New Library Exhibits: Treasures of the Riesenfeld Center's Collections

The Law Library and Riesenfeld Center are pleased to announce the opening of two new exhibits in the Riesenfeld Center:

Noted and Notable: Treasures of the Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center

and

‘Böcker Har Sina Öden’ (Books Have Their Destinies): Treasures of the Swedish Law Collection at the Riesenfeld Center

The history of books is not only a history of more and less significant texts, or even more and less valuable editions. It is also a history of printers and engravers, of book binders and former owners, who have shaped the book as a historical object that is worthy of study. These individuals have left their marks on books, over time adding to and even changing our understanding of the texts themselves. It is no surprise, then, that the unique physical forms in which we find these texts can make individual copies into significant and singular treasures.

“Noted and Notable: Treasures of the Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center,” invites viewers to consider the books, letters, 
and other documents on display as important and often unique witnesses to their contemporary history. From books whose bindings reflect the religious milieu of their owners, to annotations that capture a famous owner’s views on political affairs, these items are rare and valuable due in part to the unique stories they can tell us about the past. The descriptions in the exhibit tell some of these stories in outline, suggesting the importance of an illustration, or of a poem quoted by a sixteenth-century student. They indicate that each volume, each letter and document, can reveal a world of historical information not captured anywhere else, to those who study them.

"'Böcker Har Sina Öden' (Books Have Their Destinies): Treasures of the Swedish Law Collection at the Riesenfeld Center," meditates on the same theme through the prism of our Swedish law collection. In this exhibit, Professor Eric Bylander, Distinguished University Professor in the Faculty of Law, Uppsala University, describes Swedish law books that he has chosen for their uniqueness as historical artifacts. In particular, he has identified notable Swedish owners of the volumes, as well as physical features that draw attention to the richness of these treasured books and the stories they can evoke. As Professor Bylander shows, the books in our Swedish collection have had their various destinies – they have gained unique significance through time, and have finally found a home in Minnesota.   

“Noted and Notable: Treasures of the Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center,” is curated by Ryan Greenwood, Ian Moret, and Pat Graybill.  

"'Böcker Har Sina Öden' (Books Have Their Destinies): Treasures of the Swedish Law Collection at the Riesenfeld Center," is curated by Professor Eric Bylander, Department of Law, Uppsala University.

The exhibits will be open through the summer at the Riesenfeld Center. Please contact Ryan Greenwood (rgreenwo@umn.edu; 612-625-7323) for more information or directions.

    - Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections