Princeton Weekly Bulletin, February 23, 1998
"The Search for Latin America"
Firestone Library exhibit presents "panorama of primary sources" at Princeton
The exhibition "The Search for Latin America: Sources at Princeton" is on display in the Main Gallery of Firestone Library through April 13. It presents a panorama of primary sources held by the library's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, as well as Manuel Alvarez Bravo photographs and pre-Columbian objects from the Art Museum, some of which have never been publicly shown.
More than 200 items include original manuscripts, rare books, maps, photos, correspondence, coins and artifacts dating from the pre-Columbian period to the 20th century.
"The purpose of the exhibition is twofold: to make Princeton's rich holdings of Latin Americana better known to students and scholars alike, and at the same time to increase community awareness of Latin America. The primary sources at Princeton are invaluable in the process of seeking to understand this vast land, its people and distinct histories as told through often conflicting accounts," says Peter Johnson, bibliographer for Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Johnson is cocurator of the exhibit along with Ben Primer, University archivist and curator of public policy papers.
Items of special note include the first dated Latin edition (1493) of Columbus's letter announcing his discovery, as well as the only copy in America of Vespucci's letter to the king of Spain, borrowed from the Scheide Library.
The exhibition deals not only with documents produced by elites but also with the kinds of evidence available for understanding the masses and nonwhite populations. One case is devoted to the Dominican Friar Bartolome de las Casas, whose long life was dedicated to the cause of the Indians. Another case presents pamphlets and other publications of contemporary Latin American organizations that struggle for human and civil rights. These are part of the many items in the library's Microfilm Collection.
Lectures
The exhibit opened on February 8 with a lecture on "Reading Latin Americana: The Views of Two Historians " by Barbara Stein and Stanley Stein, Carpenter Professor in Spanish Civilization and Culture, Emeritus.
A second lecture, "And the Creatures Appear Before You: Primary Documents from Colonial Latin America," will be given by Assistant Professor of History Kenneth Mills at 4:30 p.m. on February 25 in the Cotsen Children's Library Conference Room in Firestone.
Says Tomas Amorim '99, "Most Princeton students have never used materials from Rare Books and Special Collections. Many have never even been to the gallery. This multifaceted exhibition hopes to change that." Amorim and Meggan Louden '98 spent last summer researching collections at Firestone and Mudd Manuscript Library for the exhibition.
Gallery hours are weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
For more information or to arrange a class tour or group visit, call 258-3184 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays.