Daphne Wouts is an external PhD candidate at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society.

More information about Daphne Wouts

Fields of interest

• Book history
• History of libraries
• Art history

Research

The sixteenth-century Bibliotheca Enchusana is one of the oldest public libraries that is still preserved in situ in the Netherlands and can rightfully be called a unique book historical monument. The collection has been preserved in the Westerkerk in Enkhuizen since the early seventeenth century – a time of economic and cultural expansion in the city. Containing books that were gifted by some of the city's most famous inhabitants, such as Franciscus Maelson and Bernardus Paludanus, the library mirrors Enkhuizen's intellectual and cultural wealth during the Golden Age. The aim of my research is to compile a scholarly catalogue of the Bibliotheca Enchusana, based on a hands-on examination of all the books from its holdings. By supplementing the bibliographical descriptions with information about the physical evidence of every book’s unique history, such as inscriptions of former owners, binding details, and manuscript annotations, together with information from auction catalogues and archival documents, the aim of this new catalogue is to aid in better understanding the holdings of the library, their origin and history, as well as the use and function of the library since its foundation. Subsequently, the research aims to explore how the Bibliotheca Enchusana compares to private libraries, and local book culture, as well as similar municipal libraries in the Netherlands and elsewhere.

PhD supervisors

Prof. Dr. P.G. Hoftijzer
Dr. M. Keblusek

Curriculum vitae

2018-present
PhD Student, Leiden University

2012-2014
Research MA Arts and Culture, Leiden University (cum laude)

2011-2013
MA Book and Digital Media Studies, Leiden University (cum laude)

2008-2011
BA Art History, Leiden University

Publications