Printed books provide a historical record of important 16th and 17th century festivals, creating a memento of these otherwise fleeting, though often extravagantly produced, events.
Festival books: Records of propaganda, pageantry, and epic parties
Unit: Special Collections
Images as learning aids in a historical textbook
By translating works into vernacular languages—particularly French—Charles Estienne brought accessibility of the literature to a much wider audience.
Communications between and beyond the pages
The Will Johnson Collection of children’s literature showcases an important aspect of a collector’s relationship to books and their creators—thoughtful, intentional communication.
Historical costume ideas in watercolor studies by Charles Bianchini
Art, research practice, and historical dress are brought together in a series of watercolor studies created in 1892 by the French artist and costume designer Charles Bianchini (1860-1905).
‘Knave of hearts’: A brilliant book illustrated by Maxfield Parrish
The Knave of Hearts is a one-act play written by Louise Saunders and illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. This was the last children’s book that Parrish illustrated, and he worked on the paintings for about three years before it was completed.
Beautiful books: The Kelmscott Chaucer
While William Morris lamented much of the quality he saw as lost to the Industrial Revolution, he also embraced the use of photography as an essential tool in his design process. This blend of technology and fine craft work came together in the limited-edition publications issued by the Kelmscott Press between 1891 and 1898.
Down a very strange rabbit hole with Salvador Dalí
Alice falls through the rabbit hole into a world that is dreamlike and strange, at times grotesque, irrational, and often confusing. Salvadore Dalí’s illustrations, from a book held in Milner Library’s Special Collections, perfectly capture these elements of the classic story.
New wardrobe display opens at Milner Library, August 1
A new selection of costumes from the Ueckert Circus Wardrobe Collection is on display on the third-floor landing of Milner library.
The cure-alls and culinary delights of a countess
A Choice Manuall is a remarkable little volume of medicinal and culinary recipes that is a bit of an enigma.
Special Collections intern reflects on experience curating and designing exhibits
The exhibit, “Cures & Concoctions: A Historical Look into Health, Healing, & Remedies,” explores a wide variety of medical treatment methods from the past.
