Today is National Typewriter Day, but everyday is International Typewriter Day in Special Collections! Meet our newest addition:
This Greek-alphabet Olympia typewriter is one of several interesting items donated to Special Collections by Professor Walter Kaegi. Professor Kaegi (1937-2022) was a scholar of the late antique Mediterranean who taught in the Department of History at the University of Chicago for over 50 years. Acclaimed for his erudition and demanding precision, Kaegi was an admired faculty member credited with mentoring three generations of historians.
A polyglot and prolific researcher, Professor Kaegi was an expert in Byzantine Greek who made frequent use of this typewriter in his work. He was also famous for his travels, having visited every former province of the Roman Empire. His typewriter is part of the newly accessioned Walter Kaegi Collection which has now found a home in Special Collections.
Also featured are a Hebrew alphabet typewriter, a German alphabet typewriter, and oh yes, an English alphabet typewriter.
(calling Tom Hanks)
