International & Area Studies

Recent Shipment of Lusophone African Literature

Posted on by Claude Potts
Map of Luso-African Literary Publishers by City
Map of Luso-African Literary Publishers by City generated by Bee Lehman

More than 80 works of literature from Angola, Cabo Verde, and Mozambique arrived in Doe Library last week. This selection of poetry, short stories, and novels in Portuguese was made possible through a generous 3-year grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) in Lisbon. The absence of Lusophone African literature from mainstream African literary studies (mostly in English and French) has been noted by contemporary scholars. These new works of post-colonial fiction and verse listed below are held by few academic libraries and reflect the UC Berkeley Library’s longstanding commitment to collect and make accessible underrepresented voices from across the world in more than 400 distinct languages. Please enjoy this curated list by book dealer Susanne Bach Books which provides a snapshot of the rich literary output from Lusophone Africa over the past three years:

100 poemas para Neto / Poetas da União dos Escritores Angolanos. Luanda, Angola: EAL – Edições de Angola, 2022.

A greve das palavras: contos juvenis / Celso Celestino Cossa. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique : Editorial Fundza, 2024.

A intimidade das sementes: narrativas / Amílcar Armando Raja. Maputo, Moçambique: Gala-Gala Edições, 2024.

A queda do Macombe Chipapata: tramas e revoltas /  Celestino Joanguete. Maputo, Moçambique: Ethale Publishing, 2024.

Almas em tácitas / Lino Mukurruza. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2023.

Amei para me amar / Nyeleti. Inhambene do Céu, Moçambique: Massinhane Edições, 2024.

Amores da província: 3 novelas / Benjamim Pedro João. Maputo, Moçambique: Edições Tarymba, 2022.

Amores e outras cores / Armindo António. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus, 2024.

Antologia mulheres e seus destinos / vol. IV :coord., org. Lena Marçal. Cidade da Praia, Cabo Verde :[s.n.], 2024.

As coisas do morto / Francisco Guita Jr. Maputo, Moçambique: Gala-Gala Edições, 2024.

As peripécias de Caia: I volume da trilogia / Benjamim Pedro João. Maputo, Mozambique: Edições Tarymba, 2024.

Até depois da solidão: o diário de Ricardo / Nunes Cristovão; Osvaldo dos Anjos (Exilado). Maputo, Moçambique: Ntxuva Editora, 2023.

Boleia à chave da felicidade / Roberto Savanguanni. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique:Editorial Fundza, 2023.

Canção de setembro para Zamuzaria Maria / Rafael da Câmara. Maputo, Moçambique:Gala-Gala edições, 2023.

Criação do fogo / Álvaro Fausto Taruma.Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

De neve e de bruma = Di nevi i di serason / José Luiz Tavares; ilustrações de Yuran Henrique.Kabuverdi: Gongon Cartoneira, 2022.

Dedicatória: as minhas experiências mais gratificantes e as que não me orgulho / Abilito O Negro. Chimoio, Moçambique: Sguerra DEsign, 2022.

Deixa-me escrever-te / Timóteo Papel. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Fundza, 2023.

Delírios matinais / Emerson D’ Oliveira.Maputo, Moçambique: Edição de autor, 2022.

Dias rasgados ao meio / Jorge de Oliveira. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2023.

Dicionário de pequenas solidões /  Ronaldo Cagiano. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus, 2024.

Escritores emergentes de Moçambique (antologia) / Benjamim Pedro João. Maputo, Moçambique: Edições Tarymba, 2022.

Estórias trazidas pela ventania / Adelino Albano Luís. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Editorial Fundza, 2023.

Eterno cacimbo / Mavu Keyambata. Luanda: Palavra e arte, 2023.

Eu te amo, tu és linda!  Josina Costa Viegas. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores; Clube de Leitura de Qualimane, 2024.

Filosofar dos Corpos / Atanásio Mutoropa. Beira: Fundza, 2024.

