TakeNote: An Exploration of Notetaking in Harvard University Collections

October 11, 2012 3:47 PM

TakeNote: An Exploration of Notetaking in Harvard University Collections
TakeNote is a virtual exhibition of historical notes--and note-like things--found in the collections of 13 Harvard University libraries, curated by leading scholars in the history of the book, and sponsored by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The exhibition itself--available in a grid or sortable view--features downloadable high-resolution images, commenting, and tagging. There is also a selection of interpretive itineraries through the exhibit, written by experts in the field (excepting myself), and a bibliography of links and sources related to notetaking. The project is linked to the Take Note Conference, due to take place at Radcliffe (in Cambridge, Mass.) on Nov. 1st and 2nd.

Some of the exhibit's gems:

• A collection of recordings of Greek Orthodox liturgical singing done by Laura Bolton on Mount Patmos in 1960, with mp3s available.
• An illustrated and annotated Japanese falconry manual from the 16th century.
• The delightful diary and doodles of nineteenth-century zoologist A. E. Verrill.
• Discussion in marginalia by readers of 1950s pop-existentialism.
• Text and musical notes from a medieval choirbook.
• Field notes from Baluchistan, Iran, in the 1950s.

And, of course, much, much more!

Role: Curator and coordinator

posted by nasreddin (1 comment total)

This project was posted to MetaFilter by mlis on October 11, 2012: TakeNote: An Exploration of Notetaking in Harvard University Collections

This is so, so cool. I've been fascinated by marginalia and always wanted to start some sort of project related thereto. Mad props.
posted by threeants at 1:38 PM on October 14, 2012