Dillard University Spanish students visited Tulane’s Howard-Tilton Memorial Library to explore one of the world’s foremost collections of source materials in Latin American archaeology, anthropology, history, linguistics, art, architecture, film, women’s studies, economics and many other subjects areas.
The students, all of Dr. Julia Patiño’s advanced Latin American literature class, researched the collection for extended information for an investigative project. The Latin American Library, located on the fourth floor of Tulanes library, held the collection of historic Latin American artifacts.
Patiño’s small class of only three students investigated the different cultures of the Maya, Huaca, and Nahua.
Latin American specialist and former student of Tulane University, Dr. Paul Bary aided the students in their research.
"Information of these historical codices is truly one of a kind. We are one of the few facilities in the world that has this evidential information about the Latin codices," Bary said.
"Students should feel privileged because this information is normally locked in the Tulane safe," Bary explained of the rare collection usually kept from the public.
Students said to have been fascinated by the Historical codices of Latin American, which are rarely seen outside of historical museums.
The codices included pictures and symbols of color created by the early day Spanish artists. This helped the artists convey special events of the past such as the Spanish invasion and other important historical events.
"I really enjoyed visiting Tulane’s Library and viewing all that it included, most importantly, the information I received from Dr. Bary", said Nekeithia Wade, a junior student who was mesmerized by the experience.
Wade found Dr. Bary‘s information a great help in the completion of their final investigative project.
For more information on the rare Latin American collection, visit Tulane’s Howard-Tilton Memorial Library at: http://library.edu/about_the_library/departments/latin_american_library.php
