by Hope Lawrence
Sure, we all know that libraries are commonly known for borrowing books, collaboration, and attending events. Arguably, there is a display or two of the rich history of a particular library which then leads to curiosity of “tell me more”. Rather than venturing to a Smithsonian museum for such artifacts, the Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library Treasures has displayed many artifacts from its collection. Board members of the WNBA-NYC chapter spent an afternoon exploring this exhibit on February 18, 2023.
Upon entering the exhibit, you are overwhelmed by the rich history of the past. The items displayed are a visual representation of where the world was compared to modern day. The exhibit is divided into several themes (insert link to page here), but those of particular interest include the Beginnings, the Written Word, and Childhood.
The Beginnings represents where it all began—from challenges ideas, to theories, to the “first-knowns” about a particular topic.
The Written Word represents writings from all over the world written by those that studied the craft. Writings by Maya Angelou or Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral are on display.
The Childhood section gives us an understanding that the books then offered a moral, religious, or educational instruction. Today’s books more or less still follow this same these.
Other Noteworthy Displays
Virginia Woolf’s walking stick isn’t the only item once possessed by a renowned author on display at the Schwarzman building: the letter opener of Charles Dickens that has the paw of his beloved cat made into the handle! It might seem bizarre nowadays for one to do that with the remains of a cherished pet, but Dickens lived in different times. This practice can be compared to that of widows during his time. These widows would keep a lock of their late husband’s hair in their hats as a way to remember.
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library family will have the works on view in the Gottesman Hall and will be an ongoing exhibition with different works in rotation.
About Hope Lawrence
