Carin Ruff
@carinr.bsky.social
Medievalist, Latinist, paleographer, Episcopalian, with novel in progress. DC-based, with beagle. Web: ruffnotes.org
Cover image is from the Reichenau Gospels, Walters Art Museum MS W7 fol. 7r.
Cover image is from the Reichenau Gospels, Walters Art Museum MS W7 fol. 7r.
Pinned
Carin Ruff
@carinr.bsky.social
· Feb 25
Pinned intro: Most days I make a post about medieval manuscripts associated with a saint of the day and discuss their #paleography. I generally follow medievalists, book history people, Episcopal/Anglican folks, and local Washington, DC history/civic affairs/statehood peeps.
This is the feast of John of Damascus, died 749, patron saint of pharmacists, iconographers, and theology students. 🕯️ Here he is at the opening of a 15c MS of his De fide orthodoxa in the 12c Latin translation by Burgundo of Pisa, himself a very interesting guy. #medievalsky
December 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This is the feast of John of Damascus, died 749, patron saint of pharmacists, iconographers, and theology students. 🕯️ Here he is at the opening of a 15c MS of his De fide orthodoxa in the 12c Latin translation by Burgundo of Pisa, himself a very interesting guy. #medievalsky
Reposted by Carin Ruff
We’ll be running our introduction to manuscript studies again in June 2026. There’s an early bird discount if you book this month, but if students are interested please encourage them to book early as this course has limited places 👇 📚📖✏️💻
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
Introduction to Palaeography and Manuscript Studies
This course introduces students to key skills for the study of medieval manuscripts, from the making of parchment to reading text and imagery
ies.sas.ac.uk
December 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
We’ll be running our introduction to manuscript studies again in June 2026. There’s an early bird discount if you book this month, but if students are interested please encourage them to book early as this course has limited places 👇 📚📖✏️💻
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
Good morning from Dolly!
December 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Good morning from Dolly!
Reposted by Carin Ruff
One reason that I was looking at this was to jog my memory. I am trying to find 13th -14th C manuscripts with this type of penwork... spiderweb type tendrils - can anyone think of any examples? It's a case of, I am sure that I have looked at examples in the past, but can't recall where...🤦♂️
December 4, 2025 at 8:39 AM
One reason that I was looking at this was to jog my memory. I am trying to find 13th -14th C manuscripts with this type of penwork... spiderweb type tendrils - can anyone think of any examples? It's a case of, I am sure that I have looked at examples in the past, but can't recall where...🤦♂️
Advice for living: Get yourself a friend who when she arrives after a transatlantic flight will listen to you natter on about textual criticism over hot cocoa, follow your argument, and ask intelligent questions that clarify your thinking despite jetlag. +
December 4, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Advice for living: Get yourself a friend who when she arrives after a transatlantic flight will listen to you natter on about textual criticism over hot cocoa, follow your argument, and ask intelligent questions that clarify your thinking despite jetlag. +
Kimber's Men and the Longest Johns together!
youtu.be/-h72GejbgJ8?...
youtu.be/-h72GejbgJ8?...
The Final Trawl | The Longest Johns & Kimbers Men
YouTube video by The Longest Johns
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Kimber's Men and the Longest Johns together!
youtu.be/-h72GejbgJ8?...
youtu.be/-h72GejbgJ8?...
I am not good at mentally rotating 3D widgets on exams and it turns out I am also not good at imagining how much text *isn't* on a fragment's former leaf, even though it's only a 2D calculation.
December 4, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I am not good at mentally rotating 3D widgets on exams and it turns out I am also not good at imagining how much text *isn't* on a fragment's former leaf, even though it's only a 2D calculation.
‼️ 👀
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 11:14 PM
‼️ 👀
Nothing like a friend visiting from Scotland to remind me that though I may feel like there's no daylight anymore, I really have nothing to complain about.
December 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Nothing like a friend visiting from Scotland to remind me that though I may feel like there's no daylight anymore, I really have nothing to complain about.
Blubrics!
