• A group of students clustered around medieval manuscript

    Students from MDVL 6000: Advanced Seminar in Medieval Studies: Codicology and Latin Paleography examine a medieval manuscript at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

  • Dr. Lofty Durham, wearing glasses, a dark jacket, and a multi-colored striped tie, speaks in front of a screen that reads "Medieval Institute Teaching Series 2023"

    Dr. Lofty Durham leads Medieval Institute graduate assistants in a pedagogy workshop.

  • A group of undergraduate students sit and stand around tables, examining manuscripts and facsimiles

    Undergraduate students in MDVL 2000: Voices of the Middle Ages visit the Zhang Legacy Collections Center to examine rare books, manuscripts, and facsimiles in a Rare Books Lab.

  • Image of Walwood Hall

    Walwood Hall, home to the Medieval Institute

Announcements and Events

 

We regret to announce the passing of Professor John R. Sommerfeldt, the founding director of the Medieval Institute (1961-1978). Prof. Sommerfeldt was instrumental in creating the conference which became the International Congress on Medieval Studies (first meeting 1962). He pioneered the creation of the M.A. program in Medieval Studies at WMU, the first such degree at a state-sponsored institution in North America. He also fostered the development of Cistercian Studies. We are all indebted to his extraordinary contributions to the international community of medievalists.

 

 

MDVL 1000: The Middle Ages, Then and Now, a course designed to introduce students to the medieval past in the modern imagination, was taught for the first time in fall 2022 and fulfills WMU Essential Studies requirements.

MDVL 2000: Voices of the Middle Ages fulfills both Western Essential Studies and General Education requirements.

Medieval Institute Mailing List

The Medieval Institute maintains a mailing list of those interested in its programs, including the International Congress on Medieval Studies. Please let us know if you change your address or you would like to be added to the mailing list.