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Category: New and Notable

Libraries Acquires Salviani Book

The Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library recently acquired Ippolito Salviani’s Aquatilium animalium historiae (Rome, 1554), a classic, foundational work on fishes. The book is one of three 16th-century works that established ichthyology as a modern science. The Libraries holds the other two – Belon’s De aquatilibus (1553, a Latin translation of his Histoire de la nature des estranges poissons marins, 1551) and Rondelet’s Libri de piscibus marinis (1554) – and has now completed the trio.  The Aquatilium animalium historiae is a tremendous asset for the National Museum of Natural History’s curators in the Division of Fishes, who advised on the purchase.

Clouds come to the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library

Cover of Cumulus artists' book
Cover of Cumulus artists’ book

Through the generosity of a donor (who is also on the staff of the Smithsonian Libraries!), the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library (AA/PG Library) is pleased to announce a new addition to its artists’ book collection: Cumulus by Thomas Parker Williams.

Aftermath of a Catastrophe: 3.11.2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami: an artist’s Soulful Heart

Cover of "Aftermath of a Catastrophe".
Cover of “Aftermath of a Catastrophe”.

This Art Book is dedicated to all the people who lost their lives on 3.11.2011—Kumiko Shindō.

According to the official record of the Japanese Government 15,883 people died, 6,145 injured, and 2,656 are missing in twenty prefectures affected by 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Hansel and Gretel at the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library

Hansel and Gretel: A Shadow Theatre Book
Hansel and Gretel: A Shadow Theatre Book

Through the generosity of an artists’ book enthusiast (and a member of the Smithsonian Libraries staff), the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery (AA/PG) Library has recently acquired a copy of a new book depicting scenes from a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale: Hansel and Gretel: A Shadow Theatre Book.

New Highlights from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Library

An autumn sunrise at the Smithsonian Environmental Resource Center
An autumn sunrise at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

This post was written by Sue Zwicker, Reference Librarian at the Natural History Library and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and a new addition to Smithsonian Libraries staff.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), in Edgewater, Maryland is a global leader for research focused on connections between land and water ecosystems.  A staff of 17 senior scientists, and an interdisciplinary team of more than 180 researchers, technicians, and students, conduct long-term descriptive and experimental research that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Recently added artists’ book at the AA/PG Library

Dos mujeres
Artists’ book Dos Mujeres

The American Art  Museum/National Portrait Gallery (AA/PG) Library has close to two hundred artists’ books in its collection, many of which have been featured here in past blog posts. However, this collection continues to grow and new books are selectively added. Many come through donations, but others are purchased to support the collection’s theme of “American Lives, American Stories.” Most of the works in the artists’ book collection feature American book artists and have biographical elements or touch upon the American experience.