The SoFCB  grew out of an innovative, deeply interdisciplinary fellowship run by Rare Book School devoted to reinvigorating and advancing the study of the book by bringing together and training promising early-career scholars. We have, from our outset, been supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The annual meeting is an opportunity for fellows (friends!) to welcome a new cohort and collectively engage with questions particular to the study of material texts.