Fui para dentro de mim e não voltei / Mauro da Silva. 2ª ed. Inhambene-Céu, Moçambique: Massinhane Edições, 2024.

Geba: onde o Tâmega desaguou no Índico / Miguel César. Maputo, Moçambique: Fundação Fernando Leite Couto, 2022.

Ginástica nictofóbica da terra / Wilton dos Zicas. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2023.

Há exorcismos em Njofane / Vitorino Ubisse Oliveira. Inhambane, Mozambique: Massinhane, 2023.

Incêndios à margem do sono / Óscar Fanheiro. Maputo, Moçambique: Fundação Fernando Couto, 2023.

Kwashala blues / Jessemusse Cacinda. Maputo, Moçambique: Ethale, 2023.

Lesões da memória / Ernesto Maluleque Júnior. Maputo, Moçambique: Ethale Publishing, 2024.

Makhalelo: cocktail de crónicas / Adriano Félix. Maputo, Moçambique: Editorial Fundza, 2022.

Mandume: o rei de Oukwanyama / Cigano Satyohamba. Luanda, Angola: Edição do autor, 2021.

Masika: o intuitivo / A’mosi Just A Label. Luanda, Angola: Konono Soul Books, 2023.

Masingita ou a subtileza do incesto / Juvenal Bucuane. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Editorial Fundza, 2022.

Memória subterrânea / Mudungazi. Maputo: Editora Kulera, 2024.

Meninas do crepúsculo Leste / Cecília António Moreira. Luanda, Angola: Editora Acácias,2024.

Mulher e marido / Manuel Rui. Luanda, Angola: Mayamba Editora, 2024.

Mutiladas / Eduardo Quive. Maputo, Mozambique: Editora Catalogus, 2024.

Nas areias do tempo / Luís Cezerilo. Maputo, Moçambique: Editora Lithangu, 2024.

Navegar. Amor. Café. /Ruben Morgado. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus, 2024.

Névoa na sala/ Mélio Tinga. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus Editora, 2024.

Novas vozes, novas estórias / Abrahama Zacarias Noé. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus, 2024.

Nunca me abandones / Alcides Simões. Praia, Cabo Verde: Livraria Pedro Cardoso, 2023.

O amor de uma prostituta / Flora Salvador. Luanda, Angola: É Sobre Nós Editora, 2023.

O Amor que há em ti / Larsan Mendes Beira: Editorial Fundza. 2022.

O amor, o gato preto e outras insónias / José Pedro Pinto Lobo. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

O descalço dos murmúrios / Gibson João. Maputo, Moçambique: Fundação Fernando Leite Couto, 2023.

O endereço para dentro do segredo / Baptista Américo. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Editorial Fundza, 2024.

O galo cantou na baía… :(e outros contos cabo-verdeanos) / Manuel Lopes. Praia, Cabo Verde: Instituto da Biblioteca Nacional de Cabo Verde, 2023.

O Inventário da Memória: Ensaios/ José dos Remédios (org). Beira, Moçambique: Fundza, 2024.

O lado sujo da metáfora / Jeconias Mocumbe. Maputo, Moçambique: GalaGala Edições, 2024.

O louco que habita em nós: perversão por detrás da aparência / Catarino Luamba. Luanda: Kilunji, 2024.

O manual das mãos / Eduardo White. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance, 2022.

O retrato dos demónios / Naji Sacaúnha.Inhambene-Céu, Moçambique: Massinhane Edições, 2024.

Observador de sonhos / Bruno Morgado. Maputo, Moçambique: Catalogus, 2024.

Orera: um conto de amor e honestidade / Hélder Tsemba. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Editora Fundza, 2023.

Os bichos têm dono: estórias verídicas / Almiro Lobo. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

Os funerais de Manguituka, o terrível bandido e outros mambos / Albino Carlos.Luanda, Angola: Editora Acácias, 2023.

Os heróis que não sabiam voar /Honório Quimbuari. Luanda, Angola: Imprensa Nacional, 2023.

Os lobos não podem esperar / Natacha Magalhães. Praia, Cabo Verde: Pedro Cardoso Livraria,2022.

