For centuries, handwritten books have been part of everyday life in Ethiopia and Eritrea—used in homes, churches, mosques, and communities across the region. Created and cherished by both Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities, these manuscripts open a window onto more than 700 years of religious practice, daily routines, and artistic expression. But what if you can’t read Geʿez (Classical Ethiopic) or Arabic? Can these books still tell their stories? Absolutely.

In this illustrated, hands-on workshop, Dr. Jeremy R. Brown brings the world of Ethiopic manuscripts to life, showing how much we can learn simply by looking closely. Images, materials, layout, and decorations tell stories about how these books were used, who made them, and why they mattered. Participants will also have the rare opportunity to encounter Ethiopic manuscripts up close and personal from the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library’s remarkable collection.

For centuries, handwritten books have been part of everyday life in Ethiopia and Eritrea—used in homes, churches, mosques, and communities across the region. Created and cherished by both Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities, these manuscripts open a window onto more than 700 years of religious practice, daily routines, and artistic expression. But what if you can’t read Geʿez (Classical Ethiopic) or Arabic? Can these books still tell their stories? Absolutely.

In this illustrated, hands-on workshop, Dr. Jeremy R. Brown brings the world of Ethiopic manuscripts to life, showing how much we can learn simply by looking closely. Images, materials, layout, and decorations tell stories about how these books were used, who made them, and why they mattered. Participants will also have the rare opportunity to encounter Ethiopic manuscripts up close and personal from the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library’s remarkable collection.

Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Minnesota Humanities Center.

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