January 21, 2010, Filed Under: AuthorsRecommended Reading: Jayne Anne Phillips Last September, the Ransom Center acquired the papers of writer Jayne Anne Phillips. Phillips, who was a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award for her novel Lark & Termite, shares her recommended reading in the latest issue of Ransom Edition. Known for her poetic prose and her in-depth study… read more
January 14, 2010, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, Research + Teaching"Publishing isn’t just about contacts; it’s equally a matter of human relationships" This month marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the French novelist and philosopher Albert Camus in a tragic car accident. Yet, as the online review The Daily Beast observes, he remains “the most widely read of all the postwar French writers and [is] hip enough to inspire a… read more
January 13, 2010, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, Research + TeachingCollection of Italian opera libretti now accessible through database A major collection of Italian opera libretti is now accessible through an online database. The collection of 3,421 items was donated in 1969 by New York rare book dealer Hans P. Kraus. The collection consists primarily of texts of Italian operas but also includes Italian cantatas, serenatas, oratorios, dialogues and… read more
January 12, 2010, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, Research + TeachingThe Curious Colophon: Some Observations of HRC 44 in the Ransom Center Micah Erwin is a student in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin specializing in rare books and special collections librarianship. He earned a masters degree in medieval studies, and his research interests include the preservation and cataloging of medieval manuscripts and early printed books. He… read more
January 7, 2010, Filed Under: Research + TeachingAn odd juxtaposition: George Washington and "Fanny Hill" We recently received a reference question regarding our copy of The Farewell Address of Gen. George Washington (Keene, N.H.: Printed by John Prentiss, 1812). The question had nothing to do with the work but with the possibility that our copy might be bound in boards covered with sheets from a… read more
December 17, 2009, Filed Under: FilmJennifer Jones materials in collections Actress Jennifer Jones, who died today at the age of 90, has connections to the Ransom Center’s film holdings, particularly the David O. Selznick collection. The Selznick collection, the largest collection at the Ransom Center, occupies almost five thousand document cases, and spans the career of the famed Hollywood producer.… read more
