Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration
Swem Library announces the opening of Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration. Picturing Words is both a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Libraries and a complementary exhibit of illustrated books from Swem’s collections.
Today’s culture is very visually-oriented, and modern viewers will find much of interest in the exhibit. Picturing Words explores the use of illustration in natural history, scientific, religious, historical, and commercial books from the earliest illustrated printed volumes to modern publications. Wood engravings, lithography, photography, and other illustration formats contributing to the inspirational, informational, or influential nature of books.
Among the treasures on display is a 1499 edition of St. Augustine’s commentary on the Pauline epistles. Another volume on exhibit is a 1581 edition of I Qvattro Llibri Dell’Architettvra by Andrea Palladio. This architectural classic influenced architects for generations to come, including Christopher Wren. A King James Bible, published in 1613, is open to the family tree of Adam and Eve. Alexander Gardner’s masterpiece of Civil War photography, Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book of the War, is another piece on display. The exhibit also includes the earliest color-illustrated book featuring dogs, the first American color-illustrated book, and many other books with marvelous illustrations. Williamsburg-area residents may be interested to see some early 20th-century ads in the “Influencing Buyers” section of the exhibit.
The Picturing Words traveling exhibit may be viewed in the Read-and-Relax area on Swem’s first floor. The exhibit of Swem’s illustrated books can be found in Read-and-Relax and the nearby Nancy Marshall Gallery. Picturing Words is open whenever Swem Library is open. The exhibit will be on display through Sunday, March 16, 2008. Funding for the exhibit at Swem Library was provided by the Timm Library Endowment and the Christian Vinyard Endowment.
College in Song
"The College in Song" is the new student life exhibit using material from the University Archives in the Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library. Students have been singing at the College of William and Mary for years. The items on display include a selection of fliers, programs, CDs, t-shirts, props, and other material from student singing groups highlighting the variety of genres and groups currently performing on campus. The University Archives actively collects material in a variety of formats from student groups. We urge current students and organizations to consider giving material to the University Archives to ensure that future students and researchers have access to these rich sources of information about students and student life at the College. The exhibit case is located in the lobby area.
Student Publications, 1990s-2000s
"Student Publications, 1990s-2000s" is the first in a series of exhibits about student life at the College of William and Mary using material from the University Archives in the Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library. The exhibit includes a range of publications including humor, literary, political, and news publications published by students at the College in the recent past both officially and unofficially. The oldest student news sheet from the College of William and Mary still extant is The Owl, an unofficial publication with a strong Southern political slant from 1854, while the most recently published items are actively collected by the University Archives today. The exhibit case is located in the lobby area.n
Title Pages
“Title Pages,” the second of a series of library exhibits of W&M faculty publications, opened on November 2 at Swem Library. The exhibit features over forty books and other publications, including many national award winners, written by the faculty of the Department of History.
The volumes in the exhibit are on loan from the University Archives, although several copies are available in the circulating collection.
The exhibit is located in the Bright Gallery in the second floor rotunda of the east wing of the library. Visitors will be impressed by the many hours of research and scholarship represented.
The Study Abroad Photography Exhibit
in the Botetourt Gallery, ground floor features 50 remarkable photographs taken by students during their study abroad program travels.