Beyond the Reading Room

This Wednesday's watermark feature: grape motifs in watermarked papers from our Islamic Manuscripts Collection.

The Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive (JBLCA) at the University of Michigan Special Collections Library documents American culinary history, defined broadly to include both influences upon American foodways and the influence of American culinary practices elsewhere. The recent acquisition of a small cookbook collection formerly belonging to Colonel Karnig “Carl” Mahakian (1926-2015) contributes to JBLCA's strength in immigrant culinary traditions and charity cookbooks.

“Beauty and the Beast” is one of the most popular and frequently republished fairy tales. While it has roots and antecedents in animal groom folklore and classical mythology, such as the tale of Cupid and Psyche, the specific characters and narrative elements that compose the tale we know as “Beauty and the Beast” have their origin in the literary fairy tale “La Belle et la Běte” written in 1740 by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve.

Before the 21st century marriage equality campaign, how did LGBT individuals frame their own relationships against the backdrop of a hostile society? Delving into the Joseph A. Labadie Collection, a pioneering record of American social and political protest movements, uncovers some surprising answers.

This Wednesday's watermark feature: scissors motifs in watermarked papers from our Islamic Manuscripts Collection.

The first Friday in June is National Doughnut Day! We have items across our collections that feature this delectable treat...

We are very pleased to announce a new online exhibit from the Special Collections Library: Shakespeare on Page and Stage: A Celebration. It is a virtual record of the physical exhibit that took place in the Audubon Room of the Hatcher Library from January 11 to April 27, 2016. As the title playfully suggests, the exhibit is a historical journey through different versions of Shakespeare’s plays as they were edited for publication or interpreted for the stage.

We are very pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit at the Special Collections Library. The display showcases recent acquisitions that strengthen our extraordinary holdings in the areas of radical literature, transportation history, film, rare books, culinary history, Islamic manuscripts, children's literature, and Judaica.

The audience for children’s literature goes far beyond ages 2-12. The words and images of these books linger in our minds long after we’ve outgrown the suggested age ranges. Below are a few favorite children’s books from the staff of the Special Collections Library, featuring titles present in our Children’s Literature Collection. Celebrate Children’s Book Week with one of these suggestions, or share your own best-loved books in the comments!

Watermark Wednesdays are back with Paschal Lamb motifs in watermarked papers from the Islamic Manuscripts Collection.