In November, Special Collections will mark the 50th anniversary of the acquisition of Binghamton University’s first early modern manuscript. In 1972, Professor Aldo Bernardo, co-founder of the Center for Medieval and Early Renaissance Studies (CEMERS), facilitated the purchase of the early 15th-century manuscript containing two works by the Italian humanist scholar Petrarch (1304–74). To supply half the funds for this purchase, Bernardo launched a crowdfunding campaign, raising money from 39 Broome County residents and businesses; the University Libraries provided the remaining funds.