Os pores-do-sol / Lahissane. Maputo, Moçambique: Ethale Publishing, 2022.

Os últimos animais / Whaskety Fernando. idade da Beira, Moçambique: Editora Fundza, 2023.

Pedaços da eternidade / Piedade Manuel. Benguela, Angola: Editora Shalom, 2024.

Peneiras de poalha / Humberto Santos. Cidade da Praia, Cabo Verde: Livraria Pedro Cardoso, 2023.

Pétalas negras: ou a sombra do inanimado / Belmiro Mouzinho. Cidade da Beira, Moçambique: Fundza, 2022.

Pita kufa: o leito da morte / Carlos Paradona Rufino Roque. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

Poemas de infância e o reencontro com o passado – presente / Joaquim Nhampoca.Maputo, Moçambique: Edição de Autor, 2022.

Poemas do breve / Lex Mucache. Beira; Fundza, 2024.

Quando os mochos piam: contos / Geremias Mendoso. Maputo, Moçambique: Fundação Fernando Leite Couto, 2022.

Quarentena /Jorge Ferrão.  Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance editores, 2024.

Raízes e gritos / Lorna Zita. Maputo, Moçambique: Editora Kulera,2023.

Saudades do ventre da minha mãe / Márcio Batalha. Luanda, Angola: Editora Acácias, 2022.

Siavuma 100 anos / org. Ricardo Santos. Maputo: Alcance editores, 2024.

Singularidades IV: estudos africanos / Lourenço Rosário. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

Sonata de uma nação vagabunda / Mudungazi.Maputo, Moçambique: Editora Kulera, 2024.

Sopro / Nelson Lineu. Maputo, Moçambique: TPC Editora, 2023.

Tanto amor / Kaya M. Maputo, Moçambique: Editora Kulera, 2023.

Te amo mecanicamente / Marco Lole de Andrade. Songo, Moçambique: Soletra Editora, 2022.

Uma onça na cidade / Deusa D’África. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance editores, 2024.

Verdades dos mitos / Hélder Muteia. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2023.

Yolela / Zaki Wamai. Luanda, Angola: É Sobre Nós Editora, 2024.

Zero sobre zero: o espião que veio de Kigali / Aurélio Furdela. Maputo, Moçambique: Alcance Editores, 2024.

Zeus, quando é cão / Francisco Muianga. Beira, Moçambique. Editorial Fundza 2022.

flowerVisit the Iberian Studies library research guide for more books about Luso-African Literature and Criticism.

New ebooks from Editorial Iberoamericana

Posted on by Claude Potts

Just in time for the end of the semester, a couple hundred ebooks have recently flown in from from Spain from publishers like Akal, CSIC, Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, Ediciones Universidad de Cantabria, Plaza y Valdés, Dickinson, Editorial Egales, Trotta Editorial, Ediciones Complutense and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. All are available through the Digitalia Hispánica platform. Below are some highlighted from Iberoamericana Editorial Vervuert available to you wherever you may find yourselves this summer:

Library Trial of Russian Imperial Era Periodicals: a Bibliography and Reference Guide (ImPressDB)

Posted on by Liladhar
The library has set up a trial of a bibliographic database on Russian Imperial Era periodicals, which will run through the end of this month. The trial can be accessed here:
Upon accessing the database, one will see the landing page. A login button will be in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Please click on it, as no password is required. You will be able to test the database and assess its utility.
Please reach out to your Slavic Studies Librarian with your valuable feedback.
Russian Imperial Era Periodicals: a Bibliography and Reference Guide (ImPressDB) is a comprehensive research database of periodicals and serials from the time of the Russian Empire, published between 1702 and 1917. It includes publications from within the Russian Empire itself, across its diverse linguistic and cultural regions, as well as from some territories under its influence, and from the Austrian Empire (Austria-Hungary), Germany and other countries. The database also covers periodicals published by the empire’s diaspora in various parts of the world, including those by émigrés, political exiles, and immigrant communities, offering a broad, transnational perspective on the era’s printed media.
Russian Imperial Era Periodicals: a Bibliography and Reference Guide (ImPressDB) is a comprehensive research database of periodicals and serials from the time of the Russian Empire, published between 1702 and 1917. It includes publications from within the Russian Empire, across its diverse linguistic and cultural regions, and from some territories under its influence, including the Austrian Empire (Austria-Hungary), Germany, and other countries. The database also covers periodicals published by the empire’s diaspora in various parts of the world, including those by émigrés, political exiles, and immigrant communities, offering a broad, transnational perspective on the era’s printed media.

 

"Czołem!" Publication type one-off newspaper Publication dates 1906, July 1 Locality Warsaw Region Warsaw Governorate Country Russian Empire ; Congress Poland Language Polish ID A001391 Persistent URL https://rpdb.impressdb.com/item/A001391
A bibliographic entry for Czołem

Russian Women Writers Project Completed

Posted on by Liladhar

At UC Berkeley Library, with the leadership and guidance from the library’s current acting AUL for Associate University Librarian for Digital Initiatives and Information Technology, Lynne Grigsby, we are excited to report the completion of the Russian Women Writers Collection’s digitization. The collection’s analog items can be searched here.

The digital component of the project can be accessed here.

My predecessor, Dr. Allan Urbanic, was instrumental in helping us with the description of the project, which is as follows, “Russian Women Writers Collection
This project has been created in cooperation with the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg. In recent years, scholarship has focused on women’s contributions to the history of Russian literature. It has also been discovered that many of these writers were poorly represented in American libraries’ collections. The project first concentrated on filling in the corpus of women writers at the beginning of the 19th century. As the project moved forward, the works of Russian women authors of the later 19th century and the 20th century have been added.”

Maklakova, Lidii͡a Filippovna. Di͡evochka Lida razskaz dli͡a di͡eteĭ. Izd 2-e. Moskva: Tipo-lit. T-va I.N. Kushnerev i Ko., 1894. Terms governing use and reproduction Researchers may make free and open use of the UC Berkeley Library’s digitized public domain materials. However, some materials in our online collections may be protected by U.S. copyright law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Use or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use (Title 17, U.S.C. § 107) requires permission from the copyright owners. The use or reproduction of some materials may also be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, privacy and publicity rights, or trademark law. Responsibility for determining rights status and permissibility of any use or reproduction rests exclusively with the researcher. To learn more or make inquiries, please see our permissions policies (https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies).
Maklakova, Lidii͡a Filippovna. Di͡evochka Lida razskaz dli͡a di͡eteĭ. Izd 2-e. Moskva: Tipo-lit. T-va I.N. Kushnerev i Ko., 1894.

Terms governing use and reproduction
Researchers may freely and openly use the UC Berkeley Library’s digitized public domain materials. However, U.S. copyright law may protect some materials in our online collections (Title 17, U.S.C.). Use or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use (Title 17, U.S.C. § 107) requires permission from the copyright owners. The use or reproduction of some materials may also be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, privacy and publicity rights, or trademark law. Responsibility for determining rights status and permissibility of any use or reproduction rests exclusively with the researcher. Please see our permissions policies to learn more or make inquiries (https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies).
Source
Russian Women Writers

One can look at the usage data of the item called Di͡evochka Lida razskaz dli͡a di͡eteĭ as shown below,

Di͡evochka Lida razskaz dli͡a di͡eteĭ's download statistics as a graphical representation
Di͡evochka Lida razskaz dli͡a di͡eteĭ’s usage statistics

New Library Guide for Iberian Literatures

Posted on by Claude Potts

Iberian Literatures

Today, we are launching a new library research guide for Iberian Literatures & Criticism. The new guide will improve navigation and discovery in UC Berkeley’s vast literature collection in Romance languages, mostly found in a classification commonly known as the PQs. Over the course of the past year, we have critically reviewed the former guides, weeded outdated resources, and replaced them with more current content with links to digital resources when available.

