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A PRI L 2007 THE UN V E R S TY o F ARIZONA THE DIVISION FOR LATE MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION STUDIES "People ask me why I take an interest in this little division for medieval and Reformation studies, and I say that we have an obligation to keep the story of our civilization alive. " -The Honorable Stanley G. Feldman, Advisory Board VOL. 15, NO. I The view through the round window * A SEMI-ANNUAL NEWSLETIER OF THE DNISION FOR LATE MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION STUDIES l:;::;;;;;j;;::::::::;::;;~ OU DID m You magnanimous, visionary spirits brought the Heiko A. Oberman Chair Endowment, which indudes the gift of the Oberman Library, past the $300,()(X)challenge mark before December 3 t ,2006. Indeed, your outpouring brought us $30,()(X),wstthis goal! Because of you, I can now announce that we are on the downhill slope toward the full $2 million needed to complete the endowment. The overall total stands, as I write, at $ t .28 million. Soon we shall be able to search world-wide for the first Heiko A. Oberman Professor in Late Medieval and Reformation History. In the meantime, during fall semester 2007, Thomas A. Brady, Jr., Peder Sather Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, will be the Heiko A. Oberman Visiting Professor and will teach the so- called Division Seminar. His presence will provide an outstanding opportunity for UA History graduate students to work under the direction of one of the world' s leading specialists in early modem European history. Brady is author of several prize-winning books, on Strasbourg and on politics within the Holy Roman Empire. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he has been awarded, among numerous other awards and honors, an honorary doctorate by the University of Bern, Switzerland. Founded in t 989 by Heiko A. Oberman (1930-2001), Regents' Professor of History I am on sabbatical leave during 2007 and am completing a book that has been too long underway. Drained after a day at the computer, I watched an episode of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" only to see two detectives ask a suspect, "Why did you take a sabbatical?" The man replied, "I was exhausted. I needed to dear my mind." This script reflects the attitude of the public toward sabbaticals: faculty who get them spend their time relaxing! I am not relaxing! I am finishing a long overdue book on the religious emotions in early modem Germany. At this writing, I have completed dose to 200 pages; my graduate students ask for a report from time to time, as if to seek assurance that I am not simply avoiding them. They are under the exceptional tutelage this semester of Professor Kari McBride (Women's Studies), a scholar ofTudor-Stuart England. I miss them--although I am accessible. Likewise, I regret not seeing some of you as often as before. Do email me. I read my electronic mail once a day. And do let's slide down this final fund-raising slope of the Oberman Endowment and acquisition of the Oberman Library together. Director: Susan C. Karant-Nunn INSIDE Program Coordinator, Sr: Luise Betterton Town t... Gown Lecture: Natalie Zemon Davis 3 Managing Editor: Sandra Kimball Guest scholar Erika Rummel 4 Guest scholar James M. Estes 5 Associated Faculty: Alan E. Bemstein, Emeritus Pia F. Cuneo David L. Graizbord Kari McBride Helen Nader, Emerita Cynthia White In memoriam: Ann Orlov-Rublnow 6 Interdlsdpllnary study 7 Board of Advisors: Richard Duffield, Chair Stanley Feldman Sandy Hatfield Jennifer Carrell Helenbolt Morris Martin Hester Oberman Toetie Oberman George Rosenberg Helen Schaefer John Schaefer Bazy Tankersley l&. The University of Arizona Douglass Building 315 PO Box 210028 Tucson AZ 8572 1 (520) 62 J.1 284 Fax/ (520) 626-5444 http://dlmrs.web.arizona.edu THE UNIVERSIlY OF ARIZO A. • In case you have not been our visitor, the main office ~f the Division affords its only view through a round window.

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A PRI L 2007

THE U N V E R S T Y o F ARIZONA

THE DIVISION FOR LATE MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION STUDIES

"People ask me why I take an interest in this little division for medieval and Reformation studies, and I say that we have an obligation tokeep the story of our civilization alive. " -The Honorable Stanley G. Feldman, Advisory Board

VOL. 15, NO. I

The view throughthe round window *

A SEMI-ANNUALNEWSLETIER OFTHE DNISION FORLATE MEDIEVAL ANDREFORMATIONSTUDIESl:;::;;;;;j;;::::::::;::;;~ OU DID m You

magnanimous, visionaryspirits brought the HeikoA. Oberman ChairEndowment, whichindudes the gift of theOberman Library, past the

$300,()(X)challenge mark beforeDecember 3 t ,2006. Indeed,your outpouring brought us$30,()(X),wstthis goal!

