v e/1 Library The BoJtort Letter from e/1 thentezt.Jn No. I 07 JANUARY 1995 Boston Library Society Will be Feted HOSE attending annual n1ectiugs of the Athenreun1 proprietors have grown accuston1ed to a traditional pause in the discu~sion of Athcna!Ulll n1atters to attend to a pocket of activity pertaining to the Boston Library Society. l 'his break nonnally lasts about ten n1inutcs-offi.cers are elected, n1inutes are approved­ after which attention returns to Athen~um business with n1on1entun1 barely broken. 1''his unusual n1ecting within a n1ecting rc11ects an association \Vhich began in 1Y39 when the older (by thirteen years) Library Society succun1bed to financial tribula­ tions and can1e to rest under the wing of its younger-and more successful-sister at 1OY2 Beacon Street. But the Library Soctcty had an illustrious life of its own, and its n1en1bers included son1e of the elite politicians, writers, n1erchants, and artists of Federal Boston. In this bicentennial year of its birth, we arc con1n1en1orating the So­ ciety·s prestigious position in the history of the intellectual life of the fledgling United States with an exhibition and publication that \vill place the Society firmly in the 1innatncnt of institutions that shaped Boston's cultural history. The exhibition will open on Monday, 13 February, and run through 1 April. Most Athenxun1 readers have the vague but accurate idea that the Boston Library Society is no\v in son1c \vay a part of the Athenreum, but they are sketchy on the ho\vS and \vhys ol it all. "']he Boston Library Society, 1794-1994," an exhibition curated by Michael \Vcnt\vorth featuring portraits, views, and n1aterials related to the founda­ tion of the Society and so1ne of its early members, will answer a host of questions and provide a re\\'arding glitnpse into Federal Boston in the bargain. The Athenccum collections arc rich in 1naterial related to the Boston Library Society and its founders, and the library's holdings have been augn1ented for the exhibition \Vith distinguished loans frotn a nun1bcr of public and private collections in Ne\v England. Lenders to the exhibition include the Muscun1 of Fine Arts, \Vith Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Sarah \Vent\YOrth Morton and Henry Sargent's Tea Party in the Tontine Crescent; the Harvard University Portrait Collection's portrait of Charles Bulfinch by Mather 2~ Brown; the Bowdoin College Museum of Art's anonymous continental portrait of James Bowdoin Ill; views of Boston and the Tontine Crescent from the Bostonian Society; and Jane Stuart's portrait of Paul Revere from the Boston Grand Lodge of Masons. Material from the archives of the Boston Library Society related to the founding of the Society and rare books related to the literary efforts of the founders of the Athenreum collection will give scope and dimension to the works of art. Mr. Wentworth has prepared a commemorative catalogue with an essay which traces the history of the Society and includes notes on the colorful lives and foibles of its early members. The text is illustrated with portraits of Society founders and members such as Charles Bulfinch and Sarah Morton, and views of the city of Boston during the early nineteenth century. There will be a Boston Library Society concert on Thursday, 23 March, at which we will welcome back mezzo soprano Pamela Dellal and baroque guitarist Olaf Chris Henricksen, who will be joined by viola da gambist Carol Lewis. They will perform music that could have been heard in Boston around 1800, as it might have been per­ formed at home, including contemporary popular pieces-by Haydn and Arne-and "historical" pieces-by Corelli and Purcell. Included will be a performance of Hans Gram's song, "Death of an Indian Chief," based on Sarah Morton's Ouabi, the music for which was published in the Massachusetts Magazine in 1791, and is included in the exhibition. For details of this concert, see the section on events "In the Gallery." "50 Books" Wins Prestigious Award In December we received the happy news that 50 Books in the Collection of the Boston A thence urn, published by the Athenreum in February 1994 to accompany the exhibition "50 Illustrated Masterpieces from the Collection of the Boston Athe­ nreum," had received an award from the Bookbuilders of Boston and the 1994 New England Book Show Committee. 