PETERBOROUGH-BASED INTERNSHIPS IN PUBLIC TEXTS

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1 PETERBOROUGH-BASED INTERNSHIPS IN PUBLIC TEXTS This document outlines options and procedures for Peterborough-based Internships. For Toronto-based Internships, through the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College, see the Public Texts website. AIMS AND PROCEDURES 1. Role of Internships in the Program Aim. In pursuing our aim of deepening our students' understanding of Public Texts, both through theoretical and historical inquiry and through practical engagement with the process of literary production, we will offer internships as an option in students' research programs. Course Credit. The internships will count as one credit in the 4-credit program. Required Course Work. Before beginning the internships students will have completed all required course work: 1 core course (1 credit) 4 elective courses (total of 2 credits) Colloquium (Pass/Fail) Research and Professional Development Seminar (Pass/Fail) 2. Schedule and Requirements of Internship Formulation Proposal. A member of the core faculty will be assigned to each student proposing to do an internship. Under the guidance of the faculty supervisor the student will develop a proposal situating the internship in an area relevant to the student's research: e.g., archives, censorship, textual editing, history of the book, text and hypertext. Internship Placement Agreement. The student, faculty advisor (representing the University) and the placement supervisor (representing the host organization) will sign an agreement outlining the expectations and roles of each. (See Internship Placement Agreement.) Presentation of Proposal. The student will present the internship proposal at the final session of the Research and Professional Development Seminar in April. Schedule. The internship will begin as soon as possible after the presentation of the proposal, and will usually last for 2 or 3 months. Report from Placement Supervisor. As soon as possible after the completion of the internship, the placement supervisor will present a report to the faculty supervisor on the student's work (except in cases where the placement and faculty supervisor are the same. See below.) Research Paper. If the report from the placement report is favourable, the student will write a research paper of approximately 30 pages, analyzing the experience of the internship in relation to the proposed area of research. The research paper will be submitted to the faculty supervisor by August 15 at the latest. Assessment. The number grade on the internship will be based entirely on this research paper; but a favourable placement report is a prerequisite for successful completion of the internship. 1

2 3. Types of Placements There will be 3 different types of placements. 1. with institutions primarily involved in the production or circulation of public texts (e.g., publishing houses, journals or newspapers, libraries or archives) 2. with community institutions requiring assistance in developing print or digital public texts (e.g., museums, art galleries, Ministry of Natural Resources, community arts organizations) 3. with faculty members working on the production of public texts AGREEMENTS IN PRINCIPLE We have arrived at agreements in principle for a number of internship placements. The agreements are only in principle at this stage, since the details of particular arrangements will require negotiations among the student, the University and the host organization. The following is a list of the results, divided into the three different categories noted above: 1. INSTITUTIONS PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OR CIRCULATION OF PUBLIC TEXTS Broadview Press Broadview Press is a publisher of books in the humanities and social sciences, handling production and distribution through its Peterborough office. Two possibilities for internships have been proposed, one providing a more general overview of the publishing process, the other focussed on a particular project. Broadview Editions Professor Leonard Conolly is Series Editor for Broadview Editions. An intern under his direction could track (and assist with) the full editorial and production process from receipt of manuscript to publication. Since he works on about twenty editions a year there would be plenty of opportunities for interns. Trent University Library Janice Millard, Gifts and Collections Librarian The Blossoming of Canadian Literature The Trent University Library has a fine collection of Canadian literature. There are many possible internship projects that would involve not only the books themselves but the publishers and editors as well. In each case the project could lead to a library exhibit. Some possibilities: 1. Ryerson Poetry Chapbook series. An examination of our collection of the Ryerson Poetry Chapbook series titles, an early effort to publish and promote Canadian poetry, would shed light on the role of the Ryerson Press and Lorne Pierce in promoting the growth of poetry in Canada. 2. Art in Canadian literature. A number of well-known artists have provided illustrations for Canadian books. One could examine these artists and their works. 3. Literature by Canadian First Nations People. We regularly collect works by Canadian First Nations Peoples. These works could be examined and a bibliography created. 2

3 Research, Writing and Publication. In the Archives we have the fonds of a number of people and organizations who have written and published books and journals. Examination of any one of them would show the process of going from an idea to a published work. Again, in each case the project could lead to a library exhibit. Some possibilities: 1. Wayland Drew. A well-known writer of Canadian science fiction, we have his books, but in addition, in the Archives we have his papers correspondence, research drafts etc. Drew also created novels from a number of film scripts. How is it done? Examination of these titles in particular would demonstrate a type of writing that some may not immediately think of when they think of creative writing. 2. The Creation of Early Days in Haliburton. In the Archives we have the research and manuscripts for Harley R. Cummings' book, Early Days in Haliburton. Rather than being a drama, novel or poetry, it demonstrates the creation of a local history a different form of public text, local history. 3. Journal of Canadian Studies. We have the papers of the Journal. A historical look at these documents would shed light on the journal publishing industry in Canada and specifically as it relates to Canadian Studies. Marisa Scigiliano, Technical Services Librarian Bookbinding & Illustration in Children s Books The Trent Archives, Special Collections, house the "Holmes Collection" of children s books spanning the decades of the 20 th century. An internship focussing on this collection could provide a student with the opportunity to examine characteristics such as bookbinding and illustration. One of the results could be an annotated exhibition with accompanying guide. Banned Books Libraries and organizations have played a key role in defending banned books. For example, for over twenty years Canada s Book and Periodical Council has sponsored an annual Freedom to Read Week. An intern with an interest in banned books could investigate the role of libraries and/or organizations in promoting the freedom to read. The focus of the internship could be federal, provincial, or regional. The fruits of such a project would make an excellent exhibition at the Library. Moving to Digital Trent is home to the Portuguese Studies Review a peer-reviewed journal devoted to promoting interdisciplinary scholarly study of the countries, regions, and communities that share a Portuguese or Brazilian legacy. The journal is currently published print format, and there is a great desire to move from print to electronic. There are other journals attached to recently hired tenure-track appointments that are also housed at Trent which may be candidates for digitization. An intern might investigate the feasibility, mechanics, and economics of moving a journal from print to digital environment. This could serve as a model for the publication of future journals in digital format. 3