Because of you, I can nowannounce that we are on thedownhill slope toward the full $2million needed to complete theendowment. The overall totalstands, as I write, at $t .28million. Soon we shall be able tosearch world-wide for the firstHeiko A. Oberman Professor inLate Medieval and ReformationHistory.

In the meantime, during fallsemester 2007, Thomas A.Brady, Jr., Peder Sather Professorof History at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, will be theHeiko A. Oberman VisitingProfessor and will teach the so-called Division Seminar. Hispresence will provide anoutstanding opportunity for UAHistory graduate students towork under the direction of oneof the world' s leading specialistsin early modem Europeanhistory. Brady is author of severalprize-winning books, onStrasbourg and on politics withinthe Holy Roman Empire. He is aFellow of the AmericanAcademy of Arts and Sciences,and he has been awarded,

among numerous other awardsand honors, an honorarydoctorate by the University ofBern, Switzerland.

Founded in t 989 byHeiko A. Oberman(1930-2001), Regents'Professor of HistoryI am on sabbatical leave during

2007 and am completing a bookthat has been too longunderway. Drained after a day atthe computer, I watched anepisode of "Law and Order:Criminal Intent" only to see twodetectives ask a suspect, "Whydid you take a sabbatical?" Theman replied, "I was exhausted. Ineeded to dear my mind." Thisscript reflects the attitude of thepublic toward sabbaticals: facultywho get them spend their timerelaxing! I am not relaxing! I amfinishing a long overdue book onthe religious emotions in earlymodem Germany. At thiswriting, I have completed doseto 200 pages; my graduatestudents ask for a report fromtime to time, as if to seekassurance that I am not simplyavoiding them. They are underthe exceptional tutelage thissemester of Professor KariMcBride (Women's Studies), ascholar ofTudor-Stuart England.I miss them--although I amaccessible. Likewise, I regret notseeing some of you as often asbefore. Do email me. I read myelectronic mail once a day.

And do let's slide down thisfinal fund-raising slope of theOberman Endowment andacquisition of the ObermanLibrary together.

Director:Susan C. Karant-Nunn

INSIDE

Program Coordinator, Sr:Luise BettertonTown t... Gown Lecture:

Natalie Zemon Davis 3

Managing Editor:Sandra Kimball

Guest scholarErika Rummel 4

Guest scholarJames M. Estes 5 Associated Faculty:

Alan E. Bemstein, EmeritusPia F. CuneoDavid L. GraizbordKari McBrideHelen Nader, EmeritaCynthia White

In memoriam:Ann Orlov-Rublnow 6

Interdlsdpllnary study 7

Board of Advisors:Richard Duffield, ChairStanley FeldmanSandy HatfieldJennifer Carrell HelenboltMorris MartinHester ObermanToetie ObermanGeorge RosenbergHelen SchaeferJohn SchaeferBazy Tankersleyl&.

The University of ArizonaDouglass Building 315PO Box 210028Tucson AZ 8572 1(520) 62 J.1284Fax/ (520) 626-5444http://dlmrs.web.arizona.edu

THE UNIVERSIlYOF ARIZO A.

• In case you have not been our visitor, the main office ~f the Division affords its only view through a round window.

2

nq$eRT nJ\RVq$T TUCSON, ARIZONA

Division NewsCongratulations

Lulse Betterton, senior programcoordinator of the Division, won thirdplace in her age group in the EveryoneRuns Trail Run in February through theSaguaro Nationai Monument East.

Division doctoral student, BrandonHdrtley, and his wife, Julia Morls-Hdrtley,delivered their second child, AuroraGrace, in early April. This summer, theproud father will defend his dissertation onthe Catholic pamphlet wars in Lyon duringthe French wars of religion.

Julie Kang. Division doctoral student, willreceive a dissertation research travel grantfrom the UA College of Social andBehavioral Sciences Research Institute tobegin her doctoral research on theconversion/reconversion of Huguenotwomen and girls in Paris in the 1630s.

