welcome Prof. Hélène Debax next Monday, 21 April at 4:30 pm (Barker 133), when she will speak on “Joint Lordship in the Medieval West, Eleventh through Thirteenth Centuries.” Prof. Debax recieved her Maîtrise and Ph.D. from the University of Toulouse, where she now is Professor of Medieval History and a director of the CNRS-sponsored project FRAMESPA (France Méridionale et Espagne: Histoire des sociétés du Moyen-Âge à l’époque contemporaine). A scholar of the social and political history of medieval France and the medieval aristocracy, with a special focus on Languedoc, Prof. Debax is the author of numerous articles and monographs, including La seigneurie collective: pairs, pariers, paratge (Rennes, 2012) and La féodalité languedocienne: serments, hommages et fiefs dans le Languedoc des Trencavel (Toulouse, 2003).

INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY, School of Historical Studies, Opportunities for Scholars 2015-2016.  The Institute is an independent private institution founded in 1930 to create a community of scholars focused on intellectual inquiry, free from teaching and other university obligations.  Scholars from around the world come to the Institute to pursue their own research.  Candidates of any nationality may apply for a single term or a full academic year.  Scholars may apply for a stipend, but those with sabbatical funding, other grants, retirement funding or other means are also invited to apply for a non-stipendiary membership.  Some short-term visitorships (for less than a full term, and without stipend) are also available on an ad-hoc basis.  Open to all fields of historical research, the School of Historical Studies= principal interests are the history of western, near eastern and Asian civilizations, with particular emphasis upon Greek and Roman civilization, the history of Europe (medieval, early modern, and modern), the Islamic world, East Asian studies, art history, the history of science and philosophy, modern international relations, and music studies.   Residence in Princeton during term time is required.  The only other obligation of Members is to pursue their own research.  The Ph.D. (or equivalent) and substantial publications are required.  Additional information can be found on the School’s web page at http://www.hs.ias.edu/mem_announcement, and on the School’s web site, www.hs.ias.edu.  Inquiries by post should be sent to School of Historical Studies, Institute for Advanced Study, Einstein Dr., Princeton, N.J. 08540 (E-mail address: mzelazny@ias.edu).  Deadline: November 1 2014.

The deadline for this year’s European Studies First Article Prize is fast approaching—all nominations must be received by April 14, 2014. Please take this opportunity to nominate a particularly impressive or noteworthy contribution to your field today! More information about the award, including the online Nomination Form, is available here.

This is a reminder that the course discount (two courses for £1000) for London Rare Books School (LRBS) expires April 15. LRBS runs 23 – 27 June 2014 and 30 June – 4 July 2014.

The application form is available from the Institute of English Studies website. Individual courses are £600, and a £100 deposit is requested upon application.

A (very) limited number of partial bursaries are available. Placements are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and courses are restricted to a maximum of twelve students. Courses may be taken for academic credit toward a postgraduate diploma in the History of the Book, or as part of the Institute’s MA in the History of the Book.

The courses are taught by internationally renowned scholars, using the unrivalled library and museum resources of London, including the British Library, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Lambeth Palace Library, and Senate House Libraries.

Applications should be submitted to IESEvents@sas.ac.uk.

The course programme is below. For further details, see the LRBS website orcontact the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London at IESEvents@sas.ac.uk or +44 020 7862 8679

WEEK ONE: 23 – 27 June 2014
Children’s Books, 1470-1980
European Bookbinding, 1450-1820
A History of Maps and Mapping
The History of Readers and Reading, 1770-2010 *new course
An Introduction to Bibliography
The Medieval Book
The Printed Book in Europe, 1450-2000

WEEK TWO: 30 June – 4 July 2014
The Book in the Ancient World
The Early Modern Book in England
The History and Practice of Hand Press Printing
An Introduction to Illustration and its Technologies
Modern First Editions: Dealing, Collecting, and the Market
The Printed Book in the East: China, India, and Japan *new course
Western Historical Scripts from Antiquity to 1600