University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences

LIS 2280 – HISTORY OF BOOKS, PRINTING AND PUBLISHING – SPRING 2006

Class meets Wednesday, 6:00 – 8:50 PM, IS 501, 4 January – 29 April, 2006

This syllabus and essential additional information on the assignments and class readings is available on CourseWeb.  Be sure to always check the CourseWeb site for any class updates or announcements during the week prior to each class.

Instructors	Contact information
Bernadette G. Callery	Carnegie Museum of Natural History Library
	Email: calleryb@carnegiemnh.org; Phone: 412-622-8870
	Office hours: by appointment only
Rhonda L. Clark	Email: rlclark@pitt.edu, Phone 824-827-8810 Office hours: Thursdays by appointment

Course Organization:

The topics that fall under the purview of book history are vast and go well beyond the scope of any one course, therefore this course has been organized into weekly themes that provide a selection of key issues and pivotal readings in the field.  The geographic areas of focus are primarily North America and Europe, though some other regions may be considered, depending on the day’s topic.  The class periods will consist of a topical lecture, a discussion of the assigned readings, and a period of hands-on application of the evening's topic or an in-depth lecture demonstration.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course, students should demonstrate

· knowledge of major issues in the history and historiography of the book, as demonstrated by meaningful participation in class discussion, through accurate and insightfully written précis, and through the completion of a term paper.

· the ability to describe varying genres of the book using accurate technical language, as demonstrated by a short description paper.

· the ability to conduct graduate-level research in history of the book, as demonstrated by a term paper of 20-25 pages. 

Course Requirements and Grading:

Class participation  - This course is run as both a lecture course and on the model of a graduate seminar that relies on effective discussion by you.  Participation is a requirement of the course. The level of your participation can influence your overall grade positively or negatively. 

• Students should make every attempt to attend every class session.  If for some reason a student must miss a class, he or she should contact the instructors as soon as possible, but preferably in advance of the class meeting.
• Students should participate in discussions with relevant comments on the readings’ major arguments and importance.
• Students will give a brief, well-organized, clear and compelling presentation of their research findings for their term papers.  This presentation will take place in one of the last two class sessions.  This should be a simple oral presentation – no powerpoint, websites or props unless you feel your presentation cannot be successful without it.  You may prepare a short handout or outline if you so choose.
• Expected level of participation:  student attends every class unless there is a valid reason for missing; student gives effective presentation on his/her research topic; student contributes meaningfully to discussions in most classes.  These contributions could be comments on the readings, well-formed questions that are clearly based on an understanding of the readings, or summary of additional information found that is tied to the classes’ theme for that evening. 

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Precis, [35%]

· Students should come prepared for the week’s discussion by preparing a written précis based on the week’s assigned readings.  The précis will be turned in to be examined by the instructors.  A written précis will be limited to one typed page (single or double-spaced, no smaller than 10 point font, standard one-inch margins around).

·  The précis should point out major or controversial arguments and should assess the success or failure of these arguments.  Such an assessment might examine the author’s background, author bias, sources, clarity of arguments, supporting evidence, competing theories, documentation, organization and writing style.  Students should turn in at least three précis from each outlined portion of class meetings for a total of 9 for the term (three from meetings 2-5, three from meetings 6-11, and three from meetings 12-16).  In the event that a student exceeds the number of précis required in a given set of meetings, the lowest marked précis will be replaced by the extra grade

· All précis are expected to be at the “B” level, hence a check mark indicates at least a B grade.  Précis that are especially strong may receive a “check plus” or a “plus” that would indicate stronger than “B” level work.  A “check minus,” “minus,” or “No credit” would indicate work that is lower than expected.  Students who receive such marks should see one of the instructors to discuss the next writing. 

· Précis will be accepted up to or during the class period that they are used in discussion via email attachment, Courseweb dropbox or in hard copy.  No précis will be accepted after the class period for which they are assigned. A précis turned in by a student not attending class that day may be accepted at the discretion of the instructors.