MaJy KoveJ, Division doctoral student,won a graduate research grant from theUA Medieval, Renaissance, andReformation Committee to assist her incarrying out preliminary research for herdissertation on the significance of hair andhead-coverings in sixteenth- andseventeenth-century England.

Conferences/Publications

Professor Pia F. Cuneo, professor of arthistory and associated faculty of theDivision, will present papers at twoconferences this spring, at the HerzogAugust Bibliothek in Wolfenbuttel,Germany, and at an intemationalconference of art historians in Berlin. Shehas an article coming out this spring,"(Un)stable Identities: TheProfessionalization of Scholars and Ridersin Early Modern Germany," in "The Historyof Animals in Early Modem Europe" (Brill).

Professor David L, Gralzbord, assistantprofessor of judaic studies and associatedfaculty of the Division, is writing a chapterand co-writing a second chapter for "Losestudios sefarditas para estudiantes deespanot" (Pegasus Press), now in press. Hewill also contribute an entry on 'jacobKatz' for the forthcoming "Handbook ofMedieval Studies" (Walter de Gruyter).

In March, he delivered a professionalpaper entitled "Religion and EthnicityAmong humens de neceo. Toward aRealistic Interpretation" at a symposium on"Sephardim at the Margins of Europe" atStanford University.

Besides being on sabbatical and diligentlyworking on her next book, ProfessorSusan C Karant-Nunn, director andprofessor of history, has four articlesforthcoming in 2007: "Reformation undAskese: Das Pfarrhaus als evangelischesKloster," in "Veroffentllchungen desInstituts fOr Europalsche Geschichte;""Babies, Baptism, Bodies, Burials, andBliss: Ghost Stories and Their Rejection inthe Late Sixteenth Century," in "Tod undjenseitsvorstellungen in der Schriftkultur

der FrOhen Neuzeit" (Harrasowitz); "DieGefOhle der jungfrau: WeiblicheReligiositat in einem 'elsernen' Zeitalter"in an untitled festschrift; and "CatholicIntensity in Post-Reformation Germany:Preaching on the Passion and CatholicIdentity in the Sixteenth and SeventeenthCenturies: in "Politics and Reformations"(Brill).

In February, she gave two lectureslocally on the subject of Lent and Easterobservances in the late Middle Ages andearly modem Europe; one at St. NicholasAnglican Church, Scottsdale, Ariz., andanother at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church,Tucson, Ariz.

In May this year she will attend twoEuropean conferences: one in Griefswald,at an international conference oninscription in German churches; and asecond in Geneva, at an invited publiclecture at the Institut de la Reforme,University of Geneva.

Professor JGuJBoyd McBdde, associateprofessor of women's studies andassociated faculty of the Division, has hadtwo articles published recently: "'Upon aLittle Lady': Gender and Desire in EarlyModem English Lyrics: in ·'And NeverKnow the joy': Sex and the Erotic inEnglish Poetry" (Rodopi B.V., 2(06); and"Recusant Sisters: English Catholic Womenand the Bonds of Learning." in "ThickerThan Water: Sisters and Brothers in theEarly Modem World" (Ashgate, 2(06).She is teaching the Division seminar thissemester, a study of body politics in earlymodem England. She continues herresearch of women's education in earlymodem England and is working on anarticle on the daily office in theReformation English church.

Alumni

Dr, James Blakeley, Division alumnus,who just received the Ph.D. in December,has accepted a tenure-track assistantprofessorship at St. joseph's College onLong Island, New York, to begin inAugust.

Professor Michael W. Bruening hasaccepted a tenure-track position asassistant professor of history at theUniversity of Missouri, Rolla, beginning inthe fall semester.

Professor Robert j. Chdstman, LutherCollege, had a chapter published in"Reformatoren im Mansfelder Land:Erasmus Sarcerius und CyriakusSpangenberg" (EvangelischeVerlagsanstalt, 2(06).

Dr. Thomas de Mayo, recent HistoryDepartment alumnus, accepted a positionas history instructor at j. SargeantReynolds Community College inRichmond, Va., which began in january.

Professor John FIymlre, University ofMissouri, received the 2006 Provost'sOutstanding junior Faculty TeachingAward which is awarded for superiorteaching and advising.

