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.

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

Join our curators in a conversation about their favorite items from our collections, flip through books made hundreds of years ago, and get inspired by art up close and personal.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Preserving Pages: 60 Years of Sharing the World’s Handwritten Past with special guest Dr. Columba Stewart, Executive Director of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

For 60 years, the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library has worked to preserve and share the world’s handwritten past. Take a journey with HMML’s Executive Director around the world and learn about the importance of partnering with communities worldwide to protect cultural heritage in places threatened by war, natural disaster, and decay.

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Reception with light refreshments and conversation