About
Mission Statement
The Center for British and Irish Studies at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ at Boulder promotes research and teaching in all aspects of British and Irish life, culture, and history. The Center, the only one of its kind in the country, advocates an interdisciplinary approach to British and Irish Studies, joining the humanities and performing arts, the social sciences, and the professional fields. Within the University, the Center provides an intellectual focus for faculty members and students at all levels. It plays a vital role within its geographical region, serving people at colleges and universities throughout the Rocky Mountain/High Plains area. The Center also brings members of the academic world into contact with individuals and organizations in the community who are interested in contemporary or historical Britain and Ireland.
Research
The research activities of the Center are based upon the exceptional collections of British and Irish Studies materials held by the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ at Boulder Libraries. In addition to standard primary and secondary works, journals, and British government documents, acquired over the past century, the libraries recently have been purchasing microfilmed/microfiched sets of original manuscripts, early books and newspapers, and personal papers from British archives. Some of these materials are available nowhere else in North America. Our holdings constitute the finest research collection in British and Irish Studies within this region and one of the finest in the country. They are open to use by students and faculty members at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, by visiting academics, and by members of the community. We welcome outside users of the research materials. The British and Irish Studies Room at Norlin Library contains microfilm readers/printers and a computer for use by people working with the collections.
Access the Center for British and Irish Studies collectionÌýfinding guides.
Education
Within the University, the Center contributes to teaching and research in a variety of ways. We offer an undergraduate Certificate in British and Irish Studies and have developed a set of interdisciplinary seminars for graduate students. We provide travel fellowships for students who need to study or do research in Britain, and we have a fund to support photocopying of archival materials for students. The Dean's Writing Prizes in British and Irish Studies reward outstanding papers by undergraduate and graduate students. The Center hosts a range of lectures, seminars, and performances by distinguished visitors, many of them from Britain and Ireland.
Community
The Center is also involved with the wider community. Working with groups and companies in the state that have British interests, we help to organize such projects as "The United Kingdom in Colorado Week" (June 1990), featuring a variety of cultural, political, and economic events. British art loaned by local collectors is displayed in the British Studies Room and in special exhibits. Members of the community are welcome to become members of the Center and to join us at our lectures and at receptions after special events, performances by British and Irish groups, or art exhibits.