The Center for Epigraphical and Palaeographical Studies at The Ohio State University was created in September 1986 by an act of the Board of Trustees of the University. Stephen Tracy took the initiative in its creation with the strong support of Charles Babcock and other colleagues. It is the only comprehensive research facility for the study of Greek and Latin inscriptions and manuscripts in the United States. Its purpose is to foster the study of inscriptions and manuscripts and promote research opportunities for those interested in these primary sources of information for the ancient and mediaeval world.
The Origin of the Center for Epigraphical and Palaeographical Studies by Stephen Tracy, founder and first director of the Center
The Center maintains an excellent library of books on epigraphy and palaeography as well as an extensive collection of photographs and squeezes (accurate paper impressions of inscriptions) of Greek and Latin inscriptions and microfilms of Latin manuscripts. The Center houses a number of special collections including Arthur and Joyce Gordon's photographs and squeezes of Latin inscriptions, Stephen Tracy's papers, photographs and squeezes of inscriptions from Athens and the Athenian Treasury at Delphi, J.K. Evans's photo archive of Latin inscriptions from northern Italy, J.M.R. Cormack's papers, photographs and squeezes of inscriptions from Macedonia, Donald Laing's squeezes of and papers on Athenian naval decrees and shipping, the Avery-McDonald collection of Attic squeezes, and the offprint collections of Sterling Dow, A.G. Woodhead, Donald Laing, Henry Robinson and Benjamin Meritt. The Center is also home to the Virginia Brown Collection, which contains her library, her offprints, photographs, papers and notes on manuscripts and palaeography in general and on Beneventan script in particular.
The Center is a long-time participant in a project to create a comprehensive database of Greek epigraphical texts, in cooperation with colleagues at Cornell University and with funding and technical support from the Packard Humanities Institute. The Center has contributed material to a searchable online database. The project at the Center is directed by Philip Forsythe.
The Center offers several short-term fellowships for those pursuing post-doctoral research in Greek and Latin epigraphy and Latin palaeography.