This literary research guide, like the others for Italian and French & Francophone literatures launched last year, is now benefiting from the LibGuides platform, which makes it much easier to revise than the former PDFs. The guide is structured by sections for article databases, general guides and literary histories, reference tools, poetry, theater & performance, and literary periods. In addition to literature in Spanish and Portuguese, it also includes less commonly taught literatures and languages such as Catalan, Galician, Basque, Arabic, Ladino, and more. There is also a new section for Luso-African and Hispano-African literature.

The online guide also interfaces seamlessly with related guides published by the UC Berkeley Library. For example, on the home page, there is a prominent link to the online list of recently acquired publications on the general Spanish & Portuguese guide, making it even easier to stay current on new books in all of the call number ranges.

Because the guides are much easier to update, they encourage user interaction and invite community suggestions for inclusion (or deletion).

When you have time, please take a look at this new resource and let us know what you think.

Claude Potts, Romance Languages Librarian
Cameron Flynn, RLL Doctoral Candidate

Library Trial: Muslim in Russia Online (Brill Database)

Posted on by Liladhar

UC Berkeley Library has set up a trial of Brill’s Muslim in Russia Online Database. The database trial will continue until February 1, 2025. You can access the trial here.

This collection examines the varied Russian Muslim population during the period of 1861-1918. It includes works by and about Muslims, highlighting the significance of this heritage as the history and spirituality of Muslims in Russia are being reexamined. A word of caution: Most of the periodicals in this database have been digitized from microfilms; thus, digitization quality is problematic. The OCR seems unchecked and automated “dirty,” so one has to look at the images.

Please access the database here: https://shorturl.at/M4IyT

Please see the screenshot below:

Title: V mīri͡e musulʹmanstva:ezhenedelʹnai͡a, literaturnai͡a, politicheskai͡a i obshchestvennai͡a gazeta.<br />Date: 1911<br /> Date in Source: [1911-1912]
Title: V mīri͡e musulʹmanstva:ezhenedelʹnai͡a, literaturnai͡a, politicheskai͡a i obshchestvennai͡a gazeta.
Date: 1911
Date in Source: [1911-1912]

Here are the key points about this database are highlighted below:

  • Role in Russian State: Muslims played a crucial role in the creation of the multinational Russian state, completed with the annexation of Central Asia in the 1860s. By 1897, Muslims made up almost 11% of Imperial Russia’s population (14 million).
  • Russian State Policy: Russian policy towards Muslims varied. Initially, there was forced Russification and Christianization. From Ekaterina II onwards, the policy shifted towards legitimizing Muslims. Under Alexander III, discrimination against non-Christians, including Muslims, increased.
  • Early 20th Century: The early 1900s saw a rise in Muslim nationalism, fueled by religious reformism and liberal ideas. The First Russian Revolution (1905-1907) led to significant political changes, including creating the State Duma and civil freedoms.
  • Union of Muslims of Russia: Formed in 1905-1906, this organization became the most powerful political body for Muslims until 1917, with branches across various regions.
  • Intellectual and National Identity: Early 20th century saw more Muslim intellectuals and interest in national identity, heritage, and traditions.
  • 1917 Revolutions: Muslim nationalist movements grew during the February and October Revolutions of 1917. Post-1917, Bolshevik policies negatively impacted Muslims’ religious freedoms.
  • Muslim Press: Until 1905-1907, Muslim issues were poorly reported. The 1905 revolution led to a surge in Muslim publications. These periodicals covered a range of ideological perspectives and helped address Muslim problems.
  • Unique Publications: Publications from 1861-1918 provide insights into Muslim life in the Russian Empire and their leaders’ perspectives. These works are valuable for understanding Muslims’ historical and spiritual heritage in Russia.