Still at Nelson-Atkins and having entirely too much fun to stop and post (I’ll post more soon!) but couldn’t resist sharing these blue rubrics! Blubrics! 💙💙💙😍
@peripheralmss.bsky.social #midwestmss #medievalsky #medievalmss #manuscripts #fragments
@peripheralmss.bsky.social #midwestmss #medievalsky #medievalmss #manuscripts #fragments
December 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Blubrics!
We're a little light on saints now that Advent has started, & I'm a little short on time, but here's my monthly reminder that all of the 10+ months of saints+manuscripts posts so far are linked at my site, with direct links to the digitized mss used in the posts. #medievalsky
ruffnotes.org/saints/
ruffnotes.org/saints/
Saints+Manuscripts at BlueSky
In mid-January 2025, I began making posts on BlueSky most days in which I post one or more medieval manuscripts associated with a saint in the calendar for that day. (I work from several calendars:…
ruffnotes.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We're a little light on saints now that Advent has started, & I'm a little short on time, but here's my monthly reminder that all of the 10+ months of saints+manuscripts posts so far are linked at my site, with direct links to the digitized mss used in the posts. #medievalsky
ruffnotes.org/saints/
ruffnotes.org/saints/
Reposted by Carin Ruff
An exquisite initial M, from the works of the early Christian writer Lactantius. Printed at #Venice by Vindelinus de Spira in 1472 & soon after decorated in the white vine style. In England by the sixteenth century & on the shelves @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1715. Inc.2.B.3.1b[1333].
December 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
An exquisite initial M, from the works of the early Christian writer Lactantius. Printed at #Venice by Vindelinus de Spira in 1472 & soon after decorated in the white vine style. In England by the sixteenth century & on the shelves @theulspeccoll.bsky.social in 1715. Inc.2.B.3.1b[1333].
Reposted by Carin Ruff
This morning, in Birmingham, a blue plaque commemorating the life and work of John Baskerville was installed on the facade of Baskerville House. Hurrah!
December 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This morning, in Birmingham, a blue plaque commemorating the life and work of John Baskerville was installed on the facade of Baskerville House. Hurrah!
Listening to @thespouterinn.bsky.social's latest episode, I was reminded that there was a time in my life when I read plays a LOT, just for fun. I remember spending hours with the annual compilations of best plays in the school library.
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Listening to @thespouterinn.bsky.social's latest episode, I was reminded that there was a time in my life when I read plays a LOT, just for fun. I remember spending hours with the annual compilations of best plays in the school library.
I am watching the video from earlier today of the funeral of Dr. Torrence Thomas and it is immensely moving. ⚓
www.youtube.com/live/GVuAeRQ...
www.youtube.com/live/GVuAeRQ...
In Celebration of and in Thanksgiving for the Life of Dr. Torrence Thomas
YouTube video by Washington National Cathedral
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I am watching the video from earlier today of the funeral of Dr. Torrence Thomas and it is immensely moving. ⚓
www.youtube.com/live/GVuAeRQ...
www.youtube.com/live/GVuAeRQ...
Reposted by Carin Ruff
Old woman feeding a cat, who appears understandably skeptical about this procedure. By David III Ryckaert, whose birthday is today.
December 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Old woman feeding a cat, who appears understandably skeptical about this procedure. By David III Ryckaert, whose birthday is today.
Reposted by Carin Ruff
As a little treat for you, here's an #ArabicBible Advent calendar 🧵. Every day I'll post a verse from the Christmas story from one of the oldest Arabic Gospel lectionaries, Sinai ar. 72, dated 897 CE (and a few other texts in between). [2nd attempt, I won't be offended if you point out my nonsense.]
December 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
As a little treat for you, here's an #ArabicBible Advent calendar 🧵. Every day I'll post a verse from the Christmas story from one of the oldest Arabic Gospel lectionaries, Sinai ar. 72, dated 897 CE (and a few other texts in between). [2nd attempt, I won't be offended if you point out my nonsense.]
Good night from Dolly, who provisionally approves the new comforter.
December 2, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Good night from Dolly, who provisionally approves the new comforter.
