Otto Ege

Otto F. Ege (1888-1951)^[1] was a teacher, lecturer, and well-known biblioclast. He worked for many years at the Cleveland Institute of Art where he served as Chair of the Department of Teacher Training^[2], instructor of Lettering, Layout, and Typography^[2], and Dean^[1]. He was also employed by the School of Library Science at Case Western Reserve University as a lecturer on the History of the Book^[1], and instructor of History and Art of the Book^[2].

Otto Ege's greatest fame, however, came as a result of his biblioclastic pursuits. Over a period of decades in the early 20th century, Ege systematically removed the pages of some 50 illuminated medieval manuscripts^[1], and divided them into 40 unique compilation boxes^[3], commonly referred to as "Otto Ege Portfolios". These portfolios were in turn sold and distributed world wide^[3]. While no doubt profit was made from each sale, Ege stated, "Surely to allow a thousand people 'to have and to hold' an original manuscript leaf, and to get a thrill and understanding that comes only from actual and frequent contact with these art heritages, is justification enough for the scattering of fragments."^[4]

Over the last several years, Prof. Peter Stoicheff of the University of Saskatchewan has been working to locate all existing Ege Portfolios, and to foster co-operation from their respective owners in creating an "Ege Medieval Manuscript Database" with the ultimate goal being the digital reconstruction of the complete books.^[5]

References and notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Otto F. Ege Collection of Fifty Original Manuscript Leaves", University of South Carolina, University Libraries Digital Collections
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Barbara A. Shailor to lecture at Wells College", Wells Book Arts Center
3. ^ ^{a b} "Scattered Leaves: the Otto Ege Medieval Manuscript Collection", University of South Carolina.
4. ^ Fred Porcheddu, "Otto F. Ege: Teacher, Collector, Biblioclast", Art Libraries Society of North American, 6 May 2006
5. ^ "Symposium to look at ancient pages", University of Saskatchewan On Campus News, Volume 12, Number 17, April 29, 2005

Persondata
Name	Ege, Otto
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Short description
Date of birth	1888
Place of birth
Date of death	1951
Place of death