Exhibition and Conference Website: http://szyk.conference.mcgill.ca/

Initial “A”, Bologna, late 13th- early 14th century (MS 47)
Photo: Klaus Fiedler

This exhibition highlights the rich and diverse cultures surrounding book production throughout the medieval Mediterranean. Drawing on the considerable holdings of Rare Books and Special Collections, McGill University, it includes many items that have never before been exhibited. Visitors will encounter complete copies of the Qur’an, the gospels, and books of hours in addition to a wide array of single leaves in Greek, Arabic, Latin, and Persian.

The exhibition is arranged thematically highlighting cross-cultural connections. The scientific and cosmological works, for example, feature an anonymous Latin treatise on logic and a vernacular illustrated herbal leaf exhibited alongside the celebrated Farrukh nāmah and the ʿAjā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt. Similarly, under the rubric of power and storytelling, an exquisitely detailed genealogical scroll adumbrating the kings of England is juxtaposed with lavishly illustrated leaves of the Persian royal epic, the Shahnameh, in order to illuminate distinct modes for visualizing sovereignty. Together these materials evoke the varied conceptions of the natural, political, and cosmic world, while also attesting to dynamic traditions of script, ornamentation, and illumination across the many cultures of the medieval Mediterranean. Click here for the exhibition catalogue.

Curators:
Cecily Hilsdale, Assistant Professor, Art History and Communication Studies
Jennifer Garland, Art History and Communication Studies Liaison Librarian
Sean Swanick, Islamic Studies Liaison Librarian

The exhibition runs from November 2012 to January 18, 2013 in Rare Books and Special Collections, McGill University, McLennan Library Building, Fourth Floor, 3459 McTavish St.

Kuniyoshi, 1798-1861.
Nichiren in Snow. Ise-ya Rihei, oban yoko-e [ca.1835-36]
J67 Rare Books and Special Collections – Japanese Print Collection

Maps of Tokyo (1879), Nagasaki (1821), Kyoto (1883) and Yokohama (1868) and prints of the works of artists as well known as Hiroshige, Hokusai and Toyokuni; and, no less remarkable, Eisen, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi were selected from the holdings in Rare Books and Special Collections, McGill University. Maps and prints share the same printing techniques: woodblocks.                                                                               

Europeans had limited access to Japan for nearly two centuries, from early 17^th C. to mid 19^th. C. Americans broadened the access in the years 1852-1854, soon followed by the British and other nations. In 1886, Canadian Pacific Railway Co. provided a new route to Japan for Europeans across Canada through its transcontinental railway and, on the sea, with its fleet of ships.  One of their passengers, Lafcadio Hearn, translated Japanese fairy tales into English. The modern traveler could buy souvenir postcards or take photographs.

A book of Japanese decorative paper specimens closes the exhibit, completing the circle: the tradition of fine printing continues.

The exhibition is on view in the fourth floor lobby, McLennan Library Building, November 2012-February 28, 2013

One of the largest special collections under the stewardship of Rare Books and Special Collections is the architectural collection named after its founder, the John Bland Canadian Architecture Collection (CAC). This collection attracts attention from a wide array of scholars, students, architects, heritage artisans and urban planners who are interested in consulting architectural plans, or photographic prints, (many times the single remaining copies) or the original sketches and presentation watercolours dealing with architectural subjects in Montreal, mostly dating around the first half of the 20th century.

The CAC continues to astound us for the surprises that turn up in any one of the 100 archival fonds and which do not fit into the usual categories of materials mentioned above. One recent example are the four film reels created by artist-photographer Gordon Webber (1909-1965), a former Professor at the McGill School of Architecture. These reels were discovered in the Webber fonds by an Arts Curator, Stébastien Hudon, while he was preparing for an exhibit on Quebec avant-garde photographers of the 1940s. As it turns out, one of these reels is a hand-painted 35mm film, described as being one of the oldest examples of experimental film-making in Canada, and it comes with exceptional provenance, being that of Norman McLaren (1914-1987), who possibly gave the film stock to Webber.  This item became the focus of attention in RBSC for its potential as an outstanding historical artefact, and the perfect context for inter-institutional collaboration and exchange of expertise. Soon, Jean Gagnon, Director of the Cinémathèque Québécoise (CQ) in Montreal, became an enthusiastic partner in an endeavour to review the contents of the fragile reel, evaluate its importance and restore it to its original form. Only the CQ had the expertise, equipment and facilities to restore this kind of film. The McGill University Library is grateful to all those involved for their efforts in making this project a success. In fact, the CQ, represented by Marco de Blois, had the occasion to celebrate this restoration in April 2012 in Beijing, China, at the International Federation of Film Archives Conference. Today for the first time, a “low-resolution” copy reformatted onto DVD is available for consultation at the CAC, while the “high-resolution version is viewable by appointment at the CQ.

Read more about the conservation process here: http://www.cinematheque.qc.ca/en/hand-painted-film-gordon-webber

This month there are two new acquisitions in the Canadiana collection.

Joe Beef of Montreal, the Son of the People.

Broadsides issued by Charles McKiernan, nicknamed Joe Beef, the proprietor of Joe Beef’s Canteen in Montreal, at a time when he was defending himself against a campaign to discredit him led by John Redpath Dougall, owner of the Montreal Daily witness, who deplored the sale of alcohol at the Canteen, although this helped raise money for McKiernan’s extensive charitable work. Cf. DCB, v. 11, p. 563-565.

1. Printed on wove paper, on both sides; this broadside includes 5 illustrations and text, in a satirical, humorous vein. Published [Montréal : C. McKiernan, 1879 or 1880] . The text consists largely of a long list of client types willingly served at Joe Beef’s Canteen; the content also alludes to McKiernan’s defense against attacks by John Redpath Dougall, and shows McKiernan’s criticism of clergy uncaring of the needy, and of police constables.

Rare Books/Special Collections, McLennan Bldg, 4th floor elf FC2947.35 J643 1879

2. Printed on wove paper in 3 columns; this broadside includes 13 illustrations and text. Published [Montréal : C. McKiernan, 1879 or 1880]. The content, with a satirical, humourous bent, refers to McKiernan’s defense against attacks by John Redpath Dougall, to McKiernan’s attack on Henry Ward Beecher, who was tried in N.Y. for adultery, to James Ward Bennett, publisher of the New York herald, which opposed Irish Home Rule, and includes a long list of client types willingly served at Joe Beef’s Canteen, and criticism of an uncaring clergy and of police constables.

Rare Books/Special Collections, McLennan Bldg, 4th floor elf FC2947.35 J64 1879

Both broadsides have been digitized and are available on the Internet Archive.

For more information about these works, contact Ann Marie Holland, Liaision Librarian, Canadiana Collections ann.holland@mcgill.ca .