50 Books, prepared under the general editorship of Michael Wentworth, was designed by Howard Gralla of New Haven, Connecticut, and printed at the Stinehour Press in Lunenburg, Vermont. The Bookbuilders of Boston, an organization which a\vards prizes each year for outstanding design and production of books from New England publishers, previously acknowledged an­ other Athenreum publication, Conger Metcalf: A Retrospective, in 1990. "Bibliodoldrums" Returns We are happy to announce that after a year's hiatus the mid-winter series of Satur­ day morning lectures on bibliophilic matters affectionately dubbed "Bibliodoldrums" will be offered again. Curator of Special Collections John Lannon, who has gen­ eral charge of organizing these talks, is enthusiastic about this year's schedule of speakers. On 18 February, rare book dealer David O'Neal will speak on fore-edge paintings; on 4 March, collector Sandra Adams will discuss designer book bindings; and collector Stephen Paine will conclude the series on 1 8 March with a talk on <4: 3 • nineteenth-century ephern ra. 'fh ,barge \Vill be 1~- f r a h e IOn~ or 40 for the: series. Athena!uni tnetnbers \Vill receiv invitations in January.- The /Iiggins Dynasty Continues ']hose 1nen1bers \vho are de oted fan of Record "' Ofl1c r Eile n 1-Ii&gins \Vill be delighted to h:arn that her daughter Monica has joinc:d the St:Co nd floor statf. toni a canH:! to the Athcna:un1 as Events oordinator on 12 Scptcn1bc:r and it is her voice that \Vill be heard on the reservation line and her cnt:rgetic pr sc:nce that \\'ill be felt behind the seen s at tea and at our evc:ning events. Monica is a graduate of Providence ollcge and carne to th ~ Athenreun1 fron1 Newport, H.hodc Island, \Vhcrc she \vas assistant director of the Little riencls Fann­ a-Kindcrgarten and Day arc and (in hc:r spare n1on1ents) planned parties for the New York Yacht Club. ln her pre-Athena!urn life she also creah::d the events progran1 for 1 he ev.rport Group, and us a p~rsonnel 1nanager \Vas clo'>cly involved \Vith labor law polici s and unions. She presently resides on th e North Shore \Vith t\VO VVc.lck.y cat· and spends \Vhat free tin1e she has \Vindsurfing, cycling, and (like a good Athen~cun1 staff nlcrnbt:r) reading. We all \Vclcon1c her wannly. Book Requests We would like to remind readers that the Acquisitionc; D~p ar tmcnt \Velcorncs suggestions for book titles that would be appropriate additions to Athcn~cum col­ lections. Requests should be entered in the blue binder that li ves ju'>t around the corner frorn the Front Desk, on the first floor. Plcac:;c be sure to attach a rcvie'v. The Book Selection Con1n1ittee n1ects every t\vo weeks and consideration of book requests n1ay be delayed son1c\vhat as a result of this schedule. But all request~ \Viii be given serious attention. The action of the Con1n1ittce \Vill be noted on the request form. 'I here arc book. review journals in the third floor BovY Roon1 as \VCll as in th e Rcad1ng Roon1, but please do not tear reviews fro1n these journals. Photocopic1 s arc avail­ able on the first and fourth floors. Silhouette Days! The \veekend of the 11th and 12th of February will bring Ilclen and Ncl Laughon, our 1nost \\ elcon1cd guests. back to the Athen<eum for t\VO s~ssions of silhouette cutting. On Saturday, 11 February, the Laughons \Vill begin at 9:00 a.m. and v.;ork through 4:00 p . n1.~ on Sunday. 12 February, the doors will open at noon and cloc;e at 4:00 p.n1. Re ervationc; arc an absolute requirement, and memberc; \viii be assigned ~\ specific tin1c for their cutting. The Laughtons \vill cut both full-length and head and houldcr Yie\\ s, but full-length portraits v.rill be tak.en on Snturday morning only, bet¥.rccn Q: 00 and 9:30. Because of time constraints no pet portraits \Viii be taken. 4~ Please watch your mail for invitations explaining the fee schedule and a full descrip­ tion of the day-long entertainment and good food that always accompany this highly anticipated Athenreum event. The Book Arts of Takejiro Hasegawa at the Peabody Essex Museum Although there is usually little extra space in Ite;ns for announcements from other area institutions, the exhibition of the work of Japanese book artist Takejiro Hase­ gawa, "Japanese Pictures of Japanese Life," which opens at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem on 26 January, should interest Athenccum readers. Hasegavva flourished during the Meiji Restoration, and specialized in the publication of classic Japanese wood block illustrations-specially designed for him by Tokyo artists­ in crepe paper volumes. The museum holds nearly 200 examples of Hasegawa's work, and many of them will be on display. An opening reception will be held on 9 February from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the exhibition's benefactor, Frederic A. Sharf, will speak about the artist in the gallery on 9 March at noon. The exhibition will run through 15 May; those who are interested in more information should call (508) 745-9500.