"Le Theatre du Monde..."
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638).
Gift of J. Monroe Thorington, Class of 1915.
Rare Books Division, Princeton University Library.
Princeton University Library Friends
Celebrate 75 Years with New Exhibition
PRINCETON, N.J. – In 1930, Herbert Hoover was President, “All Quiet on the Western Front” won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and gasoline was twenty-five cents per gallon when a group of bibliophiles met and decided to create a group to support one of their favorite institutions. Now, 75 years later, the Friends of the Princeton University Library, one of the oldest groups of its kind in the country, will celebrate its major anniversary with a new exhibition. “The Lure of the Library: The Friends at 75” will open on Sunday, November 13, 2005 in the Main Gallery at Firestone Library on the university campus. Renowned collector William H. Scheide of Princeton’s Class of 1936, will deliver the exhibition’s opening lecture at 3:00 PM in 101 McCormick Hall. A reception will follow immediately in the Main Gallery, Firestone Library at 4:00 p.m. The program and exhibition are free and open to the public.
“Individually and collectively, the Friends have generously supported the University Library for three-quarters of a century by enabling Princeton University to acquire items that we may not otherwise have been able to collect,” noted La Nina M. Clayton, curator of the exhibition and the Head of Public Services for Rare Books and Special Collections. “With their support, we have been able to acquire rare books, manuscripts, archives, artifacts, historic maps, coins, and graphic arts, some of which are included in the exhibition.” Among these acquisitions are the Morris L. Parrish (Class of 1888) Collection of Victorian Novelists, the Phillip Ashton Rollins (Class of 1889) Collection of Western Americana, the Robert Garrett (Class of 1887) Collection of Islamic Manuscripts, the Grenville Kane Collection of Americana, and the Robert H. Taylor (Class of 1930) Collection of English and American Literature.
The Friends’ continuing popularity is evident in its membership, which stands at more than 700 individuals who live around the world. “It has been strong for many years,” observed Ben Primer, Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections, “but the celebrations for the anniversary will certainly increase interest.”
Two additional exhibition-related events will be held in the spring. On Thursday evening, February 16, 2006, Stephen Ferguson, the Curator of Rare Books, will discuss “Collecting Rare Books in University Libraries: How did it Start at Princeton?,” and on Thursday, April 13, Patricia H. Marks, present a talk entitled, “A Passion for Books: Collectors and Their Quarry.”
“The Lure of the Library: The Friends at 75” is on display in the Main Gallery, Firestone Library, Princeton University, One Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544. The Main Gallery is open to visitors Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Evening viewing hours are available on Wednesdays until 8:00 p.m. The Gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours of the exhibition will be held on the following Sundays at 4:00 PM: December 11, February 12 and April 2.
“The Lure of the Library: The Friends at 75” will run through April 16, 2006. For more information, contact La Nina M. Clayton at (609) 258-3184 or rbsc@princeton.edu.
