Events at the Kislak Center

Sep 04

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Italian Herbal

We'll celebrate the start of the semester by bringing out a favorite, first introduced to CWAC in 2022. On September 4, Curator Dot Porter will bring out LJS 419, a 15th century Italian herbal containing a variety of illustrations, accompanied by notes on medicinal properties and preparations of the plants.

• September 4, 2025
• 12:00pm - 12:30pm
• Online

Sep 04

Open to the Public

Made (By Hand): Reflections on Running a Press

Celebrate the opening of the new exhibit Made (By Hand) in the Midwest: The Contre Coup Press, 1979-2019 with a talk by Jessica Peterson, Director of the Common Press.

• September 4, 2025
• 4:30pm - 7:30pm
• Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor; Main Lobby and Kamin Gallery, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, first floor

Sep 09

• Workshop

Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff

Meet the Curators

Five curators from across several different Penn collections will share insights into navigating the rich set of resources available to Penn faculty and instructors.

• September 9, 2025
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm
• Kislak Center Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center

Sep 11

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Maḥzor for Yom Kippur

For Coffee With A Codex on September 11, Judaica Special Collections Cataloging Librarian Louis Meiselman will bring out CAJS Rar Ms 491, a manuscript of the Yom Kippur Maḥzor for the rite of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue written and signed by Eliyahu Delpuget. It was written in Provence in 1663.

• September 11, 2025
• 12:00pm - 12:30pm
• Online

Sep 12

• Symposium

Open to the Public

Making the Medieval Archive: Celebrating Elizabeth A. R. Brown at Penn

This day-long symposium will commemorate Elizabeth (Peggy) A. R. Brown’s extraordinary legacy in the field of Medieval Studies and will mark the official launch of the Elizabeth A. R. Brown Medieval Historians’ archive.

• September 12, 2025
• 10:00am - 7:00pm
• Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts (Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, 6th Floor, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania) & Online

Sep 16

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Illuminated Manuscripts

On Tuesday, September 16, Schoenberg Curator of Manuscripts Nick Herman will talk about the practice of illumination in premodern manuscripts, showing us a variety of manuscripts from Penn's collections.

• September 16, 2025
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm
• Kislak Center Vitale II (Room 623), Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor

Sep 17

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Contemplating the Cosmos

The theme for September is Contemplating the Cosmos and will include manuscripts focused on cosmology, astronomy, and astrology.

• September 17, 2025
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm
• Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor

Sep 18

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Prayer Book & Processional

For Coffee With A Codex on September 18, Curator Dot Porter will bring out Ms. Codex 141, an illuminated prayer book with a processional, and a prayer added in German. Written in Germany ca. 1450.

• September 18, 2025
• 12:00pm - 12:30pm
• Online

Sep 19

• Lecture

Open to the Public

For Future Generations: Indigenous Materials in the Archives

How do archives best care for the Indigenous knowledge in their collections? Emily Leischner will reflect on lessons learned during a year in residence at the Kislak Center.

• September 19, 2025
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm
• Virtual (link will be sent to registrants)