Description Paper, [25%]

• Using the terminology found in J. Carter’s ABC for Book Collectors, students should select and locate a book in any of the local special library collections such as Hillman Library, the Hunt Institute at CMU, the CMU Libraries Rare Book Collection, the Carnegie Public Library, etc. and describe the physical attributes of the book and its general significance.  While one does not need to prepare a formal bibliographic collation statement, the paper should begin with a complete citation of the work, including place of publication publisher and date, include statements on the pagination and inclusion of plates, type of printing of text and plates, binding materials and style and any special evidence of previous ownership of the item.  A model description will be provided.  This paper will be due on Week 8, February 22
• Please note that while many of the titles in these collections are included in the public online catalog, students may need to call or email and make advance arrangements for use of these items.   While students will be provided with a list of possible libraries and books recommended for this assignment by their librarians, students are free to select other items from these or other collections.
• Papers are due at the beginning of class on the date stipulated in the syllabus.  Any papers turned in late are subject to late penalties. 

Term Paper [40%]

• The research paper should relate to an in-depth treatment of some aspect of the history of the book, printing, or publishing. This paper is intended to enable the student to do in-depth reading and study on some aspect related to the nature of the book and its role in society. These papers should provide critical definitions as needed; review the literature reflecting the nature of the scholarship on the book, printing, and publishing; and evaluate the literature's strengths and weaknesses, including any conclusions about needs in the profession.  Students will need to scan the professional and scholarly literature on the topic of their choice.  Students may examine historical aspects of the book and its production, the evolution of particular genres of the book, the contributions of key figures in the history of the book (both those playing critical roles in the book’s development or who have made substantial contributions to the understanding of the book in modern society), or a other related topics. Students should plan on meeting with the instructor to discuss their paper in order to evaluate their progress; this meeting can be in-person or via e- mail. This paper is due on Week 15, April 20.
• All masters level students are required to hand in a one to two page statement of the intended topic and preliminary bibliography for their paper at Week 7, February 15, 2005 for the instructors’ review and approval.
• Students should adhere to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style in the preparation of their term papers.  Students should acquire, if they do not have a copy already, the most recent edition of Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations published by the University of Chicago Press.  This is a short hand version of the Chicago Manual of Style.  Papers should use the citation formats that employ either footnotes or endnotes, but not parenthetical.  In addition, the use of “Ibid.” should be avoided; instead use shortened title citations.  Any paper submitted not meeting the standards of this style manual loses one letter grade for this assignment. In addition, any papers that are lacking in adequate citation of ideas are subject to a grade of zero for plagiarism.
• Any Ph.D. students should see the instructors by the third week of classes for modifications of written assignments. 
• Papers are due at the beginning of class on the date stipulated in the syllabus.  Any papers turned in late are subject to late penalties.

Concerning Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you need to contact your instructor and the Disability Resources and Services Office, (814) 827-4456, by the second week of the term.  You may be asked to provide documentation of your disability to determine the appropriateness of accommodations.  The Disability Resources and Services Office will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.  You may contact Disability Resources and Services by calling 648-7890 (Voice or TDD) to schedule an appointment.  The office is located in 216 William Pitt Union.

Academic Integrity:

Students in this class will be expected to comply with the University of Pittsburgh’s Policy on Academic Integrity.  Any student suspected of violating this obligation for any reason during the semester will be required to participate in the procedural process, initiated at the instructor level, as outlined in the University Guidelines on Academic Integrity.  (See http://www.fcas.pitt.edu/academicintegrity.html for full policies regarding academic integrity)

Course Schedule:

