Stories to Tell: Selections from the Harry Ransom Center On view through February 10, 2019
What is the Harry Ransom Center? The answer to this question reveals a cultural institution with a variety of roles – an internationally renowned humanities research center, rare book library, archives, conservation laboratory, and museum. Seemingly complex, the Ransom Center operates on a simple proposition – to share and celebrate the creative process.
The extraordinary collection represents a deep well of creativity and reveals how leading literary figures, photographers, artists, actors, and filmmakers created their works – from genesis of an idea to completion of a masterpiece. Many stories can be told from the Center's extensive holdings. This exhibition reveals some of those stories.
Currently, the exhibition features items from a range of collections including:
- Documents relating to American playwright Terrence McNally
- The Richard Wright Suite of prints by John Woodrow Wilson
- American poet Fenton Johnson's A Wild Plaint manuscript
- A selection of matte paintings used in MGM motion pictures
- A display of rare books about "Dying Well in Early Modern England"
Visit throughout the year to see changing displays of artifacts, photographs, and documents.
The Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible is the first substantial book printed from movable type on a printing press. The Ransom Center holds one of five complete copies in the United States.
First Photograph
The First Photograph was taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or 1827. The image depicts the view from an upstairs window at Niépce's estate, Le Gras, in the Burgundy region of France.
