May 16, 2026

Event

Join the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML) as we celebrate 60 years of preserving the world’s handwritten heritage. This special public event features a curator conversation, a keynote presentation by Executive Director Dr. Columba Stewart, and a reception to continue the discussion.

Time

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (CT)

Location

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis

Live stream will be available for this program. Link coming soon.

Topic

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Museum without Glass

Join HMML curators in a lively conversation about their favorite items from the collections. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to see and flip through books created hundreds of years ago, experiencing these works of art and history up close.

11 a.m. – Noon – Across Borders and Centuries: Protecting Humanity’s Written Heritage

Presenter: Dr. Columba Stewart, Executive Director, Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

As HMML marks 60 years of photographing at-risk manuscripts around the world, Executive Director Dr. Columba Stewart reflects on why preserving the world’s handwritten past matters more than ever.

Manuscripts are unique, fragile handwritten documents that carry the memory, beliefs, languages, and identities of communities across centuries. From monasteries and libraries to private homes and refugee communities, these records preserve stories increasingly threatened by war, climate change, political upheaval, theft, and neglect. In some regions, manuscripts are even targeted for destruction by those seeking to erase the history and cultural identity of ancient communities.

Drawing on HMML’s global partnerships and decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Stewart will explore how manuscript preservation has evolved, what principles have remained constant, and why safeguarding cultural heritage remains essential in an uncertain world. These living records foster understanding, resilience, and dialogue—and offer guidance for a more humane future.

Noon – 1 p.m. – Reception

Continue the conversation with light refreshments and informal discussion with HMML staff and fellow attendees

Presenter

Dr. Columba Stewart

Registration

Free and open to the public, but registration is required:

Register Now