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From Page to Pedestal: Literature in the Age of Collecting: Home

About the Exhibition

In the late 17th and 18th centuries, Britain experienced a transformative intellectual shift as the practice of collecting and Cabinets of Curiosities emerged. This exhibition showcases literature from this period, which evolved alongside the collecting phenomena and laid the groundwork for public exhibitions and modern museums. Exploring the intersection of literature and curiosity, the exhibition draws from Henderson Library’s rare book collection, to provide valuable insights into Britain’s rising collecting culture.

Behind the Exhibition

The exhibition is inspired by "Reading the Museum," Dr. Lindsey Chappell's ENGL 5324: Seminar in 18th Century British Literature course. The course explored the museum as both a theme and a technology in British literature around the period.

Image: @gasouthernenglish, titled 'Dr. Chappell’s 18th-century British lit students ... Special Collections,' posted on March 5, 2024.