Library Book Talk (Webinar): On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe

Posted on by Liladhar

Please save the date on your calendars for an exciting upcoming conversation-book talk (On Savage Shores : How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe) for our community of UC Berkeley Library and affiliated staff and librarians.
Date: February 6, 2024
Day: Thursday, Time: 12-1 pm (Pacific Time) 8 pm-9 pm UK Time

Zoom Webinar Link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LGoU0V9ZQXegc5fHxlF_WA

Registration: https://ucberk.li/3GW

Free and Open to All with prior registration. If you need special assistance or accommodation, please contact Dr. Liladhar R Pendse, the event organizer.

About the Webinar: In this webinar, Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock (She/her) will discuss her book, On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe. This book challenges the traditional Eurocentric view of the Age of Discovery by focusing on the Indigenous Americans who crossed the Atlantic to Europe after 1492. For centuries, history has taught that global history began when the “Old World” met the “New World” with Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. However, Caroline Dodds Pennock’s research reveals that, for many Indigenous people—Aztecs, Maya, Totonacs, Inuit, and others—Europe was the “New World.”

A Collage of pages of Codex Mendoza. The Codex Mendoza is an Aztec codex, believed to have been created around the year 1541.[1] It contains a history of both the Aztec rulers and their conquests as well as a description of the daily life of pre-conquest Aztec society. The codex is written using traditional Aztec pictograms with a translation and explanation of the text provided in Spanish. It is named after Don Antonio de Mendoza (1495-1552), the viceroy of New Spain, who supervised its creation and who was a leading patron of native artists.
Collaged pages of Codex Mendoza. The Codex Mendoza is an Aztec codex, believed to have been created around the year 1541.
These individuals, including enslaved people, diplomats, explorers, servants, and traders, saw Europe as a land of both wonder and cruelty, filled with vast wealth inequality, and strange customs. Their experiences, marked by abduction, cultural clashes, and loss, have been largely excluded from mainstream historical narratives. This book tells the untold stories of the Indigenous Americans who traveled to Europe, such as the Brazilian king who met Henry VIII, the Aztecs at the court of Charles V, or the Inuit displayed in London pubs. Pennock uses their stories and European accounts to reveal how these Indigenous people, though marginalized, left a lasting impact on European culture and society.

About the author

Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock (She/her) has been at the University of Sheffield since 2010, where they are known as one of the few British historians specializing in Aztec studies. Their current research, however, has expanded to include Indigenous histories in a global context, with a particular focus on the Atlantic world. Dr. Caroline Dodds Pennock recently published On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe, which tells the stories of Indigenous Americans who traveled to Europe in the sixteenth century. These accounts, often involving abduction, loss, and cultural appropriation, have largely been overlooked in mainstream history.

Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock (she/her)B.A., M.St., D.Phil. (Oxon), FRHistS School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities Professor in International History Department Director of One University, University of Sheffield
Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock, University of Sheffield. Image Credit: University of Sheffield

Dodds Pennock, Caroline. On Savage Shores : How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe / Caroline Dodds Pennock. First American edition. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023.

https://search.library.berkeley.edu/permalink/01UCS_BER/1thfj9n/alma991086032106106532

Event Sponsors:  Social Sciences Division. Library’s Equity and Inclusion Committee, Institute for European Studies, UC Berkeley and Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), UC Berkeley

 

Meeting of Library’s Global & Area Studies Interest Group

Posted on by Claude Potts
United Nations: For all children a safe tomorrow-IF you do your part
United Nations: For All Children a Safe Tomorrow-IF You Do Your Part. Issued by United Nations, Department of Public Information. United Nations poster collection, circa 1940s. The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley. BANC PIC 2005.010:002–D

On Wednesday, January 15, members of the newly formed Global & Area Studies Interest Group (GASIG) convened via Zoom to discuss new directions and topics of interest for librarians and staff working on international issues and themes at UC Berkeley. The knowledge sharing group provides a forum for Library employees to address issues related to supporting teaching, learning and research about specific world regions and countries, as well as international and global studies broadly. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to: collection development, collection management, digitization, metadata and discovery issues, campus partnerships, and fundraising.

