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Welcome to 2019 Dumbarton Oaks Summer Interns

Remarks Welcoming 2019 Summer Interns at Dumbarton Oaks

Author: Jan M. Ziolkowski Date: June 3, 2019 Location: Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC Remarks welcoming new Dumbarton Oaks summer interns. The event took place on the Bowling Green of the Dumbarton Oaks garden. ©2019 Jan M. Ziolkowski Welcome to Interns My name is Jan Ziolkowski. As director, I have the treble pleasure of greeting you in your inaugural hour of your internship, welcoming you to Dumbarton Oaks, and introducing you to a subset of the community. Normally this occasion would afford ample opportunity for sweating and suffering swarms of mosquitoes, but the only sure thing in the world is that nothing in the weather or otherwise can be predicted confidently. Yesterday brought no bursts of brimstone but it did hammer us with heaps of hail. But today who could complain? Whatever is happening meteorologically and climatically, we have the good fortune of a mild temperature and decent humidity. For June in DC, this is as comfortable as it gets. We are also fortunate in having this welcome coffee, which gives us a chance to look outward to greet newcomers and inward with appreciation to our colleagues. Let me start by giving a thumbnail sketch of this institution. DO, as we refer to Dumbarton Oaks for short, is uniquely strong and wonderful because it has many moving parts that work together. Many universities have departments, but none has all the components in such proximity as we do— and none boasts a pool in an enchanted garden. Although not a university, DO combines the advanced research of fellowships and internships, some teaching (such as summer school), but above all the special commitment of a very busy nine-to-five, Monday-through-Friday workplace. For keeping all of us housed, safe, funded, and connected, thanks go to Facilities (Engineers, Building Assistants, Refectory), Security, Finance, and IT. The Garden resembles them in being operational, but it is also another kind of resource. The three programs of studies: Byzantine, PreColumbian, and Garden and Landscape Studies. They are underpinned by the Library, Museum, and Publications. Last but most definitely not least is the Director’s Office, with Fellowship Program managed by Emily Jacobs. All of us are here for you, but by the same token you are here for us. When I mentioned earlier how bustling the place is, I referred to workdays but omitted to mention 365 days a year. You are with us for only 10 weeks out of the 52 we work yearly. And all of us serve the greater good. We open our doors to students of all ages who come to avail themselves of our resources, who include faculty, undergrads, and graduate students from Harvard. But we also assist scholars throughout the world who consult our digital resources. Finally, we offer our services to a much larger public in the Garden, Museum, and special events and through outreach. A responsible life within a functioning society requires balance between individualism and collectivism. My dream is for you—like the rest of us—to be fulfilled as individuals during your two and a half months among 2 Welcome to Interns ©2019 Jan M. Ziolkowski us, while at the same time opening your minds and hearts to the community within and without DO and keeping them fixed on its greater good. You will naturally form a cohort, but I urge you to engage with staff in your departments and with others in the community, in the Refectory and elsewhere. Enough palaver! The moment has finally arrived for introductions, which I will limit to your name, concentration or department and sometimes secondary field at Harvard, and the topic of your internship. Join me when I call you up alphabetically by last name, and I would ask your supervisor to do the same. And correct me if I mess up any details. 3 Welcome to Interns ©2019 Jan M. Ziolkowski