Ray Clemens
Medievalist: retired curator of early books and manuscripts (Beinecke Library, Yale University), Latin Paleography, Middle English Paleography, Book History, Hagiography.
- I had a wonderful time at Lectures on Tap at Theory in Chicago last night. Great audience and fun questions. Highly recommend their events. lecturesontap.com
- Reposted by Ray ClemensI wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
- If you haven’t read the FBI file on the song “Louie Louie” it’s worth a look. vault.fbi.gov/louie-louie-...
- From ISU's Carthusian Breviary. Any idea who the saint is ? Stephen the protomartyr (stoned to death) or Antony (self-mortification)?
- Wanted to share this beautiful miniature from Illinois State University’s Special Collections. These are from a Carthusian Breviary.
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- Some shameless self promotion if anyone happens to be in Chicago and wants a beer and a talk on medieval manuscripts.
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- Chicago No Kings Rally. 10/18/2025
- Fascinating micro-history done in the Newberry collections by a U of Chicago intern about a man charged with bigamy. www.newberry.org/blog/constru...
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- Chris Fletcher’s new book is out and it’s open access! I’ve heard him speak on it and it sounds fascinating and very helpful for those teaching public humanities. www.arc-humanities.org/978180270096...
- This unusual animal? is from Newberry Ayer MS 612, a seventeenth century copy of Tarih-i Yeni Dünya, el-musemma be hadis-i nev, A History of the India of the West, written in Turkish. I hope to post more, especially amazing maps that accompany the manuscript.
- I saw this amazing manuscript at Illinois State University yesterday. They’ve really beefed up their medieval holdings since I taught there. I’ll be posting on them soon. This is a thirteenth-century record of punishments from Italy. Love the parchment.
- I’m doing my best to be a cranky old man but I have to admit I love the over-the-top Halloween decorations in my neighborhood.
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- Our brave troops patrolling the rough Gold Coast community in front of the Newberry Library. Keeping our manuscripts safe from their rightful owners, uh, I mean immigrants.
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- This is a wild “D” from Newberry Case MS 1 (French?, 11th century). I see Irish influence—can someone help me find parallels or tell me I’m crazy? I love how rough 11th century parchment is and the wonderful letterforms particularly the x that takes up the space of two normal letters.
- Happy “E” for Monday! Ecce! Behold! From Newberry Library MS Case 1. French? Early 11th Century.
- Happy dog.
- Yesterday I had the opportunity to play with this beautiful manuscript the Newberry Library. This is Newberry MS Case 1, a homiliary from the early 11th century. Love the elongated format. Likely France.