Since its founding in 1868, students and faculty at UC Berkeley have concerned themselves with a breathtaking range of languages. In support of teaching and research, the University Library, which collects and preserves materials in all languages, now boasts a collection of nearly fourteen million volumes. It is among the largest academic libraries in the U.S. with more than one third of its print resources in more than 400 non-English languages, and even more in digital formats. Over a dozen Berkeley departments offer instruction in more than sixty languages.

The group will meet once or twice per semester, communicate via a group email list, and endeavors to host a series of educational events such as a library resource showcase featuring both hidden and well-known collections. Membership is open to all interested UC Berkeley Library employees across units, functions, and classifications. José Adrián Barragán-Álvarez (Bancroft Library) and Claude Potts (Arts & Humanities Division) are co-facilitators for the first two years. For more information or to join the group, please either one of us directly.

 

New book by Jeroen Dewulf

Posted on by Claude Potts

Nova Historia

Nova História do Cristianismo Negro na África Ocidental e nas Américas makes a historiographical intervention aimed at the history of black Catholicism and black religion in the Americas in a broader way. Dewulf’s central and well-documented assertion is that black Christianity, both Catholic and Protestant, has roots in pre-Tridentine Portuguese Catholicism. Even before the advent of the slave trade, Catholicism had become an indigenous African religion, at times assuming pre-Tridentine and syncretic forms that have become irreconcilable for the Europeans of the post-Tridentine period. This argument has significant historiographical consequences; the long-standing confusion about the religiosity of the enslaved people is, at least in part, the result of assumptions that Africans knew little about Christianity before their enslavement. On the contrary, Dewulf traces these religious forms to the slave ships that transported human “cargo” to the Americas. This book is a timely salute to the Catholic and Christian studies that has for a long time portrayed Christians of African descent as marginalized and atypical people, rather than important global actors. (Citation of the Committee of the Prize John Gilmary Shea of ​​the year 2023)

[from publisher’s site]

Jeroen Dewulf is Queen Beatrix Professor in Dutch Studies at the UC Berkeley Department of German and a Professor at Berkeley’s Folklore Program and an affiliated member of the Center for African Studies and the Center for Latin American Studies. He recently completed his long-term role as director of UC Berkeley’s Institute of European Studies where he is chair of the Center for Portuguese Studies. His main area of research is Dutch and Portuguese colonial history, with a focus on the transatlantic slave trade and the culture and religion of African-descended people in the American diaspora. He also publishes in the field of Folklore Studies and about other aspects of Dutch, German, and Portuguese literature, culture, and history.

Nova História do Cristianismo Negro na África Ocidental e nas Américas. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, 2024.

Library Trial: Piatidnevka Digital Archive (DA-PIAT) through December 5, 2024

Posted on by Liladhar

The UC Berkeley Library has started a trial of Piatidnevka Digital Archive.  The trial will end on December 5, 2024. Please provide your feedback to your Librarian for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies at Lpendse at berkeley dot edu

The Piatidnevka Digital Archive is a valuable resource for researchers studying early Soviet history, particularly between 1929 and 1931. Published six times a month, this journal documents the Soviet Union’s brief experiment with a five-day workweek. The archive provides insight into the Soviet goal of replacing traditional societal norms with innovative approaches. It contains a wealth of visual and textual materials, including photographs, articles, editorials, and commentaries that offer firsthand perspectives on this significant period.

The trial can be accessed here.

The Piatidnevka (Пятидневка, “Five Day Week”) Digital Archive stands as an invaluable asset for scholars engaged in the study of early Soviet history. Specifically focusing on the period between 1929 and 1931 and published six times per month, this illustrative journal provides critical insights into the Soviet Union’s brief but notable experiment with a five-day workweek, comprising four workdays followed by a day of rest. This initiative reflects the broader Soviet aim of dismantling traditional societal structures in favor of innovative paradigms. The archive is rich in visual and textual content, offering wonderful artistic photos, articles, editorials, and commentaries that furnish first-hand accounts of this significant phase in Soviet history.
The title page of issue of Piatidnevka for July 1930.
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