Sunday, October 18, 2009

Help support the transcription and translation of an important manuscript


The Richard III Society, American Branch, asks you to consider making a gift to support the work of a graduate student transcribing and translating portions of a manuscript genealogy of King Edward IV, now called Ms. Roll 1066, in the collections of the University of Pennsylvania Library. This roll is 37 feet in length and has two separate chronicles, one on each side. It is unique among manuscripts of this kind.

As many American Branch members already know, our contributions resulted in the restoration of another genealogy of Edward IV in another Philadelphia library, the magnificent Free Library of Philadelphia Ms Lewis E201. That manuscript was exhibited in 2001 and again in 2007, and has resulted in recognition of the Richard III Society by an international community of medieval scholars and art historians. It is almost unbelievable that two of the most significant genealogies of Edward IV should come to one American city, but the unbelievable has happened.

Our gifts can make it possible for this second manuscript to come to the attention of a worldwide community of scholars and shed new light on our understanding of the political climate of this important period. The Executive Board has already agreed to match individual contributions up to $2,500 from the portion of our Schallek Fund that was retained by the American Branch in order to help the University of Pennsylvania Library carry out this wonderful project. The librarians tell us that our gift will serve as "seed money" to encourage other donors and foundations to continue the work that we have made it possible for them to begin.

The University of Pennsylvania Library is investing considerable funds in this project to make it possible to "scroll through" this magnificent manuscript online. It is also in discussions with the Free Library of Philadelphia to apply the same technology to their manuscript. This will allow all of us to have an experience of these two manuscripts very much like the one their original owners and readers had.

Our part of this project would provide funding for another important aspect. Like its sister roll, Ms. Roll 1066 is written in Latin and is very difficult to read. As Professor Emily Steiner writes in the attached project report, "Scholars tend to be interested in these kinds of mid-15th century rolls for their propagandistic aims, the ways in which they bolster a contender's claim to the throne or a noble family's claim to ancient lineage. During the war of the Roses -- which was as much a propaganda war between the York and Lancastrian factions as it was a series of bloody battles -- it was nearly impossible for a historian to maintain a fiction of neutrality." Our funding would provide for a medievalist graduate student to transcribe and translate critical portions of the roll and to create a searchable index of names and events in the roll.

Although times are difficult for us all, we are hoping that Ricardians will recognize the importance of this project and make a gift to support a graduate student in work that will deepen and enrich our understanding of the swirling political currents around Richard and his family. You can send your tax-deductible contribution via PayPal -- send payment to payments@r3.org and note in the comments section that this is for the Edward IV Roll Matching Gift Program.

[Download more information on this manuscript in Adobe Acrobat format.]

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Fellowship Award Deadline: October 15

The Richard III Society, American Branch awards one $30,000 dissertation fellowship annually as part of its William B. and Maryloo Spooner Schallek awards program. The program is administered on our behalf by the Medieval Academy of America. Deadline for the fellowship award is October 15 and additional details are here. (The program also provides five $2,000 awards, with a February 15 application deadline.)

1984 "Trial of Richard III" posted to YouTube

Here's part 1:



Thanks to Sharon Kay Penman for providing the link.

(EDIT: Thanks to C.L. Forber, a playlist of all the episodes that comprise the trial is here.)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Photos of Greyfriar's, Leicester


From correspondent Andy McDonald, a fascinating set of photos in response to an old article, "In Search of Greyfriars, from the American Branch website. Richard III's body was reputed to have been buried in the churchyard at Greyfriars prior to (possibly) having been exhumed and thrown in the nearby River Soar.

Comments on the locations and their significance are welcome. And many thanks to Andy for reaching out to us.

