Since it is National Library Week, I decided to check out a very cool section of the Museum’s Library Reading Room. This section contains all the Nelson-Atkins publications written since the Museum’s opening in 1933. It was fascinating. I really liked how the books on these particular shelves are organized by date, not alphabetically. It was neat to see how the books have changed over the years – in size and content.
The most interesting book I picked up was one of the first on the shelves entitled, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art Handbook, 1933. I think you can figure out why this book was so interesting. I spent the most time looking at the images; I was trying to figure out which artworks are still up in the galleries now – and which ones I wish I could see. I guess I was mildly surprised to see that so many of the works that are considered treasures of the Museum now were part of the original collection and treasures then as well. Quite a few items from the Chinese collection were original assets, such as the Chinese Temple and the Amida Buddha. One of my favorite paintings has been in the collection from the beginning as well, Ingres’ Portrait of the Sculptor Paul Lemoyne.
Another intriguing aspect of this book is the maps of the original building. I particularly liked that there was only one curator’s office and a smoking lounge included in the original plans. I don’t remember when Rozzelle Court Restaurant did not have a roof and was strictly a courtyard, but I’ve seen a picture now thanks to this book. Also if you had purchased this book back then, it would have cost you just 50 cents.
These Nelson-Atkins Publications shelves also contain the gallery handouts for exhibitions over the years. It was interesting to see that when I was eight years old, there was an important artist named Odd Nerdrum having an exhibit at the Museum. The amount of information included on just six shelves was fantastic. Many of the books about specific artists were very engaging and filled with great stories. I don’t doubt that many people may think a book about Thomas Hart Benton would be similar to a textbook, but it was filled with stories and people from his past.
The last book I looked through was regarding the upcoming exhibit, Art in the Age of Steam, which I happen to be very excited about. The images were beautiful and there were interesting quotes throughout the book which kept me flipping the pages along. I like that I will have the chance to go back to that book before the exhibition opens and read more in depth on the artists who found their lives so deeply impacted by this advancement.
Take advantage of this great reading provided for free by the Museum. If you’re interested in history or art or how far the Museum has come, these shelves are for you. Just ask a member of the Library staff to point you in the right direction. Happy reading!