Exhibit Features Belgian Printing
By Hector Olave
An historical printing collection, considered by experts as one of the most complete and valuable in the world, is on display in the Exhibition Gallery of Watson Library.
From the large and famous collection of the old Plantim-Moretus printing house in Antwerp, Belgium, the material is touring leading museums and libraries under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The showing is sponsored by the Belgian Embassy.
A manuscript of the celebrated medical treatise by Andreas Vesalius and Juan Valverda is another unusual item included. The manuscript shows the printer's corrections for typesetting.
AMONG THE rare items are original woodblocks and copper-plates used to print woodcuts and engraving which illustrated books published by Plantin and the Moretuses in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The founder of what was to become the finest printing house in Europe was Christopher Plantin. He was apprenticed to the famous printer Robert II Mace in Caen. In 1549, when he was 29 years old, he moved to Antwerp.
An accident—a wound inflicted in a street fight—forced hjm into the printing profession.
SOON AFTER, he obtained valuable protectors, including Gabriel de Cayas, secretary to Philip II of Spain.
When he died, his inventory contained as many as 90 different bodies of type: romans, italics, greeks, hebrews, musical notes, and others.
It was Plantin's house which published the Polyglot Bible, a
massive edition of the book in five languages. The eight folio volumes appeared between 1568 and 1572.
In 1589, upon Plantin's death, the house and the fine traditions he started passed into the hands of Jan Moretus, his son-in-law, and Moretus' sons, Balthasar and Jan II.
IT HAS BEEN said, "The Officina Platiniana—more a palace than a printing house—in the Marche du Vendredi at Antwerp, has long been, and still is (as the Musee Plantin), one of the sights of Europe. It is probably the most beautiful building dedicated to the uses of printing in the world; nor is there any other establishment which gives such an accurate idea of an early printing house. . . . The place is full of charm, and its sunny, vine clad courtyard a haunt of ancient peace . . ."
Since 1876 the house has been used as a museum.
The "Treasures from the Plantin-Moretus Museum" will remain in Watson Library until Jan. 30.
Lindley Construction
Hammers and saws are busily reshaping the lower floors in the west end of Lindley Hall. Remodeling began Nov. 1, and will be completed late this month.
The $25,000 contract was awarded the Lawrence Construction Co. Extra office space on the first floor, and laboratories and shops on the basement floor will be added.
Exam Time Almost Upon Us, Friends
4
Friday, January 7, 1966
Daily Kansan
By Barbara Phillips
Yes, friends, tooth-gnashing time is here again in the form of the Western Civilization Comprehensive Examination to ge given Saturday from 8 to 12 a.m.
Although the fall semester usually has the lowest enrollment of the three examination periods, a total of 308 students have signed up to take the test, according to the Registrar's office. This is about the normal enrollment, James Seaver, director of the Western Civilization Program, added.
"ONLY ABOUT two-thirds of those enrolled will show up," he said.
The test is graded on a curve, and from 9 to 10 per cent will probably fail the examination, Saver said.
"I think that the reason many of the students fail is that they just don't bother to read the material. They put it off to the last minute. It must be absorbed gradually throughout the course." Seaver said.
"ANOTHER REASON is that some of the students don't organize their essays. They know the material, but they don't organize it well. An outline helps a great deal," he added.
Seaver also suggested that old examinations on reserve at Watson library would help the student to know what to expect.
But, take heart, sufferers; many before you have faced the same ordeal and survived.
THE WESTERN Civilization program began in 1945 as a "teacher-less" reading course. There were no discussion groups, but the students could confer with a proctor if they wished.
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