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Category: Special Collections

Chilling out with rare books

Erin Rushing
August 2, 2013
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De proprietatibus rerum
De proprietatibus rerum in the Dibner Library

This post was written by Morgan Arronson, intern in the Dibner Library for the History and Science and Technology and Preservation Department.

If you want to stay cool during DC’s hot and humid summer, head to the Smithsonian and find the nearest rare book. Instantly a wave of cool air will rush by. This may sound strange but it works every time.

Here at the Smithsonian’s Dibner Library and the Book Conservation Lab located in Landover, MD, where I’ve been interning for the past six weeks, rare and precious texts are kept in climate controlled environments with humidity and temperature levels set to levels bordering on chilly. Wandering the stacks will give anyone goose bumps—not only because of the cool temperatures but also because of the incredible library materials stored there.

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The Visit of the Steamship Historical Society of America in the Dibner Library

Erin Rushing
July 22, 2013
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This post was written by Lilla Vekerdy, Head of Special Collections.

On June 24, 2013, The Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology hosted a group from a national society interested in a special topic, steam vessel navigation. The Steamship Historical Society of America requested a rare book display and presentation following the encouragement of Brent Dibner, who is a Board Member of the association and knows about the Library’s extensive holdings on the subject.  Mr. Dibner is grandson of Dr. Bern Dibner (1897-1988), the founder of the Library.

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The Fix – Edward Jenner’s Cure for Smallpox

Katie Wagner
July 17, 2013
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When a book that had the impact of Edward Jenner’s An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae comes into the conservation lab we get fairly excited. This 1798 first edition, part of the Dibner Library, outlines the technique of infecting patients with the mild cowpox virus to create immunity from the highly contagious and often deadly smallpox virus. As a result of his findings Jenner is considered the father of immunology and is credited with saving more lives than any man in history.

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The Riots at New York

Anne Evenhaugen
May 31, 2013
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nycriots2This post was written by Erin Friel, an intern at the American Art and Portrait Gallery Library, January-May 2013.

Currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is the installation “Bound for Freedom’s Light: African Americans and the Civil War,” which showcases portraits of familiar figures such as Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, as well as contemporary news illustrations of lesser-known events. Those who would like to learn more about some of the topics in the exhibit can find information in the excellent resources at the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library (AA/PG).

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