Rare Books Offer Rare Opportunity

“Exegesis” lecture series revolves around diverse texts

By Randy Weiler

Thanks to a personal connection that Political Economy Research Institute Director Daniel J. Smith has with Texas-based The Remnant Trust, Honors Lecture Series students benefitted from a loan of rare books and manuscripts in the spring.

The borrowed collection of over 25 valuable books and papers included early copies of The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, Machiavelli's The Prince, Sir Isaac Newton’s The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense; rare copies of the Bible; and more for a lecture series called “Exegesis”—a term Honors College Associate Dean Philip E. Phillips said is “more usually found in religious studies.”

“But in our case, though, it refers more broadly to ‘the critical explanation or interpretation of texts,’ ” Phillips said.

Honors student interacting with books from the “Exegesis”/ Remnant Trust collection

The series used “Exegesis” as a way of pulling together diverse books fromthe disciplines of philosophy, economics, biblical/religious studies, physics/astronomy/history of science, early European literature/poetry, political science, women’s studies, and history. As an MT Engage class, the series gave students the opportunity to see, touch, and hold most of the rare books on loan to the Honors College.

Lecture Series speakers were members of the Honors residential and Buchanan faculty: Smith, Phillips, John R. Vile, Rebekka King, Eric Klumpe, Ennio Piano, Joan McRae, Mary A. Evins, and Ken Paulson.

Philip E. Phillips, Daniel J. Smith, and Tatum Hochstetler

The Remnant Trust, housed at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, is a public educational foundation sharing a growing collection of manuscripts, first editions, and early works dealing with the topics of individual liberty and human dignity. Some of its pieces date as early as 2500 B.C.

The Remnant Trust makes its collection available to colleges, universities, and other organizations for use by students, faculty, scholars, and the public. People are encouraged to touch, feel, and read the originals, including first English translations.

The Honors Lecture Series has been a staple each fall and spring for more than two decades, featuring topics and presenters from multiple disciplines on and off campus. The “Exegesis” series was led by Phillips with the assistance of Honors Coordinator Tatum Hochstetler.

Student Projects at Lecture Series

Three students made thesis/creative project presentations to the April 25 Honors Lecture Series audience. Josh Smith, a Buchanan Fellow majoring in Vocal Performance, discussed “Miles and Alaska: The Creation of a Song Cycle Based on John Green’s Looking for Alaska” with Miya Burt (l), a fellow Vocal Performance student. Ana Cannon, a junior Graphic Design major, presented “An Arts-Based Critique of the Media’s False Images of Racial Protests.” Kacie Leonard (r), an Honors Transfer Fellow majoring in Animal Science, talked about her research on “The Effects of a Powdered Post-milking Teat Dip on Mastitis and Teat Condition in Dairy Cattle in the Winter Months.”