Weekly class pattern:                6:00-7:10 – Lecture

                                                Ten minute break

                                                7:20 – 8:00 – Discussion of assigned readings

                                                Five minute break

                                                8:05 – 8:50 – Application session

Week/Date	Topic	Readings
Week 1, 4 January	Introduction to class, research methods.  An overview to the approaches to the history of the book	Adams, Thomas R. and Nicolas Barker.  “A new model for the study of the book.” In A potencie of life: books in society, edited by Nicolas Barker, 5-43.  New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2001. AND Sarton, George.  “Notes on the Reviewing of Learned Books.” Isis 41(2):149-158 (July 1950). Highly recommended for reference Mann, Thomas.  Oxford guide to library research.  New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. AND Zboray, Ronald J. and Mary S. Zboray.  A Handbook for the Study of Book History in the United States.  Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Center for the Book, 2000.
Week 2, 11 January	Development of writing systems and letterforms.	Kilgour, Frederick G., The Evolution of the Book.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Week 3, 18 January	Materials, technology and descriptive terminology in the movement from script to print	McKittterick, David.  Print, Manuscript and the Search for Order, 1450-1830.  Cambridge University Press, 2003.  AND Smith, Margaret M.  “The design relationship between the manuscript and the incunable.”  In  A millennium of the book: production, design and illustration in manuscript and print 900-1900, edited by R. Myers and M. Harris, 23-43.  New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 1994.
Week 4, 25 January	Technology and the history of printing	Gaskell, Philip, A New Introduction to Bibliography.  Oak Knoll Press, 1995.  Or Steinberg, S.H.  Five hundred years of printing.  London, British Library.  1996 or earlier editions
Week 5, 1 February	Printing in the social context	Eisenstein, Elizabeth.  The Printing Revolution in Early-Modern Europe.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
Week 6, 8 February	Readers and their changing environment; Guest Lecturer – Richard Cox	Manguel, Alberto, A History of Reading.  New York: A.A. Knopf, 1999.
Week 7, 15 February	The book as physical object.  Technologies and techniques of description Term Paper Topics Due	Petroski, Henry, The Book on the Bookshelf.  New York: A.A. Knopf, 1999.AND Foot, Mirjam M.  “Bookbinding and the history of books.  Pp. 113-126.” in A potencie of life: books in society, edited Nicolas Barker, 113-126.  New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2001. Skim: Carter, John and Nicholas Barker, ABC for Book Collectors.  London: Granada, 1980, or successive editions.
Week 8, 22 February	Literacy Description Paper Due	Altick, Richard D, The English Common Reader: A Social History of the Mass Reading Public, 1800-1900.  Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1998. OR Brooks, Jeffrey, When Russia Learned to Read: Literacy and Popular Literature, 1861-1917.  Princeton University Press, 1988.
Week 9, 1 March	Early libraries and collectors	Casson, Lionel.  Libraries in the Ancient World.  New Haven, Yale University Press, 2001. OR Basbanes, Nicholas, A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes and the Eternal Passion for Books.  New York, 1995.
Week 10, 8 March	Spring Break
Week 11, 15 March,	Development of the public library	Garrison, Dee, Apostles of Culture: the Public Librarian and American Society, 1876-1920.  New York, Free Press, 1979. OR Van Slyck, Abigail A., Carnegie Libraries and American Culture 1890-1920.  Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Week 12, 22 March,	Technologies of illustration	Bridson, G.D.R. and Donald W. Wendel.  Printmaking in the Service of Botany.  Pittsburgh, Hunt Institute, 1996. AND Twyman, Michael, “The emergence of the graphic book in the 19^th century.”  In  A millennium of the book: production, design and illustration in manuscript and print 900-1900, edited by R. Myers and M. Harris, 135-180.  New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 1994.
Week 13, 29 March	Sponsored publishing – intents and distribution mechanisms	Four articles, all required: Bell, Catherine. “`A Precious Raft the Save the World’: The Interaction of Scriptural Traditions and Printing in a Chinese Morality Book.” Late Imperial China 17.1 (1996): 158-200.  access in Project Muse: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/late_imperial_china/v017/17.1bell.html Foster, Frances Smith “A Narrative of the Interesting Origins and (Somewhat) Surprising Developments of African-American Print Culture” American Literary History 17.4 (2005): 714-740 access through Project Muse: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_literary_history/v017/17.4foster.html; Holman, Valerie. “Carefully Concealed Connections:  The Ministry of Information and British Publishing, 1939-1946.” Book History 8 (2005): 197-226.  access in Project Muse: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/book_history/v008/8.1holman.html Parker, Alison M. “`Hearts Uplifted and Minds Refreshed’: The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Production of Pure Culture in the United States, 1880-1930.” Journal of Women’s History 11.2 (1999): 135-158. access through Project Muse: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_womens_history/v011/11.2parker.html
Week 14, 5 April	Special genres of printing: scientific publication, artists books	Johns, Adrian, “Piracy and Usurpation: Natural Philosophy in the Restoration,” pp. 444-542 in The Nature of the Book: Print and Knowledge in the Making.  Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998.
Week 15, 12 April	Censorship and its influence on publishing Term Papers Due	Darnton, Robert.  The Business of Enlightenment: a Publishing History of the Encyclopedie 1775-1800.  Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979.
Week 16, 19 April	Forgeries	Rosenblum, Joseph, Practice to Deceive: The Amazing Stories of Literary Forgery’s Most Notorious Practitioners.  New Castle, Oak Knoll Press, 2000. AND Rapport, Leonard, “Fakes and Facsimiles: Problems of Identification.” American Archivist 42: 13-58 (January 1979) Student presentations begin
Week 17, 26 April	Class wrapup	Student presentations