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• 1 media/Cheek_Item0196.jpg 2024-05-05T16:33:07-07:00 Cheek, The Growth and Importance of Literature 9 plain 2024-05-25T11:10:15-07:00 Within the rare book room, I was instantly captivated by the literature section, including volumes written by Shakespeare and a range of other British writers. This initial fascination drew me to continue researching several of the books in the collection having to do with literature and English. I was introduced to exciting books, such as Syr Perceyvelle of Gales. I also continued my research into one of the greatest writers, Shakespeare (in my opinion), and spent lots of time looking at the volumes of his works that we had. I was instantly entranced. The Rare Book Room made a significant impact on me. I got to explore more of what I'm passionate about--literature. This deep dive into old literature excited me and made me more interested in English and how writing developed. This passion expanded into other topics, such as how books are made, the diversity of writing styles, and the evolution of printing through the years. Working within the Rare Book Room made me realize how far book-making and writing have come through the centuries. 
  Working with our collection, however, was not without its challenges. While most items were correctly catalogued, I did encounter some difficulties with the numbering system. The room was a treasure trove of intriguing works, each deserving of in-depth research, but time was a constraint. The allure of the Rare Book Room was such that it was hard to tear myself away. Selecting just two books for this project was a daunting task, but I persevered and chose what I considered to be the most significant ones. 
  
  From the extensive collection in the rare book room, I meticulously chose two books that I believed were vital to the history of literature and that held the most significance. These were Syr Perceyvelle of Gales and F. Theresa Chisholm's Shakespeare Volume (a facsimile of the famous First Folio). Each book possessed unique qualities that set it apart from the rest, making it a perfect representative of literature.
  These two books stood out to me as soon as I saw them. Syr Perceyvelle of Gales has an interesting back story about how it came to be. I loved researching this magnificent and detailed book. It made me appreciate restoring history more than I had before. Secondly, I chose the famous First Folio because Shakespeare is a fantastic writer, and the lithography provides a direct reproduction of this famous, posthumous collection of his works. This book also revealed the history of Saint Mary’s, in that it was awarded to in memory of a professor who once taught here, making this book even more unique. 
  
  I hope the viewer of this project sees the importance of the literature I chose. The two works I have chosen are unique in their own ways and contribute to the world of literature in different ways. One encapsulates an idealization of old manuscripts and medieval writing, and the other shows both the works of a legendary playwright and the modern innovations of printing that have helped to spread Shakespeare's amazing works to new audiences in the modern day. 
  
  Laynie Cheek
  English and Secondary Education Majors
  Class of 2027
• 1 media/Sutherland_DC_1497_outside0017.jpg 2024-04-23T13:08:10-07:00 F. Theresa Chisholm Shakespeare Volumes (The famous First Folio) 6 plain 2024-04-23T13:46:08-07:00 This publication of William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies was dedicated to F. Theresa Chisholm. F. Theresa Chisholm has shown the most commendable improvement in drama and theatre performance during her studies at Saint Mary's. She was an instructor in speech and drama at Saint Mary's College. She was awarded the Achievement Award in Performing Arts in 1987 due to her teaching skills, artistic interpretation, and devotion to her students. She laid the foundation for the growth and recognition of Saint Mary's excellence in communication and theatre studies. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1943 and is interred in St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. 
  William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, commonly known as the First Folio, is a collection of plays written by William Shakespeare. It was originally published in 1623, about seven years after Shakespeare's death, and is considered one of the most influential books ever published. This collection of plays is a testament to Shakespeare's genius and literary prowess and includes some of the greatest works of English literature.
  
  Shakespeare's works are still widely celebrated and studied today, and for good reason. He invented a multitude of words and phrases that are still in common use. The First Folio includes many of his most famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Tempest. The plays in the First Folio are arranged into three categories: comedies, histories, and tragedies.
  This production in the Saint Mary’s rare book room of The First Folio was originally published by Day and Son, Lithographers, and Publishers in 1866, using the relatively new lithographic printing process. Lithography is a printing process that involves creating an image of the content to be printed on a plate, which is then covered in ink and used for printing. Alois Senefelder discovered this type of printing in 1798. Soon after Alois Senefelder's discovery, lithography became popular among many artists in France during the mid-1800s. 
  
  Lithography allowed for the creation of high-quality reproductions of Shakespeare's plays, which helped to spread his works and influence beyond England. Additionally, lithography allowed for the creation of beautiful and intricate illustrations to accompany the text, further enhancing the plays' visual appeal. Overall, the First Folio is a remarkable piece of literary history and a testament to William Shakespeare's enduring influence and importance for future generations.