Reposted by Carin Ruff
Initial 'P'(aulus) at the beginning ofEpistula ad Galatas, depicting St Paul
Bodleian Library MS. Canon. Bibl. Lat. 76; Psalter and New Testament (Volume III of the ‘Ranshofen Bible’); c. 1140-1150; Austria, Salzburg (?); f.149r
Bodleian Library MS. Canon. Bibl. Lat. 76; Psalter and New Testament (Volume III of the ‘Ranshofen Bible’); c. 1140-1150; Austria, Salzburg (?); f.149r
December 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Initial 'P'(aulus) at the beginning ofEpistula ad Galatas, depicting St Paul
Bodleian Library MS. Canon. Bibl. Lat. 76; Psalter and New Testament (Volume III of the ‘Ranshofen Bible’); c. 1140-1150; Austria, Salzburg (?); f.149r
Bodleian Library MS. Canon. Bibl. Lat. 76; Psalter and New Testament (Volume III of the ‘Ranshofen Bible’); c. 1140-1150; Austria, Salzburg (?); f.149r
Reposted by Carin Ruff
Link to the full description of the Cathach and digitised images:
www.ria.ie/collections/...
www.ria.ie/collections/...
The Cathach / The Psalter of St Columba - Royal Irish Academy
RIA MS 12 R 33 A.D. 560-600
www.ria.ie
December 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Link to the full description of the Cathach and digitised images:
www.ria.ie/collections/...
www.ria.ie/collections/...
Reposted by Carin Ruff
An exciting moment last week meeting the @rialibrary.bsky.social Cathach manuscript (MS 12 R 33)! Dated c. 560-600 CE and traditionally ascribed to St Colmcille, the manuscript is Ireland’s oldest surviving copy of the Latin Psalter 📜🎉
December 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
An exciting moment last week meeting the @rialibrary.bsky.social Cathach manuscript (MS 12 R 33)! Dated c. 560-600 CE and traditionally ascribed to St Colmcille, the manuscript is Ireland’s oldest surviving copy of the Latin Psalter 📜🎉
I'm loving @profgabriele.com's @americanmedieval.bsky.social podcast, but I keep being taken aback by his question to guests about what childhood-they would have thought of them becoming a medievalist. I mean, duh, what else was I going to be? Now I realize, from the security of my solipsism,
November 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I'm loving @profgabriele.com's @americanmedieval.bsky.social podcast, but I keep being taken aback by his question to guests about what childhood-they would have thought of them becoming a medievalist. I mean, duh, what else was I going to be? Now I realize, from the security of my solipsism,
I'm writing a textbook for the study of medieval manuscripts in the 21st century & am developing a framework that will be referenced throughout the book: ten touchpoints for medieval book history in Europe with six drivers of change. Here's how it will play out... (image: Codex Amiatinus) 🧵
November 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Carin Ruff
St Andrew appears all over our collections.
Artists across centuries reimagined the saint who became Scotland’s patron:
MS. Gough drawings-Gaignières 16, fol. 60r
MS. Douce 311, fol. 115v
MS. Canon. Liturg. 388, fol 267r
MS. Laud Misc. 165, fol 121r
#StAndrewsDay
Artists across centuries reimagined the saint who became Scotland’s patron:
MS. Gough drawings-Gaignières 16, fol. 60r
MS. Douce 311, fol. 115v
MS. Canon. Liturg. 388, fol 267r
MS. Laud Misc. 165, fol 121r
#StAndrewsDay
November 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
St Andrew appears all over our collections.
Artists across centuries reimagined the saint who became Scotland’s patron:
MS. Gough drawings-Gaignières 16, fol. 60r
MS. Douce 311, fol. 115v
MS. Canon. Liturg. 388, fol 267r
MS. Laud Misc. 165, fol 121r
#StAndrewsDay
Artists across centuries reimagined the saint who became Scotland’s patron:
MS. Gough drawings-Gaignières 16, fol. 60r
MS. Douce 311, fol. 115v
MS. Canon. Liturg. 388, fol 267r
MS. Laud Misc. 165, fol 121r
#StAndrewsDay
Reposted by Carin Ruff
We mustn't dwell... no, not today. We CAN'T. Not on Advent Responsory day! 🕯️
Marlow - Advent Responsory | The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
YouTube video by The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
We mustn't dwell... no, not today. We CAN'T. Not on Advent Responsory day! 🕯️