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Alexandra Barratt

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Alexandra Barratt
Born1945
Academic background
Theses
  • Fifteenth century lyrics on the Passion and their reading public (1969)
  • Two Middle English translations of Aelred of Rievaulx's 'De Institutione Inclusaram' (1973)
Doctoral advisorA. G. Rigg
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Waikato

Alexandra Anne Talbot Barratt (née Carr) is a New Zealand academic, and is professor emerita at the University of Waikato. Barratt is a specialist in medieval manuscripts.

Academic career

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Barratt completed master's at Carleton University in 1969 followed by a PhD titled Two Middle English translations of Aelred of Rievaulx's 'De Institutione Inclusaram' at the University of Toronto in 1973, supervised by A. G. Rigg.[1][2] Barratt then joined the faculty of the University of Waikato, rising to full professor in 1997.[3] During her time at Waikato, Barratt had been Chairperson of the English department, Chairperson of Humanities, and had served on the University Council as Academic Representative.[3][4] She retired in 2010, and was appointed professor emerita in 2011, in recognition of more than thirty years of service and her "outstanding contribution to the university".[3]

Barratt studied medieval manuscripts, and has written nine books.[3] Barratt was responsible for identifying a 13th century psalter in the Alexander Turnbull library that had been misclassified as a probably fifteenth century Book of Hours. The Flemish psalter MSR-26, dated 1275–1300, was gifted to the Diocese of Wellington by William Burgoyne Hudson, brother of entomologist George Hudson.[5] After her retirement, Barratt has been studying the 'manuscript waste' found in manuscripts and early printed books in New Zealand.[6] For instance, Barratt was called on by Auckland Libraries to examine parchment strips that were found in the binding of a late 15th century printed German bible in their collection. Barratt identified the strips as 1200-year old bible fragments.[7]

Personal life

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Barratt's parents were Frederick and Joan Carr. Barratt's godmother was Dame Margot Fonteyn.[8][9] Barratt donated a Len Castle pot to the University in memory of her husband, scientist Robert Welch ONZM, who died in 2020.[10]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ Barratt, Alexandra Anne Talbot (1973). Two Middle English translations of Aelred of Rievaulx's 'De Institutione Inclusaram' (PhD thesis). University of Toronto – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ Barratt, Alexandra Anne Talbot (1969). Fifteenth century lyrics on the Passion and their reading public (MA thesis). Carleton University – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ a b c d "Medieval studies expert made Waikato emeritus professor". www.waikato.ac.nz. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Anger at Waikato University job losses". NZ Herald. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  5. ^ Barratt, Alexandra (1 January 2013). "What shall we pack? New Zealand Immigrants and their Manuscripts". Parergon. 30 (1): 73–90. doi:10.1353/PGN.2013.0061. S2CID 144620609.
  6. ^ Alex (28 February 2015). "Medieval Bindings in NZ Libraries". Old Books New Science: A Medieval Studies Lab at the University of Toronto. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. ^ "1200-year-old parchment found inside Auckland Library book". NZ Herald. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Barratt, Alexandra Anne Talbot, 1945-". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ^ National Library of New Zealand. "Barratt, Alexandra Anne Talbot, 1945- : Papers relating to Dame Margot Fonteyn". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Art donation for all to enjoy - Foundation: University of Waikato". www.waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 23 February 2024.