The
Westermann Medieval Studies Collection, established as part of the Miller Nichols
Library in 2001, has become an important medieval studies resource for students
and teachers at UMKC, as well as researchers across the region. The collection
focuses on the Middle Ages, about 410 AD to 1400 AD, from the fall of Rome
to the Renaissance. The collection contains works from Western Europe, including
England, France, Germany, Italy and the Mediterranean regions. Longtime UMKC
supporters Tom and Cornelia Barr established the collection in honor of Edwin
J. Westermann, history professor emeritus and former dean of the UMKC College
of Arts and Sciences. Westermann was the first University faculty member to
teach courses in medieval history, making UMKC a valuable resource for this
field of study.
A subject search in the MERLIN Library Catalog for Edwin J. Westermann Medieval Studies Collection will allow users to browse the collection by title.
The image at right shows Professor Emeritus Edwin J. Westermann displaying
a page from one of the most famous Bibles of the 12th century, the Bury
Bible, with artwork that is one of the finest examples of European Romanesque
art in existence. The Bury Bible facsimile edition is one of more than 900
books purchased to date for the Westermann Medieval Studies Collection at
the Miller Nichols Library. Donations to keep the collection growing are
welcome. For more information about the collection, please contact Brenda
Dingley, Interim Coordinator for Collection Development.
(Photo courtesy
of UMKC University Communications.)
