Category Archives: Book history

Celebrating National Book Lover’s Day with Medieval Treasures

August 9th is National Book Lover’s Day. To celebrate, the Toppan Rare Books Library is presenting a couple of our (personal) favorite books from the collection: a 15th century Belgian prayer book and an illuminated religious song book, also from … Continue reading

Posted in 15th century, Artists, Book arts, Book history, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized, women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

True Crime Obsessed: The Literary Figures Who Contributed to the Craze and the Stories That Feed It

With the current plethora of media – documentaries, podcasts, books, and biopics of serial killers – it’s no wonder true crime is so popular. But it isn’t just today’s societies that have this obsession. The love for true crime stories … Continue reading

Posted in Authors and literature, Book history, Crime, Interns' projects, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prints Profoundly Proper: Unveiling the Works of George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank (1792-1878) was an English caricaturist known for creating political satire pieces and famous illustrations for notable authors like Charles Dickens. While taking printmaking classes, I came across his name multiple times. This piqued my interest to learn more … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Artists, Authors and literature, Book history, Interns' projects, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How the Library of a 19th Century Club for Elites Ended Up at the University of Wyoming

In the Toppan Rare Books Library, there are several sub-collections of books. These sub-collections reflect where the Rare Books Library acquired the books, whether it was by donation, a transfer from a different part of the University of Wyoming, or … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Authors and literature, Book history, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Lover’s Day: Eighteenth-Century Women Writers

For Book Lover’s Day (August 9), the AHC’s Toppan Rare Books Library offers you a historical vignette of prominent women authors and poets of the eighteenth century. While women did not particularly write more novels over the course of the … Continue reading

Posted in 18th century, Authors and literature, Book history, Poetry, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized, women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Room at the Inn: Owen Wister Encounters Wyoming, July – August 1885

In July 1885, Owen Wister visited Medicine Bow in Wyoming Territory as part of his tour of the region, only to discover there were no rooms available in town to sleep. Instead of moving on when he arrived on July … Continue reading

Posted in 19th century, Authors and literature, Biography and profiles, Book history, Uncategorized, Western fiction, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transforming the Wrinkled Hide of Hecuba: Cosmetic Politics in 16th and 17th Century England

William Salmon’s widely popular and multipurpose Polygraphice1 went through several versions by the early 1700s. Salmon included in this practical guide recipes for a wide range of topics including art, cosmetics, and medicinal concoctions along with the principles of alchemy, … Continue reading

Posted in Book history, Racial bias, Student projects, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wizard of Oz – The Story Behind the Film

The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, beloved by children and adults alike, holds a special place in cinematographic history. The award-winning movie is based on an adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum’s … Continue reading

Posted in Authors and literature, Book history, Hollywood history, motion picture history, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ex Libris Fitzhugh: Heraldry in Bookplates

Do you remember learning how to spell your name when you were younger and the following excitement of scrawling your name onto every paper, book cover, and notebook with a crayon? It was your statement of ownership and confidence as … Continue reading

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