4 2. COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS Art Gallery of Peterborough Publication Program The Art Gallery of Peterborough is undertaking a new publication program. This will involve the production of 2 or 3 catalogues a year, and a several broadsheets in essay/poster format devoted to particular exhibitions. Interns could be involved in preparing and editing material for these publications. Documenting and Collection and Making it Available over the Web The Art Gallery is currently engaged in an ongoing project of documenting their collection (of which only about 2% is on display at any given time) with the aim of making information on the collection available in print and on the Web. Interns could be involved in: 1. preparing guidelines for the recording of the material 2. writing database entries for each item, including abstracts 3. preparing publication material in print and electronic format 4th-Line Theatre 4th Line Theatre is a Canadian theatre group which, since 1992, has specialized in outdoor productions of original plays with historic and cultural significance. There are numerous possibilities for internships dealing with the production and circulation of public texts and the relationship between texts and their publics. Researching Material for Scripts Most 4th-Line theatre plays are based on local history: e.g., struggles between Catholics and Protestants in Cavan County (The Cavan Blazers), the history of the Millbrook Fair (Fair Play), the tragic life and death, near Rice Lake, of the author of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (The Devil and Joseph Scriven). Interns could help with the extensive research into published, unpublished and oral sources involved in the preparation of these scripts. Developing Scripts Scripts for 4th-Line performances, some of which are written by individual playwrights, others of which are develop co-operatively, all go through an intensive workshopping process. Interns could participate in this process as a way of investigating the development of a theatrical text from initial concept to performance script. For details of this process from "Seeding" to "First Look" see "How Our Plays Are Developed: ( Editing Scripts for Publication Three 4 th Line scripts have been published Doctor Barnardo's Children, The Cavan Blazers, and Crow Hill: The Telephone Play and there are plans to publish more. Interns could be involved in preparing scripts for publication as theatrical texts and could provide introductions and notes locating the scripts in their historical context and outlining their development. Adapting Scripts for Different Audiences and Venues 4 th Line plays are all conceived for outdoor performance, but there are plans to adapt some scripts for performance in other venues. One possibility for future adaptations would be for touring school performances. Another possibility currently under development is the adaptation of The Cavan Blazers, which 4

5 explores nineteenth century religious conflicts among Irish immigrants in Cavan Township, for performance in Cavan County, Ireland. This would involve adaptation not only for indoor performance and but also for an Irish rather than a Canadian audience. Interns could be involved in this adaptation process which would be highly relevant to considerations of the circulation of public texts through performance and to their reception by various publics. Archives Over the past fifteen years 4th-Line Theatre has amassed an extensive body of material of great artistic and historical interest, consisting of printed texts in various states of development, photographs, and video and audio recordings. There is considerable interest in organizing this material into a well-organized and well catalogued archive, which would not only make it available for study but would also greatly facilitate future re-staging and publication of scripts. Interns could play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining such an Archives. Ministry of Natural Resources The Ministry of Natural Resources is beginning a series of projects to communicate information in a given area to diverse publics as part of a unified publication program involving print and digital media, posters and signage. One such project, on which work will soon begin, will involve water: floods, drought, dam failure, erosion, and bedrock soil instability. Others will involve such issues as climate change and biodiversity. Interns would be involved in one or more of three stages of such projects: 1. auditing: determining what material is available, the nature of the publics being addressed, what is the most appropriate means of communicating with those publics 2. planning: developing a plan for communicating the key issues to the various publics 3. publication: developing material for publication 5

