Project Status: Ongoing

Epistolae is a collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women.  The letters collected here date from the 4th to the 13th centuries, and they are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation.  The letters are organized by the name and biography of the women writers or recipients.  Biographical sketches of the women, descriptions of the subject matter of the letters, and the historical context of the correspondence are included where available.

Dr. Joan Ferrante, Professor Emerita of English and Comparative Literature of Columbia University, has with her colleagues collected and translated these letters mainly from printed sources.  She has worked with the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning to develop this unique open online collection for teaching and research purposes.  New letters continue to be added to the collection.  Users are invited to participate by sending material or inquiries to jmf2@columbia.edu.  Contributions, fully acknowledged, will be added to the database after review for accuracy and style by members of the Epistolae board.

Resource details:

Resource Type: CatalogSearchable DatabaseText: MedievalText: Modern

License: Unknown

Modern Language: English

Language of Modern Translation: English

Medieval content details:

Dates: 300 - 1300

Subject: ByzantiumCarolingiansCelticClergyEpistolographyFamily, Children, MarriageGenderNobility, GentryNunsRoyalty, MonarchsWomenWomen Religious

Type/Genre of Medieval Primary Source Material: Art and ArtifactsLetters, PetitionsManuscriptsMaterial EvidenceTextual Evidence

Geopolitical Region: AfricaEuropeMiddle East

Original Language: Latin