Treasures of the Library
Faculty of Arts' Soirées 2011-2012
Treasures of the Library—a contemporary look at rare books
The Faculty of Arts and the University of Ottawa Library present Treasures of the Library — Faculty of Arts' Soirées 2011-2012, an annual bilingual series of public lectures designed to make known the University’s rare books collection which can be consulted in the Library’s Archives and Special collections. Professors from the Faculty of Arts will comment on an old book specific to their area of expertise during four evening lectures held in the course of the academic year.
2011–2012 Season
“L'art de lire au Moyen-âge” (“The art of reading in the Middle Ages”)
Ariane Bergeron, archivist-paleographer at the gallery Les Enluminures in the Louvre des Antiquaires and expert on ancient manuscripts and books, will deliver a lecture on reading habits in the Middle Ages. She will focus her talk on the Livre d’heures à l’usage de Rome by the Master of Jean d’Albret, a book of miniatures from the late 15th century recently acquired by the Library.
September 28, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. – in French
“An Eighteenth Century Literary Sensation: James Macpherson and the Poems of Ossian”
On December 7th, join University of Ottawa English professor Frans De Bruyn as he presents a lecture on the Scottish poet James Macpherson and his cycle of poems inspired by the ancient Gaelic bard Ossian. Pierre Le Tourneur’s French translation, which is in the Library’s collections, was one of many cultural responses to Macpherson’s publication of these works.
Macpherson claimed to have translated the epic poems of Ossian from Gaelic to English. His claims became a cause célèbre: some accused him of forgery, while others staunchly supported his claims. Even today, debate continues about the authenticity and significance of these poems.
December 7, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. – in English
The lecture will take place in room 129, Simard Hall, 60 University Street, Ottawa.
“What the 1875–76 British Arctic Expedition can tell us about current climate change on Ellesmere Island"
Luke Copland, professor in the Department of Geography and director of the Laboratory for Cryospheric Research at the University of Ottawa, and expert on ice dynamics has repeatedly travelled to the polar regions to observe the effects of climate change on the ice shelf. His research findings are noted all over the world. His lecture will focus on the works of English explorer Sir George Strong Nares, who explored Ellesmere Island at the end of the 19th century.
January 18, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. – in English
The lecture will take place in the Freiman room in Pérez Hall, 50, University Street, Ottawa.
“Wikipédia au Moyen-Âge” (“Wikipedia in the Middle Ages”)
Charles Le Blanc, professor in the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Ottawa, is busy expanding the rare and ancient books collection at the University of Ottawa. His provocatively titled lecture will focus on the De Proprietatibus rerum encyclopedia by Bartholomaeus Anglicus, a 13th-century English Franciscan monk.
March 14, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. – in French
The lecture will take place in the Freiman room in Pérez Hall, 50, University Street, Ottawa.
Reserve your seat today!
Price: $7 for one lecture, $20 for the series of four lectures, paid (cash) at the entrance. For those who wish to register to the series of four lectures, the full amount must be paid at the first lecture.
For more details, please contact Josée-Anne Cyr by telephone, at (613) 562-5972, or by email at josee-anne.cyr@uOttawa.ca.
Donations
Support the Library in its efforts to acquire further rare and ancient books. Please give generously: www.annualfund.uottawa.ca