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Burns Library Past Events

:

2024

Former events held at Burns Library

2024

Cartoons and the Irish: “Twist a Few Tails”

Felix Larkin

Wednesday, April 10
5:00pm reception, 6:00pm lecture
Burns Library

Irish historian Felix Larkin will outline the history of Irish cartoons, from Mathew Carey’s Volunteers’ Journal to Martyn Turner, and cartoons about the Irish, from Daniel O’Connell to Brexit.

Cartoons tend to be undervalued as historical sources. While good history – like good journalism – must be nuanced, reflecting the complexity of issues and situations, good cartoons cut through the verbiage with simple truths that override complexity and get to the heart of the matter. Cartoons can provide great insight into contemporary perceptions of past events, and the arguments – and passions – engendered by those events, as well as opportunities for historians to enhance their work with engaging images.

Felix M. Larkin is a former chairman of the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland, and has published widely on the history of the press in Ireland and other topics.

The evening will begin with a wine, beer, and hors d'oeuvres reception at 5:00pm in the Burns Library Irish Room. The lecture will follow at 6:00pm upstairs in the Thompson Room. All are welcome.

David Jones, Poet

Wednesday, April 3
4:00pm talk, 5:00pm refreshments and archives display
Burns Library

An introduction to the work of WWI war veteran, poet and visual artist David Jones will be presented by the directors of the David Jones Digital Archive, Anna Svendsen, a Lecturer at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and Thomas Berenato, a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia.

Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to view a display of original archival materials from Burns Library's David Jones Collection.

The event will open a two-day text encoding workshop intensive taught by the Cambridge University digital humanities librarians. Details are available from the following link: David Jones TEI Workshop & Archival Display – BCDS.

Dante Day

Monday, March 25
5:00pm - 7:30pm
Burns Library and other locations

In collaboration with the Romance Language and Literatures department, Burns Library will host programming and book display for the celebration of "Dante Day" ('Dantedì'), an annual commemoration of Italy's most celebrated poet and writer, Dante Alighieri. March 25 was chosen as it is recognized by scholars as the day the poet started his journey in the afterlife in the Divine Comedy.

Boston College's celebration will include the following five events:

  • 5:00pm, O'Neill Library plaza (rain location: Gasson 305) - Laurie Shepard (Romance Languages): Stepping into the Divine Comedy
  • 5:30pm, Memorial Labyrinth (rain location: Gasson 305) - Christopher Constas (Philosophy): Dante the Pilgrim
  • 6:00pm, Burns Library - Christian Dupont (Burns Librarian): Display of rare Dante books
  • 6:30pm, Burns Library - Troy Tower (UMass Amherst): Dante and Rap: Legitimization of Verncular Eloquence
  • 7:00pm, Burns Library - Refreshments and conversation

For more information, please contact program organizer Maria Sole Costanzo (Romance Languages) at costanmh@bc.edu or 671-552-2064.

 

"An African composer, a Spanish widow, and St. Ignatius's cousin: An Ash Wednesday celebration of new discoveries in Iberian Renaissance vocal music"

Presented by Professor Michael Noone and the Marian Consort, the British vocal ensemble directed by Rory McCleery

Wednesday, February 14
12:00pm lunch, 12:30pm program
Gasson Hall 100

Before and after the program, Burns Library staff will display a selection of rare books, including a recently acquired collection of motets by Tomás Luis de Victoria printed in Rome in 1585. The Marian Consort will perform pieces by Victoria as well as the Salve Regina composed by Juan de Anchieta, a cousin of St Ignatius. Professor Noone will discuss his discovery of a previously unknown manuscript of Anchieta’s Marian antiphon bound into the covers of an account book held in the archives of the cathedral of Segovia, Spain.