The Library is pleased to partner with the Department of Hispanic Studies in presenting Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo’s Natural and General History of the Indies, Islands, and Mainland of the Ocean Sea. This exhibition provides an opportunity to bring added visibility to the department’s Oviedo Project. This multi-year effort represents the first attempt to translate into English the full text of Oviedo’s work, and Vassar students are playing an important role. The exhibition also gives a chance to highlight the recent acquisition of related materials in the Main Library and the Archives & Special Collections Library.

There are a number of people to thank for their contributions to this project. Among the faculty, I’m grateful to Lisa Paravisini-Gebert and Michael Aronna for discussing the possibility of collaborating, for offering helpful advice as we proceeded, and especially for agreeing to co-author an essay for the catalogue. I also appreciate Carollynn Costella’s work in reaching out to students who have participated in the Oviedo Project, and bringing together some of their thoughts from an interview. Special thanks go to Stephen McCarthy and Stephen J. McCarthy, Jr. ’1o for helping the Library to acquire the 1534 edition of the Sumario which is on display. This significant gift was made in memory of Phoebe Anderson McCarthy, ’69.Sharyn Cadogan produced the digital images, and George Laws contributed the type suggestions.

We hope viewers of the exhibition will enjoy learning about Oviedo, his works, and the times in which he lived.

Ronald Patkus
Head of Special Collections and
Adjunct Associate Professor of History
on the Frederick Weyerhaeuser Chair