"Some Newberry Librarians Went Shopping, and Then..."
In the spring of 1949, the director of the Newberry and its head order librarian set off on a six-week buying spree in Europe. They were among the first of many American librarians who would explore the book stocks of war-ravaged Europe looking to enlarge their collections rapidly and cheaply. As such, their tour was a harbinger of what may have been the largest peaceful transfer of cultural property in history -- the creation of the great and small research libraries of the United States.
Paul Gehl, Newberry Curator Emeritus, will lead us while we accompany these pioneering Chicago librarians across Italy, France, and the UK.
Speaker
Since 2016, Paul F. Gehl has been Curator Emeritus at the Newberry Library, where he served for 35 years as curator of the printing history collections.
About Colloquium
Colloquium is a weekly series of talks featuring staff, fellows, and scholars who are working with the library’s vast collections. These events bring together experts from various fields to share their research on a wide range of topics, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and engage in conversation.
Colloquium is open to the public and offers a chance to explore fascinating ideas and new discoveries. No advance registration is required.