‘Never was there a luckier piece of work!’, remarked Philip Hofer when recalling W. B. O. Field’s gift of over 3,500 of Lear’s pictures to Houghton in 1942. In recent years a comprehensive online finding aid has been created, which includes high-resolution images of the drawings and detailed transcriptions of the annotations Lear made on…
Born-Digital Post #3: Space
This post continues the series, “Behind the Scenes at Houghton”, giving a glimpse into the inner workings of the library’s mission to support teaching and research. Thanks to Magdaline Lawhorn, Administrative Fellow & Project Archivist, for contributing this post. Our born-digital journey continues to be filled with research, trial and error, and lots of excel…
Collections Now Available for Research: April 2018
Houghton Library is pleased to announce that the following collections now have descriptive finding aids and are available for research in the library’s reading room. Richard Baldridge Manuscripts and Letters, 1927-1964 (MS Thr 125) – processed by Irina Klyagin Boris Bilinsky Costume Designs for Cinema, Theater and Ballet, 1924-1943 (MS Thr 317) – processed by…
Exhibition catalogs digitized
We’re pleased to share the news that we’ve digitized a few of our favorite exhibition catalogs from the past, focused on our collection of Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts. We hope those interested in the field will find them a valuable resource. Late Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, 1350-1525, in the Houghton Library (1983) The Bible…
Collections Now Available for Research: March 2018
Houghton Library is pleased to announce that the following collections now have descriptive finding aids and are available for research in the library’s reading room. Anne Barry correspondence with Norman Mailer and related papers, circa 1961-2009 (MS Am 3159) – processed by Melanie Wisner Artcraft Lithograph & Printing Co. Window Cards, 1941-1979 (MS Thr 1752) – processed…
Born-Digital Blog Post #2: Generating the Report
This post continues the series, “Behind the Scenes at Houghton”, giving a glimpse into the inner workings of the library’s mission to support teaching and research. Thanks to Magdaline Lawhorn Administrative Fellow & Project Archivist, for contributing this post. Houghton’s born-digital survey journey continues to the next stage, beginning with the procurement and analysis of…
The Origins of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra
Today, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, America’s oldest symphony orchestra, will perform its annual Junior Family Weekend concert in the university’s Sanders Theatre. The HRO began life in 1808 as the quirkily named Pierian Sodality, founded by six Harvard students seeking to further their shared interest in serenading and socializing. The original Pierian Sodality appears to have…
Aspects of Edward Lear (Part III)
‘Verily, I am an odd bird’, Lear once confessed. He was also a superb illustrator of odd birds, as his Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots attests. Working from live models in the gardens of the newly established Zoological Society in London the 18-year-old Lear produced his book without any formal training, independent…
Collections Now Available for Research: February 2018
Houghton Library is pleased to announce that the following collections now have descriptive finding aids and are available for research in the library’s reading room. Francis C. Browne Journals and Ephemera, 1840-1895 (MS Am 3156) – processed by Magdaline Lawhorn Filipino American Performing Arts Broadsides and Posters, 1979-2002 (MS Thr 1724) – processed by Magdaline…
Born-Digital Blog Post #1: The Beginning
This post continues the series, “Behind the Scenes at Houghton”, giving a glimpse into the inner workings of the library’s mission to support teaching and research. Thanks to Magdaline Lawhorn, Administrative Fellow & Project Archivist, for contributing this post. Born-digital backlog! Everyone has one. When you think of Houghton Library and other special collections,…