Exhibit – Treasures of DeGolyer Library: 100 Years of Collecting

Travels in the Interior of North America … Karl Bodmer, artist

Treasures of DeGolyer Library: 100 Years of Collecting

Theodore de Bry (1528-1598)
Americae Pars I-XIII
Frankfurt, 1590-1634

The exhibition features rare treasures from DeGolyer Library’s major collecting areas of Western Americana, exploration and discovery, history of science, history of business, photography, transportation, and literary works. Highlights include the 1493 “Columbus Letter;” Martin Waldseemüller’s 1513 map entitled Tabula Terre Nova, one of the earliest maps to depict the New World; a first edition of Francis Bacon’s first published philosophical work from 1605; the first authentic history of the Lewis and Clark expedition published in 1814; photographs by Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner; and much more.

Location: DeGolyer Library

Exhibit dates:
October 24, 2013 through February 28, 2014

Exhibit hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Listen to a brief introduction: mp3 file

Examples from the exhibit

Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad: The Old Reliable Route to the West via Quincy …

Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., [1880]

Railroad timetables are always informative and sometimes, as in this example, they are colorful and attractive works of art as well.

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Davy Crockett’s Almanack of Wild Sports of the West and Life in the Backwoods: Calculated for All States in the Union

Nashville: Snag & Sawyer, [1834]

“Snag & Sawyer,” as the name suggests, was a fictional publisher. Crockett almanacs became widely popular annuals, and they continued for decades after Davy’s death, contributing to his mythical status in American literature and folklore.

 

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Alexander Gardner (1821-1882)
Across the Continent on the Kansas Pacific Railroad (Route of the 35th Parallel)
Washington [D.C.]: Alex. Gardner, Photographer, [ca. 1868]

Alexander Gardner’s especially rare and important portfolio of Western photographs were made in 1867 and 1868. The portfolio consists of 125 mounted albumen prints, each with letterpress titles and captions documenting the photographic survey from Saint Louis to San Francisco.

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Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859)
Vues des Cordillères, et Monumens des Peuples Indigènes de lA̓mérique
Paris: F. Schoell, 1810.

In 1799, Humboldt, the great German naturalist, explorer, and scientist, undertook scientific investigations in all the Spanish possessions in America with privileges never before granted to any traveler. Accompanied by the French botanist Aimé Bonpland, together they made observations on geology, geography, zoology, botany and the political and social character of the regions.

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Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica
London: G. & J. Innys, 1726

Third edition of “the greatest work in the history of science.” In the Principia, Newton formulated the three laws of motion. In addition to its universal significance, our copy has a distinguished local provenance. “To Dr. R.S. Hyer, President Emeritus, Southern Methodist University, Affectionately, Chas. C. Selecman, Oct. 1, 1927.”