Gardens of Knowledge: An Exhibit of Books About Botanical Gardens
November 1999 - March 2000
To scholars and students of botany, botanical gardens serve as living libraries; and books related to botanical gardens take the metaphor one step further. This virtual exhibit, based upon a real exhibit in the Department of Special Collections in November 1999-January 2000, highlights books on botanical gardens from the holdings of Special Collections. When the actual exhibit was installed, the weather outside was cold and gray, but the lush illustrations of botanical gardens and their contents served to remind us of growing seasons past and future. Curated by Jenifer Ihde.
Italian Life under Fascism: Selections from the Fry Collection
July-September 1998
As this virtual exhibit suggests, the Fry Collection affords rich possibilities for research, and we owe much to Jack Fry, professor emeritus of physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, for his care in assembling the collection and his generosity in giving it to the Department of Special Collections. The Fry Collection itself contains many hundreds of printed items, ranging from single broadsides to large volumes, along with extensive archival material. Items in this virtual exhibit date from the period 1922-1945, but the Fry Collection as a whole speaks to aspects of Italian history and culture from the Renaissance through the 20th century. A later exhibit, "More from the Fry Collection," complemented this virtual one.
Women & Nature
March-December2001
Drawing on library strengths in the Cairns Collection of American Women Writers Before 1920, history of science, and the University Archives, this exhibit explored the relationship of women and nature. Exhibit themes included nature writing, scientific illustration, and women's careers and training in the natural sciences. Installed in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Women's Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and curated by Kelley Osborne.
Smaller Course-Related Exhibits
Selected Editions of Sacrobosco's De Sphaera
In conjunction with History of Science 323, The Scientific Revolution, taught in fall semester 2007 by Prof. Florence Hsia, the Department of Special Collections has digitized selected pages from each of its editions of the works of Sacrobosco (Joannes de Sacro Bosco [John of Holywood], fl. 1230).
Selected Images from the Encyclopédie
In conjunction with History 119, Modern Europe 1500-1815, taught in fall semester 2007 by Prof. Lee Wandel, the Department of Special Collections has digitized selected pages from its first edition of the Encyclopédie of Diderot and d'Alembert.
Exhibit Checklists
We are gradually adding checklists for past exhibits to the Special Collections Web site, beginning with "Folly, Fraud, Fakery," as exhibited in 2002.