Scope and Content of Collection
The Myra Dickman Orth research papers document Orth's education and research from her
student years until the last months before her death in November 2002. They are a testament
to the extent of Orth's research interests and her prominent role in French Renaissance
studies, and reveal a scholar's working methods before the widespread use of the Internet
and digitization. Very few documents are related to Orth's personal life.
The archive is arranged in four series. Series I relates to Orth's education and consists
of her art history course notebooks dating from her Cornell and Institute of Fine Arts
periods, and copies of her theses for the MA and the PhD.
Series II forms the bulk of the archive and consists of notes, drawings, bibliography,
publications and documentation that reflect Orth's working methods, her interests and
research topics. This portion of the archive documents her research on French Renaissance
manuscripts, printed books, humanism and other topics. Included are files related to Orth's
publications, lectures, and research tools, such as slides, offprints, photographs,
negatives, index cards and microfilms.
Series III consists of teaching materials, including Orth's preparation notes for courses
taught at the American College in Paris, the University of Virginia and UCLA. Series IV
consists of Orth's correspondence with scholars and researchers, including François Avril,
Colin Eisler, and Patricia Stirnemann.
Arrangement
Arranged in four series:
Series I.
Education, 1952-1995;
Series II. Publications and research,
1970-2003;
Series III.
Teaching files, 1963-2002;
Series IV. Correspondence, 1966-2002.
|