Page 24 - 2018 Art-i-facts Jan-Feb

Southeastern University Students

Work With Rare Manuscripts

Southeastern University English majors have something to the opportunity to study abroad for the summer semester
rejoice about. In Dr. Cameron McNabb’s, associate professor of her master’s program at Cambridge, she came across a
of English, seminar class on John Milton, students will not rare copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost and had to have it. The
only be reading Milton’s works this semester, they will also only issue was McNabb didn’t have the funds to purchase
have the unique privilege of working, hands-on, with rare the book. So, taking the money she had brought with her
texts from as early as the 1730s as a part of the course. for transportation and lunches, she bought the book. Since
then, she has added to her collection a volume at a time, but
“As a student at Southeastern, it is an incredible opportunity her 1738 purchase from Cambridge remains her favorite
to handle texts that are older than the documents that edition.
founded our nation. It gives me perspective to work with
some of the texts that influenced our forefathers in the In addition to the literary aspects of the class, students
development of this country,” said Emma Schlake, a student will also learn techniques of how to handle antiquarian
in the English class. manuscripts. Contrary to popular belief, the wearing
of gloves is discouraged and can harm the delicate
The manuscripts are part of McNabb’s private collection of manuscripts. Gloves often carry more dirt than clean, dry
rare medieval works, amassed from her travels to New York, hands and can result in the lifting of ink off of the text or
London and Paris. tearing of pages. Students are encouraged to wash and

“This is the first time students are getting such a hands- thoroughly dry their hands before handling rare or valuable
on experience with my books,” says McNabb. “In previous literary works.
classes, I've brought some items in and used them as Special supports are also used to cradle the books and
examples of printing conventions or book history, and protect the often fragile spines of the manuscripts.
students have always been really drawn to looking at
authentic examples.” But the ultimate goal of the course is not just to examine
the texts, students will also examine visual and musical
The class will work with multiple editions of Milton’s adaptations of Milton’s famous work. In addition to this,
most famous work, Paradise Lost, including one volume the young scholars will be working toward a final paper that
illustrated by the famous engraver, Gustave Doré, who is combines all aspects of their studies and strives to create
also known for his illustrations of the Bible.
an original argument about the poem.
In addition to analyzing the epic poem, which details “Milton’s texts are relevant today because they helped to
the biblical account of the Fall of Man, students will also shape the framework of our society. The questions Milton was
examine illustrations and engravings found throughout the asking hundreds of years ago are still questions that we should
manuscripts and observe how the various illustrators have be asking. Focusing on the origin of sin, gender roles, pride,
depicted Satan and other characters from Milton’s work and control helps us to evaluate the way we are functioning in
over time. society today in relation to our history,” said Schlake.

“I find that what they're learning is much more meaningful For McNabb, the hope is that these students will fill a void
to them when they can see real examples,” says McNabb. in Milton studies.
“Students this semester are very excited to get to work with
so many items from my collection. In some of our classes “There hasn't been much scholarly interest in the 18th-century
so far, I've handed out copies of engravings by Gustave Doré editions of Milton, which my collection contains and which
for us to discuss, but I remind them that they will be working are part of the poem's tradition that extends to the visual and
with an actual edition of Doré's Paradise Lost as well!” musical artists discussed, so I hope my students' analyses
will begin to fill in a gap in the scholarship,” says McNabb.
As an English major at the University of Maryland, McNabb
explains that Milton was her first love. When she later had
Page right: Students in a seminar class working with rare texts from
as early as the 1730s. Photos courtesy of Southeastern University.

24 Art-i-facts • January-February 2018 • www.polkarts.org