THE HISTORY OF WRITING; ITS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNIQUES 3200 BC - 1900 AD

Convenor: Alan Cole

The aim of the course is to explain and explore some of the important historical features of writing and its tools, which are of particular relevance to the history of the book.

In the MA in the History of the Book, there has always been a course on the medieval book, which introduced students to the importance of manuscript culture. However, the invention and development of writing, initially on clay tablets and papyrus scrolls - the precursors of 'the book,' - have hitherto not been included in any Option course This course will dramatically extend the chronological spread of the MA as well as helping to reinforce the degree's emphasis on the materiality of the book. The course is likely to appeal not simply to students already attracted to History of the Book but also to those interested in ancient and classical civilizations, to those interested in archaeology, and to those involved or interested in calligraphy who wish to understand more about the historical context of their subject.

The course will also explain the social and geographic influences on writing materials and equipment from proto and early writing through to the nineteenth century, and examples of these objects and the writing systems relevant to each session will be available for students to view and, in many cases, handle. The unique aspect of the course is that there will be practical sessions within many of the seminars during which students will make and use writing instruments. This will help to make clear the sometimes-arduous preparation necessary before scribes put ink to papyrus or quill to parchment. They will also have the opportunity to use original artefacts and materials from Roman styli through medieval pens to the first fountain pen. These artefacts will come principally from the collections of the Museum of Writing .

Experts from the British Library, the British Museum, IES , SOAS and UCL are among the broad mix of teachers, but Alan Cole (Curator of the Museum of Writing within Senate House Library), who will convene the course and will run the practical periods therein, will provide the essential continuity. Although the majority of the sessions will take place within Senate House, at least three will be at the British Museum , the Petrie Museum and possibly the British Library, with items from these collections also being used as examples.

Assessment

The course will adopt the standard format of an Option module in the History of the Book MA, namely, ten two-hour seminars followed by a 5000 word essay to be submitted in the following term.