Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be an expert on the American Revolution or book history to apply?

No! This Institute is for anyone teaching in a humanities field in a Higher Education setting, regardless of area of expertise. You will not be expected to have prior experience with the history of the American Revolution or book history – just a desire to learn!

Why is an Institute about printing in the American Revolution being held in Boca Raton, Florida?

Good question! Florida Atlantic University is the home of the Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America collection, which holds an extensive assortment of original Revolutionary-era publications, including books, pamphlets, and newspapers. FAU also hosts the Jaffe Center for Book Arts, which has a variety of printing presses and related art materials. These resources make FAU a particularly suitable site for an Institute that combines the theoretical and practical study of rare books.

How does the mini-conference work?

During the Institute, you will be working on creating a presentation and lesson plan about one of the historical printed materials from the FAU collection while in residence in Boca Raton. August 4th and 5th, 2022, we will reconvene to present these projects, having had time to reflect after the Institute and further develop our lesson plans. These can be individual or group presentations. Those who agree will have their presentations posted publicly to make these widely available to other educators.

Where will I stay?

The housing information can be found here.

How will I get around?

Boca Raton has a Tri-Rail system that connects it to surrounding cities, as well as a bus system. If you wish to bring your car, you can find information about parking here.

Should I bring a laptop computer?

Yes! We encourage you to bring a laptop to take notes, store any photos you may wish to take, and do research for your projects. You will have access to wifi in the FAU Libraries and in the dorms.

What should I wear? What clothes should I bring?

Summers in Boca Raton can be very warm, but we will be having our meetings inside, mostly in the Special Collections area of the library, which is robustly air conditioned. We would recommend wearing layers and bringing a sweater or light jacket for inside the library. We will also be spending several sessions over the first two weeks of the Institute doing hands-on learning, including paper-making and printing. For these sessions, we recommend bringing some clothing that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

What else do I need to bring?

If you're planning to stay in the FAU dorms, you will need to bring bedding and towels, as these are not provided by the Housing Office.