Erik Kwakkel

Erik Kwakkel is a renowned professor of Medieval book studies at the University of British Columbia, specializing in the history of the book and paleography. His work focuses on the manuscripts and incunabula of the Middle Ages, particularly those from the Netherlands, France, and England. Kwakkel's research has been influenced by scholars such as Malcolm Parkes, Christopher de Hamel, and David McKitterick, and he has collaborated with institutions like the Bodleian Library, British Library, and Morgan Library & Museum. His expertise has also been shaped by the works of Johannes Trithemius, Gutenberg Bible, and Lindisfarne Gospels.

● Early Life and Education

Erik Kwakkel was born in the Netherlands and developed an interest in Medieval studies at a young age, inspired by the works of Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch, and Geert Groote. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Leiden University, where he studied History of the book, Latin, and Old English under the guidance of professors such as Jos Biemans and Karel van der Horst. Kwakkel's graduate studies took him to University of Cambridge, where he earned his Ph.D. in Medieval studies under the supervision of David McKitterick and Christopher de Hamel. During his time at Cambridge, he was exposed to the rich collections of the Wren Library and Fitzwilliam Museum, and he developed a deep appreciation for the works of William Morris, Kelmscott Press, and Ashendene Press.

● Career

Kwakkel began his academic career as a lecturer at University of Leiden, where he taught courses on Paleography, Codology, and History of the book. He later moved to University of British Columbia, where he is currently a professor of Medieval book studies. Throughout his career, Kwakkel has been affiliated with various institutions, including the Huntington Library, Newberry Library, and Parker Library. He has also collaborated with scholars from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Harvard University, and has been influenced by the works of Elaine Treharne, Stephen G. Nichols, and Roger Chartier. Kwakkel's expertise has been recognized by his appointment as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and his involvement with the Medieval Academy of America and Bibliographical Society of America.

● Research and Publications

Erik Kwakkel's research focuses on the manuscripts and incunabula of the Middle Ages, with a particular emphasis on the Netherlands, France, and England. He has published numerous articles and books on topics such as Paleography, Codology, and History of the book, including works on the Gutenberg Bible, Lindisfarne Gospels, and Book of Kells. Kwakkel's publications have been influenced by the works of Malcolm Parkes, Christopher de Hamel, and David McKitterick, and he has collaborated with scholars such as Elaine Treharne, Stephen G. Nichols, and Roger Chartier. His research has also been shaped by the collections of the Bodleian Library, British Library, and Morgan Library & Museum, and he has been recognized for his contributions to the field with awards such as the De Long Prize and Fredson Bowers Award.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Erik Kwakkel has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of Medieval studies. He has been recognized with the De Long Prize for his work on Paleography and the Fredson Bowers Award for his research on Incunabula. Kwakkel has also been appointed as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has been involved with the Medieval Academy of America and Bibliographical Society of America. His work has been supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and he has been a visiting scholar at institutions such as the Huntington Library and Newberry Library.

● Digital Scholarship

Erik Kwakkel is also an advocate for Digital scholarship and has been involved in various projects to digitize and make accessible Medieval manuscripts and Incunabula. He has collaborated with institutions such as the Bodleian Library, British Library, and Morgan Library & Museum to create digital collections and exhibitions, including the Polonsky Foundation's digitization of the Bodleian Library's Medieval manuscripts. Kwakkel has also developed online resources such as the Medieval Fragments website, which provides access to Medieval fragments and Incunabula from around the world. His work in digital scholarship has been recognized with awards such as the Digital Humanities Award and has been supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.