Newlywed Nicole Kuropka and husband

Pl'arrerfn Dr. Nicole Kuropka, began aposition both working in the ministry andteaching at Max-Weber-Berufskolleg inDusseldorf, Germany, in August 2006. Sheis currently co-editing a history of thechurch in Rheinland which will appear in afew months. She was married lastSeptember.

Professor £dc L, Saak, Indiana University,Purdue University, Indianapolis, has signeda contract with Brill for his second book,., Augustinus Noster': InterpretingAugustine and Late MedievalAugustinisms in the Later Middle Ages."He is also co-editor of and contributor to"The Oxford Guide to the Historical

Reception of Augustine," under thedirection of Professor Karla Pollman,University of St. Andrews, to be publishedin 2011. He will be writing, among otherentries, the article on Professor Helko A.Oberman.

Saak also recently published an article on"The Foundation of the OESA: AReconsideration" (Augustinian Newsletter,Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel,Australia) which was commended on thewebsite, Augnet, as "the most significantcontribution to the historiograpy of thethirteenth-century foundational period ofthe Order of st. Augustine that has beenwritten in the past sixty years."

These are perhaps the fruits of the NewFrontiers Travel Grant he won last springfrom IUPUI for research in Europe. 0

..

TUCSON. ARIZONA DeseRT njillVesT

2 l " Annual Town and Gown Lecture

Natalie Zeman Davis, Princeton Universityby Tom Donlan, doctoral student

~

• 0 n early February,the Division had

. the great honor of. ,r -r. welcoming the

___ ' +__ " intemationallyrenowned scholar, NatalieZemon Davis, for a four-dayvisit, a special occasion inrecognition of the career andrecent retirement of our ownbeloved Professor HelenNader. Over the course of herstay, Professor Davis enjoyeda few stops at Tucson's maincultural attractions, such asthe San Xavier Mission (andlunch at the Desert DiamondCasinol), but the majority ofher time was devoted tolively presentations anddiscussions of her mostrecent scholarship.

The high point of ProfessorDavis' visit, at least for themass of students, scholars,and other Tucsonans packedinto the hall, was her Townand Gown lecture entitled"Philosophes, jews, andAfricans in Colonial Suriname:The Example of David Nassy."Nassy, a physician/healer ofPortuguese jewish descentand an aficionado ofEnlightenment thought, livedand worked in eighteenth-century Suriname, wherejews enjoyed considerableautonomy, and intermingledregularly with Europeanelites, African maroons, andindigenous Carib peoples.just one of a number ofintriguing personalitiesshowcased in Professor Davis'forthcoming book, "BraidedHistories," Nassy admiredand at times envied theadvanced skills of maroonhealers. In an effort toimprove upon his ownexpertise, Nassy acquainted

himself withthe Africanhealer,Quassy,whom hecame toview both asa colleagueand acompetitor.

In thisexcellentstudy ofculturalmixtureacross ethnic, power, andreligious boundaries, Davisalso explored the processby which certain marooncommunities in Surinameembraced judaism. As slaveson jewish-owned plantations,these maroons were exposedto halakic norms andgradually adopted them. Incommunal records and thewritings of Nassy, there arerich descriptions of slaveobservance of the Sabbath,the circumcision of boys, andintermarriage betweenPortuguese jews and Africanconverts. However, asProfessor Davis explained,these cross-culturalexchanges were not withoutconflict. Nassy and otherelders of the Portuguesejewish community acceptedthose of African origin intothe faith, but denied them fullmembership. Maroon leadersresented these limitations ontheir participation in thejewish community and,drawing on the writings ofExodus and Leviticus, wroteup petitions of protest.

A reception, generouslyhosted by Dr. Morris Martinand Mr. and Mrs. Steven Thu,followed the lecture.

Lecture honoree. Helen Nader. with Natalie Zemon Davis

Professor Davis concludedher visit with one-on-onemeetings with all of theDivision students, which allparties enjoyed immensely,followed by a groupdiscussion of her mostrecently published work,"Trickster Travels." TheHistory Department hostedthis last discussion, ProfessorMiranda Spieler providing herintroduction, as well as thedinner that followed thatevening.

