Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

“Beyond the Binding: Medieval Manuscripts from Farm to Fragment” exhibition reception welcomes record number of visitors 

December 9th, 2025

On Friday, December 5, 2025, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections welcomed over 100 guests to celebrate the opening of “Beyond the Binding: Medieval Manuscripts from Farm to Fragment.” The reception, held on the 3rd floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center, showcased the culmination of a semester’s work by students in ILS 595: Medieval Manuscript Studies.

Curated by ten student curators—Noelia Alvarez, Annemarie Bryans, Sidney Ducleroir, Roma Koroneos, Amanda Laughery, Lauren Matthews, Kat McCormick, Abby Riehl, Scarlett Strong, and Carri Jane Tenniswood—the exhibition brought together centuries-old artifacts with fresh scholarly insight, demonstrating the power of hands-on learning and material history.

During the event, guests explored both the loaned manuscripts from the Les Enluminures Manuscripts in the Curriculum program and items from Purdue’s own collections, with many visitors expressing surprise and delight at the opportunity to view medieval materials up close. Family, friends, faculty, community members, and students filled the space with lively conversation about script, artistry, and preservation.

A transformative semester of student research

Throughout the fall semester, students studied the foundations of medieval bookmaking: parchment production, ink and pigment preparation, codicology, paleography, illumination, provenance, and the circulation of texts. Their research culminated not only in written analysis but in the public curation of an exhibition designed to make medieval materials accessible to the campus and the community.

Over the course of just four days, students installed the exhibit, transforming the space into a celebration of medieval craftsmanship, historical inquiry, and student scholarship. Their excitement was evident, as many shared how meaningful it was to work directly with materials they had once assumed were available only to career archivists or scholars.

Faculty collaboration and community support

ILS 595 was led by Assistant Professor Kristin Leaman and Clinical Associate Professor Adriana Harmeyer, who highlighted both the deeply collaborative nature of the project and the exceptional support it received from partners across Purdue and beyond.

Special thanks were extended to:

• Les Enluminures, including Kathleen Kennedy and Sandra Hindman, whose Manuscripts in the Curriculum program made possible the loan of nine medieval manuscripts.
• Joanne Troutner, whose generosity funded the materials loan and supported the course experience.
• Dr. Michael Johnston (Purdue English), who brought the program to Purdue’s attention and co-wrote the program application and grant proposals, offered two public workshops with the loan materials and conducted a workshop on paleography for ILS 595 students.
• Dr. Charlotte Ross (Purdue English) conducted a workshop on medieval scripts for the ILS 595 students.
• Dr. Elizabeth Hebbard (Indiana University) led a workshop on manuscript fragments and material analysis for the ILS 595 students.

Student perspectives

During the reception, five students—Noelia Alvarez, Scarlett Strong, Lauren Matthews, Amanda Laughery, and Roma Koroneos—spoke about their experiences, reflecting on the accessibility of archives, the thrill of handling centuries-old manuscripts, and the transformative impact of interdisciplinary learning.

Alvarez reflected on her journey into archives and said, “Before taking this course, I always wondered how people got into archives and museums. I never really took the time in my studies to actually explore that part…I initially had this very stereotypical view of what libraries do… But looking at the annotations on their manuscripts it made me also reflect on what I think about history. And honestly, if it wasn’t for the libraries, I don’t think I’d be in this room talking to all of you.”

Strong spoke about the tactile and human aspect of handling manuscripts, and said, “These materials have lasted for centuries for scholars and students like us to learn from them…They’re just regular people like you and me. We believe that these items are important, and they’re important for future generations for their knowledge to grow and expand.”

Continuing access and lasting impact

“Beyond the Binding” is on display Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM through December 19, 2025. While the loaned manuscripts will return to Les Enluminures, the Purdue collections featured in “Beyond the Binding” remain accessible to anyone interested in continuing their exploration in the Archives and Special Collections reading room. As Harmeyer noted at the reception, community access is central to the mission of both Purdue Libraries and the Manuscripts in the Curriculum program.

The evening underscored what Purdue University Archives and Special Collections does best: create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect students, scholars, and the community to history in tangible, transformative ways.

Congratulations to the student curators, faculty, and partners who brought this exhibition to life—and thank you to all who joined us for this unforgettable evening.

For questions, contact archives@purdue.edu. Anyone interested in viewing the Purdue materials following the exhibition may visit the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections website to schedule a reading room appointment.

Learn more about how the exhibition came to be on our blog.