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In the context of a series of workshops funded by the Anneliese Meier Research Prize awarded to me by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, my colleague and collaborator, Prof. Eva Schlotheuber of the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and I would like to invite you to participate in the first of a series of five such gatherings, to be held in Düsseldof between November 14–17, 2016. The workshop, which will coincide with the presentation of our recently completed book on the liturgical manuscripts from the Dominican convent of Paradies bei Soest and of which the majority are held in the University Library in Düsseldorf, will use the manuscripts as the point of departure for a wide-ranging, week-long series of structured discussions of book learning, libraries and liturgical life in the Dominican Order, especially its female branch, both before and after the Order’s reform.

Altogether, we hope to gather about fifteen participants, a mix of faculty from Europe and North America as well as some graduate and post-doctoral students. On account of your expertise, we are inviting you to participate by giving a short presentation (15–20 minutes, followed by ca. 45 minutes of discussion) during one of the morning or afternoon sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. On Thursday afternoon there will be an opportunity to participate in an excursion. Our suggestion is that you present an aspect of your research as it relates to the larger theme of the seminar, a specific set of sources or a particular methodological approach. These sessions will be relatively informal, but to give them focus, we will suggest that a single reading, whether in a primary or secondary sources, be distributed in advance. Otherwise, your only responsibilities will be to participate in the discussion of the other presentations, some of which will take place in the library’s manuscript room in the presence of the manuscripts (D 7, D 9, D 10a, D 11 and D 12), all of which can be consulted on-line in digitized form at www.ulb.hhu.de/forschen-und-erkunden/historische-sammlungen/handschriftensammlung.html.

The Humboldt Foundation will cover your travel expenses (economy or 2nd class), accommodation and the cost of a dinner for the group on the Wednesday (other meals, excluding breakfast at the hotel, are at your own expense).

We envisage this collegial gathering as an opportunity for an intensive, yet relaxed exchange of information and ideas about subjects of common interest to us all. There will be no published proceedings; rather, the workshop is intended to advance our own knowledge and understanding and to define and sharpen new research questions for the future.

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