On behalf of the Division, Iwould like to thank ProfessorDavis for coming to the UA.Your enthusiasm,graciousness, and mentoringare as exceptional as yourscholarship and you stand asan inspiration to us all! \)

In this

I!IICelient S1udy of

cultural milllUre across

ethnic, fJOWW, and

religious boundaries,

DaviS also e>plored

the process by which

certain maroon

communities in

Suriname embraced

JUdaism,

3

4

Dq8E{RT D}\RVq8T TUCSON, ARIZONA

At the feet of visiting scholars

Erlka Rummel, Wilfrid Laurier University

L to R: Graduate students Julie Kang, Tom Donlan, Sean Clark, Thomas Wood, Mary Kovel, Lizzy Ellis-Marino, Samantha Kuhn, and TodMeinke with visiting professor Erika Rummel.

In a four-hour workshop inJanuary, Division studentseamed credit through intensestudy and discussion of thedynamics of the relationship

between Desiderius Erasmusand Martin Luther during theyears 1516-1524 withrenowned Erasmus specialist,Erika Rummel, professor

emerita, Wilfrid LaurierUniversity, and adjunctprofessor, University ofToronto. o

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA DIVISION FOR LATE MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION STUDIESWITH S1. PHILIP'S IN THE HILLS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

SUMMER LECTURE SERIES 2007

Scorned and Driven OutReligious Refugees in theNorth American Colonies

July 29 .HuguenotsTadMeinke, M.A. student

August 5 .English CatholicsLizzy Ellis-Marino, M.A. student

August 12 . QuakersTomDonlan, Ph.D. student

August 19·MennonitesSusanC Kersnt-Nunn, Professorof History

Sundays at St. Philip's In the Hills Episcopal Church4440 North Campbell Avenue, 10: 15 am

TUCSON, ARIZONA D~eRT D)\:RV~T

At the feet of visiting scholars

James M. Estes, University of Torontoby Lizzy Eiiis-Marino, master's student

fI n Monday, March26, Divisionstudents were

:. .~ treated to aseminar with the

distinguished intellectualhistorian, James M. Estes.After spending the dayoffering professional advice toDivision graduate students,Professor Estes spent theevening discussing with ushis work on the "CollectedWorks of Erasmus" at thehome of Professor SusanKarant-Nunn.

After some brief jocularopening remarks from bothprofessors, Professor Estestold us about the birth andgrowth of the Erasmus series,and how he came to edit andannotate some of thevolumes of correspondence.Hired by Victoria University atthe University of Torontofresh out of graduate school(his choices were Toronto orSpearfish, S.D.), Estes waspresent for the founding ofthat university's Centre forReformation and RenaissanceStudies. There he has enjoyednot only the fellowship of hiscolleagues and the support ofa fine university, but, due tothe proximity of the TorontoUniversity Press, he has hadthe privilege of working onthe CWE series, one of thefinest scholarly endeavors inthe English language.

The CWE started in 1969 asthe idea of one man atToronto University Press.Having discovered that therewas no complete Englishedition of Erasmus'scorrespondence, he thoughtthat an annotated, English-language edition of the lettersof the famous Dutch humanist

would be an appropriate taskfor the press. He submittedhis idea and, except for oneboard member whodemurred, saying, "Let themlearn Latin!" the projectenjoyed nearly universalsupport and was quicklyexpanded to include most ofwhat Erasmus wrote.

Over the years, the CWEhas become a majorundertaking. Because of thebreadth and depth of learningof the great man, the CWEhas become a trulyinterdisciplinary venture.Classicists, theologians,intellectual historians, patristicscholars, and even a previousDivision seminar havecontributed to the volumes.The result has been a work ofsuperior quality, for bothEnglish speakers and theinternational scholarlycommunity. According toEstes, some Germanintellectual historians areknown to consult the notes inthe CWE over the variousLatin editions of Erasmus'swork because of theircompleteness.

Later in the evening, thediscussion turned towardEstes's broader research.Students asked questionsabout the relationshipsbetween the majorintellectual figures of theReformation. Estes gave ushis take on the cordiality ofthe relationship betweenMelanchthon and Erasmus.According to Professor Estes,Melanchthon was willing totalk to anyone who couldfollow his ideas. Throughouttheir later lives, Erasmus andMelanchthon carried on acordial argument. Estes also

-:

James M. Estes with director, Susan Karant-Nunn

discussed the momentErasmus dropped his supportfor the Lutheran enterprise.Apparently, the humanist,who remained a loyalCatholic, feared that he wouldcontribute to a schism in theChurch even if the new partywere, as he thought thewhole Church should be,more moderate. Christianunity remained paramount forhim. The evening ended withfriendly conversation inProfessor Karant-Nunn'skitchen.

