Blog Posts by Subject: Manuscripts and Rare Books

The first woman artist to be regularly employed by Houghton Mifflin—and one of the most prolific designers of her day—was Sarah de St. Prix Wyman Whitman. She frequently collaborated with author Sarah Orne Jewett.

Although controversial for its socialist overtones, 'Germinal' was a popular success that was quickly adapted to the stage, and has since spurred countless reprints, translations, and adaptations.

In the 145 years since its initial publication, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has provided continuous inspiration for artists and illustrators. But the most iconic Alice images remain John Tenniel’s illustrations for the first edition published in 1865. This February marked the bicentennial anniversary of Tenniel’s birth, and in celebration of that milestone, The New York Public Library has digitized a set of Alice books interleaved with proofs of Tenniel’s illustrations.

The NYPL has a bevy of resources to support students and educators on this journey.

'The Holy Ladder'—you could call it one of the first self-help books ever written.

A sampling of publications whose authors relied upon the Library’s archival and rare book collections in their research.

To celebrate Herman Melville's 200th birthday, the Library is displaying notable Melville items from our collections, including family correspondence and literary manuscripts.

Learn about the French castle with an entire library of "ghosts" and its connection to The New York Public Library's Spencer Collection.

Recently, The New York Public Library digitized in its entirety one of its great treasures, the 1640 printing of The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre.

Banned Books Week 2017 is this week (September 24th–30th). With that in mind, I would like to introduce a beautiful book, once banned, now residing in the Library’s Spencer Collection. It is a work of no particular bibliographical significance: an isolated volume (volume 2, the correspondence) from a ten-volume set of the works of St. Augustine.

Interested in learning more about New York's role, and the early battles of the American Revolution? Inspired by Hamilton?

In January 2017, thousands gathered on Fifth Avenue and the surrounding area for the Women’s March. But this wasn’t the first time that this street was the home for a massive demonstration: almost fifty years ago, it was a primary thoroughfare for the first Earth Day celebration.

In honor of National Poetry Month, and what would have been her 89th birthday, we celebrate the life and work of, Dr. Maya Angelou, with this Research Guide. Here, you will find an overview of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s holdings related to the work and life of this notable poet, writer, journalist, actress, and dancer.

New! This series of Schomburg Center Research Guides will provide you with resources related to various topics and subjects related to the Global Black Experience. This research guide will provide you with an overview of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s holdings related to Black dance pioneer, Katherine Dunham.

This episode of 'Live From the Reading Room: Correspondence', recited by Trinidadian costume historian Natalya Mills-Mayrena, features a letter from Trinidadian Poet Cheryl Boyce-Taylor to a group of friends and poets. In the letter, Boyce-Taylor discusses writing, family, and publishing.

A sympathetic account of the execution of British spy John André, written by an American Army officer.

Live from the Reading Room: Correspondence is a podcast series that aims to share interesting and engaging letters written by or to key historical figures from the African Diaspora.

Today’s episode features a letter from journalist and essayist Josephine Schuyler, to her daughter, pianist, composer, journalist, and child prodigy Philippa Duke Schuyler.

Today’s episode features a letter from writer, anthropologist, and folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston to her friend, “Bill.”