Dennis Duncan on Index, A History of the

May Midday Program

Now we take search for granted, asking Alexa or Siri to race through the Internet to find (though not always on the first try) exactly what we’re looking for. But it hasn’t always been so.

People used to be faced with a thick accumulation of paper or papyrus, however bound or stacked, and wonder how they could track down the nugget of information they needed. Enter the indispensable index.

Dennis Duncan brings the history of this remarkable innovation to life in an entertaining and witty book, Index, A History of the, that will be the subject of our May Midday gathering. Dr. Duncan is a lecturer at University College in London. You may have seen his writing in the Guardian, the Times Literary Supplement, or the London Review. He was a postdoc fellow at the Bodleian and has also been a fellow at Cambridge. An engaging speaker, Dennis will have you looking at the back pages of your books with a fresh sense of wonder and appreciation.

Register today!

Live attendance and optional lunch

View Zoom program on eighth floor, Steel Room, Union League Club. Presentation begins at 12:00 PM CT. Optional lunch immediately following $35. (Must register and pre-pay by 12:00 pm 5/10/2023. Seating is limited to 24.)

Zoom presentation is free and open to all.

Zoom begins at 12:00PM CT/1:00 PM ET. Preregistration required via website.

Please forward this notice to anyone who may find it of interest.