Professor Estes's visit gaveus an inside look at a majorscholarly project. This andother visits from the foremostscholars in our field provideDivision students withinvaluable guidance andinspiration. 0

• • • the 'COllected

WOrkS of Erasmus'

has become a truly

interdisciplinary

venture. Classicists,

theologians, intellectua I

historians, patristic

scholars, and even a

previous 0 ivision

seminar have

contributed to the

volumes.

5

6

Dq5eRT D}\.RVq5T TUCSON. ARIZONA

In memoriam

Ann Orlov-Rubinow, friend of the Division

In support of the Heiko A. Oberman Chairin Late Medieval and Reformation History and the acquisition of the Oberman Library

THE HIGH COUNTRY SEMINARA weekend of lectures hosted by 8azy Tankersley in scenic Williams, Arizona

August 24-26, 2007

"Religious Conflict in the Western World"• Thomas A. Brady, Jr., Peder Sather Professor of History, University

of California, Berkeley, on modern IrelandTracy Fessenden, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, ArizonaState University, on religious conflict in America

• Susan C. Karant-Nunn, Professor of History, University of Arizona,and Director of the Division for Late Medieval and ReformationHistory, on the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and the rise oftolerance

• Roger L. Nichols, Professor of History, University of Arizona. onAmerican Indians and missionaries

Late Medieval Nominalism."We in the Division will miss

her presence and that of herlate husband, MerrillRubinow. They wereenthusiastic supporters of theendowment for the Heiko A.Oberman Chair and theacquisition of the ObermanLibrary. 0

Space is limited to 24 participants.Call the UA Division for Late Medieval

and Reformation Studies, 621-1284,for information and reservations.

~

. '. ith sadness we markthe death on January 5

. . of Ann Orlov-Rubinow, 81, a friendof our founding

director, Professor Heiko A.Oberman, and his wife,Toetie, and of the Division.

We remember her manyand varied achievements, asa civil rights activist whomarched with Rev. Martin

Luther King Jr. from Selma toMontgomery, Ala., in 1965;as Harvard University Presseditor; as Vermont bed-and-breakfast owner; and as agraduate student of theologyat the age of 70. It was atHarvard University Press thatshe first met the Obermans inthe 1960s when she editedhis "Harvest of MedievalTheology: Gabriel Biel and

TUCSON. ARIZONA DeBeRT n}\RVeBT

Report from the Seminar

Acquiring interdisciplinary toolsby Sean Clark, master's student

mJ", he Division's" . required seminars

" for this year have. ,';'" been happily

disorienting. In thefall, Professor David Graizbordled us on an intense and wide-ranging exploration of earlymodem European Judaism.This was for most of us our firstreal exposure to the intricaciesof Jewish history and thoughthe time and place werefamiliar, the cultural andreligious differences made itfeel as if we had discovered anew world hidden in plainsight.

This semester's seminar is atonce more familiar and moreforeign. It takes as its subjectdiscourses on the body in earlymodem England and is beingled by Professor Kari McBrideof the UA Department ofWomen's Studies, who ishelping us explore a wholeother discipline. We are backon more recognizable culturaland religious ground, but weare approaching familiar topicswith new tools and methods.

"Interdisciplinary" is a termthat gets tossed around quite abit in academe these days.Many pay interdisciplinarystudies lip service, butrelatively few engage in it in ameaningful way. As graduatestudents in history, we arefortunately encouraged toexplore other fields forwhatever might be useful forour own research. This isparticularly beneficial for mywork. I study early modemtravel literature, specificallyGerman and particularly to theMiddle East, North Africa, andthe Levant. The sources I ammost interested in tend towardthe literary, though of vastly

differing qualities, from high-minded and elegant to whatwe might today call pulp orsensationalist literature. Thegenres involved range fromtravel narratives and guides tosermons and even plays. In thepast, such documents wereexamined almost exclusivelyfor what they said about what"really" happened. Morerecently, historians have begunexamining such sources forwhat they can tell us abouthow people in the past sawthemselves in relation to theworld around them and howthey went about constructingtheir identities. This is the typeof history I find fascinating.

