Current Exhibition tab Forthcoming Exhibition tab Past Exhibition tab Online Exhibition Tab Other Exhibitions at the University Tab

Exhibitions on display in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections can be viewed during its regular hours . Displays in the Great Hall can be viewed whenever Rush Rhees Library is open. Directions to Rush Rhees Library can be found here.
EXHIBIT: The Builder’s Bells: The Hopeman Memorial Chime and Carillon tab
Bronze bell


Since the Dedication of the River Campus in 1930, the Hopeman Memorial bells have sounded out over the campus and adjacent Rochester neighborhoods. This exhibit features highlights of the history of the Hopeman bells. Viewers will see the original keyboard used to sound the Chime, William Ehrich’s Bellman’s Society nameplate holder, an architectural drawing of the Tower with an explanation of how the Carillon works and much else. University Carillonneur Doris Aman and the University Archives collaborated to produce the exhibit.

Available for viewing all hours the Library is open. Great Hall, Rush Rhees Library, 2nd Floor, through September 30, 20112

EXHIBIT: Springing to Life: Movable Books & Mechanical Devices tab
Popup Book cover


The paper engineers who design movable and pop-up books that spring to life before our eyes make the transformation look effortless. The term “movable” refers to books containing mechanical paper devices that remain flat, such as paper discs, flaps, and pull tabs. “Pop-up” describes collapsible paper devices that elevate off the page into three dimensional structures. Today’s movable and pop-up books contain the same basic elements developed and improved upon by previous generations of paper engineers.

This exhibit, curated by Leah Hamilton, features more than 50 examples of pop-up books, bibliographic mechanisms, and amazing feats of paper engineering and spans nearly 500 years of the interactive book.

The exhibit is open January 23 to August 17, 2012 and can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department on the 2nd floor of Rush Rhees Library, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
EXHIBIT: Picturing AIDS and Its Publics tab
Condoman says

Over the last 30 HIV/AIDS has spread unevenly across the globe. In the process it has altered bonds of intimacy, scientific knowledge, and diverse beliefs about morality and life. Constellations of imagery from awareness campaigns form alongside global networks of transmission and treatment. Drawing from the Atwater Collection of AIDS educational posters, Picturing AIDS and Its Publics shows the changing look of AIDS. The posters communicate diverse ideologies and visual strategies, showing how various groups around the world conceive of the virus.

The exhibit has been curated by Berin Golonu and Alexander Brier Marr and is mounted in conjunction with the Humanities Project, "Looking at AIDS 30 Years On."

The exhibit is open January 26 to May 21, 2012 and can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department on the 2nd floor of Rush Rhees Library, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
EXHIBIT: Manuscripts as the Portals of Discovery tab

Manuscript materials offer the user the unmatched experience of learning about the past through the lens of another’s experience. Representing recently acquired and processed collections, Manuscripts as the Portals of Discovery explores four themes: activism, innovation, knowledge and travel.

“Manuscripts as the Portals of Discovery”, curated by Lori Birrell, features manuscript items acquired through donation, and purchased from manuscript dealers. The items in this exhibit celebrate human ingenuity and creativity.

The exhibit is open February 3 to March 30, 2012 and can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department on the 2nd floor of Rush Rhees Library, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.



Arrow  Return to Top