One of the most-cited authors in the world, James Joyce is the author of epic works, such as Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. At the University at Buffalo, we showcase some of the most valuable printed materials in the world with the James Joyce Collection.
From his manuscripts, scholars and enthusiasts alike can study this unique compilation. Assembling an unmatched collection of Joyce materials presents an opportunity to say something new and put UB on the map for our dedication to preservation.
The potential impact of such a significant collection is immeasurable and it deserves a fitting stage. That is why UB is building a James Joyce Museum. An investment of this magnitude sends a clear message about the preservation of historical materials and the future of literary criticism.
“I was in Kolkata [India],” said PhD Candidate in English, Dipanjan Maitra. “I had not seen a single volume of the James Joyce archive. That’s when I decided I would try to apply [to UB].”
With vast, valuable printed resources, Maitra sought clarity on this world Joyce created by studying the archives so that he could present something of relevance in his literary criticism.
It would be difficult to read criticism about James Joyce and not run into the name Michael Groden. In his careful studies in genetic criticism of Joyce, Groden examines James’ complex writing process for readings otherwise impossible without access to his archives.
When he thought about the transformative effects of archival research, Groden could not think of a better place to fund than the James Joyce Collection.
Few authors have more of a global influence than James Joyce. That is because you do not have to be a scholar to experience and enjoy Joyce’s works. His writing is meant to be appreciated by everyone. Public access is tantamount to both Joyce and UB.
With an enormous impact on world literature, Irish literature is one of Ireland’s biggest imports around the globe, with Joyce being the biggest name in the lot.
The James Joyce Archive presents an opportunity for scholars to learn something new and gain a perspective that could have been discounted in the past 70 years of scholarship. As a leading research university, bypassing this premier opportunity would be criminal. With several large donations, we have been able to establish ourselves as a destination for the study of Joyce literature.
Your investment in UB will make a difference for a cause that matters to you: whether you make a gift to the UB Fund, support a scholarship for one UB student, sustain the work of a professor who will inspire thousands, or fund a cancer cure that saves the lives of millions. Every gift counts!