Once you have found asource that you think mightyield interesting results, thequestion is what analyticaltools can be used to find therelevant evidence? Like havingthe correct eyeglassesprescription, finding the rightlens through which to look atyour material is critical. I like toborrow the technique of closereading from literary studies.Close reading is just what itsays: you take a text and readit over several times with theproverbial fine-toothed comblooking for linguistic patterns,inconsistencies, contradictions,explicit or implicit points oftension, anything that mightgive you an insight into themental world of the author.This is labor intensive to besure, but to produce wellthought out and responsiblehistorical studies it is necessaryto first understand what yoursources are telling you.

To give an example, for theseminar I am examining twotexts, one a pamphlet and theother a play, both written and

published in London in 1607.Both ostensibly deal with thetravels and travails of the threeSherley brothers in their effortsto form an alliance betweenthe Christian princes of Europeand the Muslim Shah of Persiaagainst the Ottomans. Whatscholarly attention the brothershave garnered in the last half-century, and that is not much,has been radically bi-polar.Historians have focused solelyon the pamphlet asdocumentary evidence, oftennot even mentioning the play.Literary scholars have focusedon the playas an example ofearly modem Englishdepictions of Islam. To myknowledge, no one has lookedat the two works in relationshipto one another. I have set thisas my task. I have read throughthe play and pamphlet severaltimes, examining each one'sinternal character as well asclosely comparing one to theother. It has been a greatlearning experience.

For many literary scholars,that could be the final productof their labors. For the historian,however, it is but the jumpingoff point for the larger work ofplacing the sources in theirhistorical context. In the case ofthe Sherley brothers I am justnow beginning to turn mygaze outward from the textsthemselves to the larger social,political, and religious milieu inwhich they were produced. Ido not yet know where thisjourney with the Sherleybrothers will take me, muchless my larger study of travelliterature, but with thepowerful tools of the literaryscholar and the historian at mydisposal, I feel well preparedfor every eventuality. 0

THtTHREL I GLI H

8 ROTHE It s.

Pamphlet. 1607.

In the past,

documents were

examined almost

eclusively for what

they said about what

I I

really happened.

More recently,

historians have begun

examining such sources

for what they can tell

us about how people in

the past saw themselves

in relation to the world

around them and how

they went about

c:onstructing their

identities. ThiS is the

type of history I find

fascinating.

7

DeBeRT nj\RYeBT TUCSON, ARIZONA

UA Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies

Alumni PlacementRobert J, Bast (PhD 1993)University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Andrew C. Gow (PhD 1993)University of Alberta, Edmonton

Brad S, Gregory (MA 1989)University of Notre Dame

James Blakeley (PhD ZOO6)St. Joseph's College

Curtis V, Bostick (PhO 1993)Southern Utah University

Derek Halvorson (MA 1998)

Sigrun Haude (PhO 1993)University of CincinnatiMichael W, Bruening (PhO ZOOZ)

University of Missouri, RollaBenjamin Kulas (MA ZOOS)Environmental Planning Group, PhoenixRobert J, Christman (PhD ZOO4)

Luther College, IowaNicole Kuropka (MA 1997)Max-Weber-Berufskolleg

Marjory E.. Lange (PhO 1993, minor)Western Oregon University

Victoria Christman (PhO ZOOS)Luther College, Iowa

Peter A. Dykema (PhO 1998)Arkansas Tech University

Scott M, Manetsch (PhD 1997)Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolJohn Frymire (PhD ZOOI)

University of MissouriMichael Milway (PhD 1997)

Jonathan Reid (phO ZOO 1)East Carolina University

Joshua Rosenthal (PhO ZOOS)

Eric Leland Saak (PhO 1993)Indiana University,

Purdue University, Indianapolis

Han Song (MA ZOOZ)Ernst &. Young, Boston

J, Jeffery Tyler (phO 1995)Hope College, Michigan

Joel Van Amberg (PhO ZOO4)Tusculum College, Tennessee

Atilla Vekony (MA 1998)Wheatmark, Inc.

Please visit us on the Internet: http://dlmrs_web_arlzona,edu

m THE UNIVERSllY~" OF ARIZONA.,

Division for Late Medievaland Reformation Studies

Douglass 3 15PO Box 210028Tucson AZ 85721-0028Arizona's First University.

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAIDTUCSON ARIZONA

PERMIT NO, 190

-