UMass Dartmouth’s Claire T. Carney Library Associates will host its annual meeting featuring a lecture by Mel Yoken, UMass Dartmouth professor emeritus, May 23 at 4 p.m. in the Grand Reading Room. 

Yoken is known for his collection of letters from French authors of the 20th century, which he has shared in “A History of Letters.” The collection is housed at the John Hay Library on the Brown University campus.

Yoken’s collection began as a graduate student when he wanted to know more about the French authors he was studying and what their work meant to them. The authors took the time to respond, often in handwritten letters.

His lecture will cover the importance of documenting history through letters. 

The program is dedicated to the memory of the Associates’ namesake, Claire T. Carney, who died on March 24, 2024. 

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in Lot 13. Light refreshments will be served.