This Ladino Day 2027, join us on a curated tour through the Adatto collection – in both digital and physical form – with presentations by Sephardic Studies chair Devin Naar and Oya Aktaş.
The first scholars of Sephardic Studies at the University of Washington–and among the very first scholars in the field anywhere in the United States–siblings Albert and Emma Adatto completed their masters degrees in the 1930s focusing on Seattle Sephardic history and culture, respectively. Since then, Albert Adatto amassed one of the largest private collections of Ladino books from the Ottoman Empire located anywhere in the United States. Now digitized by the UW Sephardic Studies Program with the originals housed at UW Special Collections, the Adatto bookshelf offers an unprecedented glimpse into the astounding literary and cultural creativity among Sephardic Jews over the centuries that has been hidden from public view until today.
This event will be held in-person on the 5th floor of the Suzzallo Library, 5 East Conference Room.
Navigating to the room: Please enter through the main entrance of Suzzallo Library (the entrance facing Red Square). Walk straight until you see the elevators on the right side. Take the elevator to the 5th floor. The room will be right across from the elevators when they open.