ECU English Graduate Student Participates in Prestigious Washington, D.C. Workshop | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post, Morgan Tilton, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

    East Carolina University English student Sarah McKeever was one of only 12 students nationwide selected to participate in a highly-competitive workshop held recently at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.

    The library is home to the world's largest Shakespeare collection and one of the nation's premier research libraries for Renaissance history, literature and culture.

    "I felt incredibly lucky to receive this opportunity, which is a dream come true," said McKeever, who received her bachelor degree in English from ECU in May and will begin her studies in ECU's master's program this fall.

    Marianne Montgomery, chair of the Department of English, was thrilled that McKeever was selected to participate in the workshop held June 26-30.

    "Sarah was among peers who share her passion for Renaissance literature and had the opportunity to study with top visiting faculty from around the nation," said Montgomery. "We are proud of Sarah and know that she represented ECU well."

    While at the library, McKeever and other scholars worked in small teams to digitally encode and format early modern dramas not yet included in the digital archives. The authors of the dramas are contemporaries of Shakespeare and their digital presence will supplement the current collection at the library.

    "I have been in awe of the Folger Library's rare collection for as long as I can remember and was excited to step foot within its hallowed walls," said McKeever. "It was exciting to work directly with the rare manuscripts in the vault's reading rooms."

    The workshop complemented McKeever's interests and immersions at ECU. For three years, McKeever has served as an editorial assistant to English professor Dr. Jeffrey Johnson on the John Donne Variorum project, a multi-volume digital anthology of John Donne's poetry.


In “the Vault” looking at 400 + year old manuscripts. This was a surreal, spiritual and elating experience! Left – Sarah McKeever looking at the book. (Photo by Syd Bauerman)

    "Sarah is an imaginative and insightful thinker, one whose intellectual curiosity and intellectual humility are the hallmarks for why she is such an accomplished student, as well as a promising scholar," said Johnson.

    McKeever intends to focus on Renaissance literature in her master's program.

    "ECU has an incredibly stellar Renaissance literature program and faculty, and ECU has been the most fortuitous place that I could have begun my path in early modern literary studies," said McKeever.

    "Familiarity with the treasure-trove of Folger resources will enhance my research in graduate school and greatly inform my interpretations," said McKeever.

    After completing her master's degree, McKeever wants to pursue a doctoral program. She plans to dedicate her scholastic life to early modern studies and hopes to never cease learning - and perhaps teaching - about its literary works. In addition, she finds digital technology an exciting supplement to literary texts.

    "I am very enthusiastic about the development of digital anthologies; their creation being at the forefront of literary innovation today," said McKeever. "Access to these materials will benefit future scholars in the same ways that they have been beneficial for me."

    For additional information about the Folger workshop, visit http://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Opening_the_Digital_Anthology_of_Early_Modern_English_Drama:_Skills,_Tools,_and_Texts_(workshop).