American presidents as bibliophiles at the Grolier Club
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Tuesday, November 5, 2024


American presidents as bibliophiles at the Grolier Club
Fillmore, Indian Antiquities. Photo courtesy of the Grolier Club.



NEW YORK, NY.- Currently, the Grolier Club in New York City is hosting an exhibition exploring America’s presidents as bibliophiles, readers, and writers. On view in the Grolier Club’s second floor gallery, Presidents and Their Books: What They Read and What They Wrote features books from all 45 men who have held the office of President of the United States of America, from George Washington through Joseph R. Biden. Co-curated by Grolier Club member Susan Jaffe Tane and her teenage grandchildren Natalie Flaxman and Spencer Flaxman—the youngest-ever curators at the Grolier Club—the exhibition is drawn from Tane’s collection.

“Book collecting always represents a connection between the past, present, and future, and this collection illuminates both our nation’s shared history and the personal history of a family of collectors,” said Tane.

Spanning U.S. history with approximately 50 books from the personal libraries of presidents or books signed and inscribed by them, the exhibition includes a copy of John Adams’ political philosophy papers inscribed to his cousin; a presentation copy of Abraham Lincoln’s Political Debates; and a copy of Gentle Julia, gifted to a nine-year-old George H. W. Bush by author Booth Tarkington. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog co-authored by Tane and her grandchildren, published by the Grolier Club.

Exhibition Highlights

On view in Presidents and Their Books are volumes read and kept by presidents in their personal libraries, such as George Washington’s copy of James Rennell’s Memoir of a Map of Hindoostan; or the Mogul Empire (London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for the Author, 1793), which Washington signed on the title page. Thomas Jefferson’s annotated copy of Homer’s Iliad, a Renaissance-era printing in Greek, was part of his library at Monticello. Franklin Delano Roosevelt kept a 19th-century red-bound gift book he inherited from his grandmother in his library at Hyde Park. The Gift: A Christmas and New Year’s Present for 1836 (Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1835) contains Edgar Allan Poe’s story “Ms. Found in a Bottle.”

Presidents’ personal interests are often revealed through their libraries. Millard Fillmore’s copy of Indian Antiquities, or, Dissertations, Relative to the Ancient Geographical Divisions... Vol. IV. In Which the Hebrew Trinity and the Oriental Triads of Deity Are Extensively Investigated (London: Printed, for the Author, by H.L. Galabin, 1800) explores iconography and ideology in ancient Egypt and the Near East that likely relates to Fillmore’s anti-Masonic theories. Also on view is Theodore Roosevelt’s personal copy of his book Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905), signed and with his bookplate, in which he recounts his two-week exploration of Yellowstone.

Many books on view feature inscriptions that share personal and political relationships. Harry S. Truman gifted Eleanor Roosevelt a copy of Truman Speaks (New York: Columbia University Press, 1960), a collection of his lectures at Columbia University, inscribing it to the “First Lady of the World.” Nixon inscribed The Memoirs of Richard Nixon (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1978) to the Shah of Iran, Mohamed Reza Shah Pahlavi, “with deep appreciation for his friendship and for his strong, courageous leadership in the cause of peace, progress and justice for his own people and others throughout the world.” Nixon gifted the book to the Shah one year before the Iranian Revolution sent him into exile.

A posthumous gift is on view from John F. Kennedy, who planned to give a copy of the Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States of America from George Washington 1789 to John F. Kennedy 1961 (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1961) to Secretary of State Dean Rusk. Jacqueline Kennedy inscribed the book on his behalf and gave it to Rusk a few weeks after her husband’s death.

Grolier Club
Presidents and Their Books: What They Read and What They Wrote
September 7th, 2023 – November 11th, 2023










Today's News

September 15, 2023

A Picasso masterpiece that visitors can finally photograph

Jim Nutt's art remains a mystery. Even to him.

William Monk now presenting first solo show in LA since 2015 at Pace

Rare career retrospective for Mexican Modernist Abraham Ángel premiered at Dallas Museum of Art

Philbrook acquires major work by renowned artist Nick Cave

Tenth solo exhibition by Alex Katz now on view at Richard Gray Gallery

The legacy of writer and painter Leonora Carrington on view at The Dalí Museum

The San Francisco Museum Modern Art to open 'Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: Strips of Stripes' tomorrow

Sullivan + Strumpf present 'Emotion Harvest: An exploration of AI, art and emotion' in Melbourne

Three Schiele works believed to be stolen are seized from U.S. museums

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia now opening "Tarek Atoui: Waters' Witness"

Behold: New York City's trash can of the future

Academy Art Museum announces new atrium commission by Marty Two Bulls, Jr.

Mark Steven Greenfield challenges perceptions and celebrates black identity at the Monterey Museum of Art

Eversley's first public artwork in New York explores new dimensions and perspectives

'Objects of Addiction: Opium, Empire and the Chinese Art Trade' explored at Harvard Art Museum

American presidents as bibliophiles at the Grolier Club

Prodigy frontman Maxim to exhibit in Athens at The Blender Gallery

German art duo Layer Cake brings 'The Versus Project IV' to Los Angeles

Egos! Drama! Desmond Child, a pop hitmaker, is telling his story.

'Ghosts of Our Towns' by Fernando Laposse is being shown at Friedman Benda NY

How To Protect My Phone From Hackers?

Pipe Noise - Professional Solutions

Turning plastic into treasure: upcycled jewelry meets fashion

Instructions to Erase Your Instagram Record: A Bit Manual for Online Privacy

The Internet Sensation's Age, Origins, And Intriguing Journey

The Unforgettable Legacy: A Deeper Look Into The Flame Hashira's Impact In Demon Slayer

Your Comprehensive Handbook for Achieving a Natural Glow with Self Tanner at Your Fingertips

Zigleys: Crafting Luxury, Embracing Art, and Creating Heirlooms

What is Keeping Indians Away from Health Insurance




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Holistic Dentist
Abogado de accidentes
สล็อต
สล็อตเว็บตรง

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful