Past Library Exhibit

These legendary sports journalists shaped the Golden Age of Sports. At the height of his career, Rice was syndicated in more than 100 newspapers across the country. Russell’s career spanned over seven decades of journalism. Their coverage of the Olympics, major league sports and horse racing set the standard for athletes… Read More

Since the 15th century, artists have partnered with writers and book binders to create beautifully illustrated books. The earliest European tomes were devotionals, enriched by illuminated letters and hand-colored woodblock prints. Reading matter diversified after Johann Gutenberg invented typography and the printing press in the 1450s. As the publishing industry… Read More

Tennesseans elected a 39-year old Republican new-comer to the state’s highest office in 1979. But on the eve of his inauguration, Lamar Alexander faced a critical decision: agree to an early swearing in or risk the release of notorious criminals from Tennessee’s prisons by Governor Ray Blanton’s administration. Beginning… Read More

“My challenge to the young people is to pick up where this generation has left off to create a world where every man, woman and child is not limited, except by their own capabilities.” View Online Exhibit… Read More

When Vanderbilt University was established in 1873, there were few schools in Tennessee designed to prepare students for college. Of the dozens of schools that sprung up around Vanderbilt over the next 100 years, only three were established before the university. Montgomery Bell Academy and the McTyeire School were founded in 1867, followed… Read More

The Presidential Inaugural Speeches exhibit curated by M. Brielle Harbin features the inaugural speeches from President Richard Nixon to President Barack Obama. This exhibit provides an overview of the history and format of the presidential oath of office and inaugural address and details how presidential inaugural speeches have been used by presidents… Read More

From A to B is a site specific installation created by artist Myranda Bair for the Central Library Food for Thought Café. The installation consists of 13 dioramas housed in the card catalog wall of the Café, and a window display of jars of honey. The dioramas depict native Tennessee… Read More

Baudelaire Notes Letter to Pellerin First page of a letter to Pellerin, dated and signed by Charles Baudelaire, February 24, 1959 “I Owe You”… Read More

While a book can be an object that conveys a specific type of information; the many parts of that object may be combined to create a treasured piece of art. This exhibit highlights the many components of bookmaking and the wonderfully artistic masterpieces created to help achieve the goals of… Read More

Born into extreme poverty prior to the Civil War, Edward Emerson Barnard rose to prominence as an astronomer. Credited as the world’s greatest observer of his time, Barnard began his career at the Vanderbilt University Observatory in 1883 before moving on to larger observatories at the University of California and… Read More