Janet Backhouse
Encyclopedia
Janet Backhouse was a leading authority in the field of illuminated manuscripts.
Backhouse was educated at Stonar School
and Bedford College, London. On 17 September 1962 she joined the British Museum
's Department of Manuscripts as an Assistant Keeper. In 1998 she retired from the British Library
(as it had since become) as Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts. By the end of her career "she had established an international reputation as one of the foremost scholars in her field".
A Festschrift
was published on the occasion of her retirement, Illuminating the Book: Makers and Interpreters: Essays in Honour of Janet Backhouse, edited by Michelle P. Brown
and Scot McKendrick (1998).
Backhouse was educated at Stonar School
Stonar School
Stonar School, founded in 1895, is one of the UK's independent leading day and boarding school, at Cottles Park, Atworth, near in Wiltshire, south-west England...
and Bedford College, London. On 17 September 1962 she joined the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
's Department of Manuscripts as an Assistant Keeper. In 1998 she retired from the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
(as it had since become) as Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts. By the end of her career "she had established an international reputation as one of the foremost scholars in her field".
A Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
was published on the occasion of her retirement, Illuminating the Book: Makers and Interpreters: Essays in Honour of Janet Backhouse, edited by Michelle P. Brown
Michelle P. Brown
Michelle P. Brown is Professor of Medieval Manuscript Studies at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. She has previously been Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library. She has been a historical consultant and on-screen expert on several radio and television programmes...
and Scot McKendrick (1998).