Intellectual Community

The Rawlinson Center, a research center under the aegis of the Medieval Institute, fosters teaching and research in the culture and history of early medieval England and in the broader field of manuscript studies. The Center maintains a reference library with holdings of over 6,000 books, offprints and electronic resources that medieval studies students may use for research and study during business hours.

The Medieval Research Group is a voluntary association of medieval studies students, staff and affiliated faculty to share research and foster collegiality. It is open to graduate students in other departments who share interests in medieval studies. Members are encouraged to present research in progress or drafts of conference papers for feedback. 

The Goliardic Society is an independent social organization run by the graduate students of the Medieval Institute. The mission of the society is to facilitate camaraderie among students, faculty and friends while enhancing the academic environment of the Institute and the medievalist community of Kalamazoo through various donations, volunteer work and scholarly activities. It is open to any graduate student with an interest in medieval studies, including but not limited to students at the Institute, the English department and the History department. Reach out with any questions to @email.

The Center for Renaissance Studies at the Newberry Library in Chicago is a research center promoting the study of medieval, Renaissance and early modern studies, particularly through the use of the Newberry's impressive collection of holdings related to these topics. The Center also offers a variety of scholarly programs and events throughout the year and works with a consortium of universities all over the world. Western Michigan University is a member of this consortium through the Medieval Institute, and faculty, staff and graduate students are eligible to apply for a Newberry Renaissance Consortium Grant to receive travel funding to participate in Center for Renaissance Studies programs or to conduct research at the Newberry Library.

Hosted by the Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University, the International Congress on Medieval Studies is an annual gathering of thousands of scholars interested in medieval studies. The Congress embraces the study of all aspects of Middle Ages, extending to into late antiquity and the early modern periods, including—but not limited to—history, language, literature, linguistics, art, archaeology, religion, science, medicine, music, drama, philosophy, gender, sexuality, mysticism and technology, as well as medievalism.