6 Peterborough Arts Umbrella Peterborough Arts Umbrella is dedicated to serving practitioners of all artistic disciplines in Peterborough and surrounding area. Among its aims is to enhance public awareness of artistic activities within the community; to facilitate communication among local artists and arts organizations; to enhance co-operation and co-ordination among those involved in cultural creation and appreciation. There are two areas in which the Arts Umbrella sees an important role for interns. Developing a Media Strategy A major role of the Arts Umbrella is enhancing public awareness of cultural activities in the community. It does so through three different kinds of publication: 1. Traditional print publications (Peterborough Arts Umbrella Newsletter, posters, catalogues) 2. A moderated website (under development) which invites members of the community to submit work in all medias for electronic distribution. 3. A open site on YouTube available to anyone who wishes to post to it. An intern could help with the production, development and comparative analysis of these three modes of publication. Archives The extensive archives of the Peterborough Arts Umbrella were completely destroyed in the Peterborough Flood of 2004 and, though material has since continued to accumulate, the archives have not yet been re-established. An intern could work on developing an archival strategy for multi-media material and preparing a print and online catalogue. Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives Exhibition and Educational Texts The Museum is currently engaged in revising and developing textual material for exhibitions and educational purposes. This involves signage, catalogues and "reading objects" texts texts devoted to individual objects with the intention of helping students and visitors to the Museum to understand what they represent and what they have to tell us. Under the guidance of the Museum Curator, interns could be involved in the preparation, writing and editing of these various forms of public texts. 3. FACULTY MEMBERS WORKING ON THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC TEXTS Leonard Conolly Edition of Plays of George Bernard Shaw Professor Leonard Conolly is editing a series of plays by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries for use by the Shaw Festival in the 2010 season. Interns will be responsible for annotating the texts of the plays, creating primary and secondary bibliographies, and locating contextual materials (e.g., reviews and photographs of original productions, social and 6

7 political background documents, literary and dramatic sources). Bound copies of the editions will be presented to the Shaw Festival, and, in the case of Shaw, will be added to a national on-line data base of Shaw's work. Michael Peterman James McCaroll Professor Peterman is working on two volumes on now-forgotten poet, humorist, editor, and musician James McCarroll ( ). An intern could help in the compilation and completion of a volume of his selected writings (partially prepared at present) and in the final stages of research for the biography which he is in the process of writing. This research is closely involved in 19thcentury newspaper and magazines and related documentation. Publication of both volume is expected within two years I hope to see both volumes through to publication within two years. Other Projects Professor Peterman is currently undertaking several new projects (in which publishers have expressed a strong interest) in which an intern might be involved: 1) a guide and source book on Kawartha area writers 2) an edition of Susanna Moodie's Flora Lyndsay; or, Passages in an Eventful Life (1854), which is the third volume (written as a novel) of her emigration trilogy and never since 1854 republished 3) a contextualized edition of Moodie's two early pamphlets (c. 1831) on instances of slavery in the West Indies--"The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave, as Related by Herself" which has become a very important document worldwide as the testimony of a once-enslaved black woman from Antigua, and "Negro Slavery Described by a Negro: Being the Narrative of Ashton Warner; a Native of St. Vincents." Elizabeth Popham Hypertext Edition of the Complete Letters of E.J. Pratt Professor Popham is co-editor of the Letters of E.J. Pratt and coordinator of the hypertext edition. Interns will assist in the planning of an updated interface for this digital edition and archive, and be involved in the editing process, coding of documents, and design and production of critical apparatus. The research essay will evaluate the adaptation of principles and practices of print publication to digital media. Zailig Pollock Edition of Complete Poems of P.K. Page Professor Pollock is editor of the Complete Poems of P.K. Page and General Editor of the Collected Works of P.K. Page. The volumes in this series will have both a print and online component. Interns could be involved in various stages of the editorial process transcription, proofreading, researching and verifying source material and explanatory material and encoding the material in TEI for 7

8 online publication. The research essay will concentrate on the strengths and limitations of TEI and electronic mark-up in general. Margaret Steffler Edition of Mexican Journals of P.K. Page The student will participate in the editing of P.K. Page's Mexican journals, to be published as part of the Collected Works of P.K. Page. The internship will include textual editing and the research of historical, political and cultural references. The research essay will concentrate on methods of editing and research, in the context of the Page project as a whole. The Production and Reception of Early Canadian Children s Literature The student will study the development and production of the book by Canadian authors for Canadian children during a specific time period in the nineteenth or early twentieth century. The research essay will summarize and evaluate the methods of research used in order to collect the relevant information. Michael Treadwell Papers Eighteenth-Century Book Trade Database The late Michael Treadwell, the world's leading expert on the eighteenth-century book trade, was preparing a biographical dictionary of eighteenth century printers and publishers at the time of his death. After his death, his extensive notes for the project were scanned and uploaded onto the Trent University web site, and access to them was granted to a group of scholars who had consulted Professor Treadwell's work over the years. Recently Professor Michael L. Turner, President of the Oxford Bibliographical Society, has requested that this website be officially linked to a database on the London Book Trade being published by the [London] Bibliographical Society and the Oxford Bibliographical Society, which will be mounted by the Institute of English Studies at the University of London, School of Advanced Study. Among other institutions involved in this project are the Stationers' Company and the Bodleian Library. Professor Turner comments on the notes: "I can only repeat that I am constantly amazed how often in trying to resolve a problem I find that Michael had already done so or documented the evidence. They are truly amazing notes and would add a great deal to the value of the project." Trent University has agreed to participate in this project. However, the notes, which as scanned images are not searchable, would be even more valuable if they were inputted directly into the London Book Trade Database. This could be a long time project involving a number of interns. 8