From Andy's email:

Attached..
  • Leicester Cathedral, the Catholic Church of St Martin (numerous images)
  • Leicester Guildhall (whitewashed wood framed building very close to the cathedral) Dating from 1390.
  • Greyfriars (street level view)
  • Excavation at Greyfriars, showing stonework (age unknown)
  • Various street level photos of Greyfriars and Friar Lane as well as New
  • Street (opposite cathedral), Peacock Lane etc.
  • Gated car park at rear of buildings on Greyfriars
The modern day bridges on the east side of Leicester city are all on the sites of the ancient bridges in medieval maps of Leicester. Close to the mid-19th century wall plaque regarding the remains of Richard III is a bridge on the site of the Bow Bridge, on which is mounted a plaque regarding the hitting of his head on the bridge whilst draped across his horse. This bridge is almost directly across from Castle Gardens, where the Motte & Bailey castle was sited (and the Motte is still there, although it was topped with a bowling green in Victorian times). I believe that RIII stayed here in his way to the Battle of Bosworth (although it was Leicester castle by this time, built on the site of the motte and bailey castle)

Andy has offered to take additional photos. Comments on this post and the content of the linked photos, are welcomed. Suggestions for Andy for additional photos, too!

More photos here. Related link: David Baldwin on Richard's grave here [Adobe Acrobat file].

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Annual General Meeting 2009: October 16-18

Mark your calendar now for the 2009 American Branch, Annual General Meeting, which is being planned now and will be held in Las Vegas, NV. Expand your knowledge of Richard III in history and in literature, make new friends, meetup with online friends, catch up with old. (What's an Annual General Meeting like? Details on the 2008 meeting here.)

Schallek Fellowship Recipients 2005-2008

Since 2005, the Richard III Society, American Branch has funded an annual $30,000 fellowship award. This program is endowed by generous gifts from the late William B. and Maryloo Spooner Schallek during their lifetimes and by a bequest from Maryloo Schallek. The program is administered on behalf of the American Branch by The Medieval Academy of America.

Judging is in process for the 2009 award, for which applications were due October 15, 2008.

Recipients since the project's inception were:

  • 2005: Janelle A. Werner, University of North Carolina. "'As long as their sin is privy': Clerics and Concubines in Late Medieval England."
  • 2006: Katharine K. Olson, Havard University. "'Fire from Heaven': Understanding Popular Religion and Social Transformation in Wales c. 1400-1600 in Comparative British Context"
  • 2007: Janes Bennett, Ohio State University. "St. Albans, Bury St. Edmunds, and the Evolution of the Later Medieval English Polity"
  • 2008: Mary Raschko, University of North Carolina. "Rendering the Word: Vernacular Accounts of the Parables in late Medieval England"
Information on the program, including application guidelines, can be found at the Medieval Academy of America website.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Graduate Awards Deadline: February 15, 2009

Five $2,000 awards will be given for graduate study by this American-branch sponsored program administered by the Medieval Academy of America. Details and links to application forms here.

2009 American Branch Tour - Brochure Online

In the Footsteps of King Richard III, June 21-July 1, 2009. From the brochure:

This unique tour fits the bill perfectly if you are a sociable person with a keen interest in Richard and in medieval England! Sites we will visit having associations with Richard III and his contemporaries include, among others, Middleham, Bolton, Pickering, Skipton, Conisburgh, Sandal and Ashby-de-la-Zouch castles, as well as the parish churches of Middleham, Sutton Cheyney, Skipton and Pickering. Our travels will also include fabulous Tewkesbury Abbey and Minster Lovell Hall (the lovely home of Sir Francis Lovell), an entire day at leisure in ancient York, and an optional visit to Ludlow Castle. And, of course, we will make our annual pilgrimage to Bosworth Battlefield where Richard lost his crown and his life. The day will include the hanging of our memorial wreath at Sutton Cheney church, as well as several hours at the fine Battlefield Centre. Here we will be treated to an excellent presentation on the the most valid of the proposed battlefield sites, short jaunts to both the traditional site on Ambion Hill and the site nearer to Dadlington, and visits to both Richard’s memorial stone and King Richard’s Well.
Deadline for registration and deposit: February 12, 2009

Download the brochure:
http://www.r3.org/travel/tours/2009/r3-2009tourbrochure.pdf