FABS in Cleveland, June 11-15, 2014
Cleveland is the city of our seventeenth annual FABS Book
Tour & Symposium. Sponsored by The
Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies and hosted by The Rowfant Club, this
years’ tour is sure to call out the book adventurer in us all. Join fellow FABS members, as we explore
Cleveland’s unique and celebrated book culture, meeting fellow collectors,
dealers and book professionals along the way.
Wednesday afternoon, June 11th begins our bibliophilic
adventure as you check into The Glidden House, a former “robber baron” mansion,
turned full-service boutique hotel, located in the heart of Cleveland’s
cultural district known as University Circle.
With its legendary hospitality
and charm, the hotel is the perfect base camp.
This same afternoon, we visit the Western Reserve Historical Society
Library. Home to over 250,000 books and
25,000 newspapers, it’s Northeast Ohio’s historic repository. The library also has several collections that
are national in scope. These include a world-renowned collection of Shaker
materials consisting of manuscripts, books, broadsides, artifacts, and spirit
drawings. The William P. Palmer Civil War collection is among the finest of its
kind covering slavery, Abraham Lincoln, and the Civil War.
We then blaze a trail; actually we simply cross a street, to
the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for dinner and an official FABS’14 welcome. There will be plenty of time to explore the
museum’s rare book library. Wendy Wasman,
the CMNH Librarian and Archivist will lead us on a tour of their stellar
ornithological collection, including works by John Gould and Daniel Giraud
Elliot. Association collectors will
delight as we take flight over the holy grail of bird books, the first edition,
double-elephant folio “Birds of America” by Audubon along with the personal
sketchbook of Robert Havell, Audubon’s engraver! Outside of the museum, tour participants will
find their selves in the festive atmosphere of Wade Oval Wednesdays.
Thursday, June 12th morning starts with a visit to Severance
Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra and called by many, “ America’s Most
Beautiful Concert Hall”. Originally opened in 1931, the hall underwent a major
restoration and expansion in 2000. It is included in the National Register of
Historic Places and has received an Honor Award by the Trust for Historic
Preervation.
Next we visit the Cleveland Museum of Art. This world class museum has recently
undergone a $350 million dollar renovation and expansion designed by Rafael
Vinoly. After our short walk from Severance
Hall, we can catch our breath and relax a moment in the architecturally awe
inspiring atrium. Stephen Fleigel, Director of Medieval Art, will
surely take our breath away again when he introduces us to the museum’s collection
of important illuminated manuscripts, including Isabella's Book of Hours. Louis Adrean invites us into the museum’s Ingalls
Library, one of the largest art libraries in the country with over 472,000
volumes. This includes a complete set of
works printed by William Morris at the Kelmscott Press. A fitting compliment to the medieval
manuscripts so admired by William Morris and his Kelmscott Press.
At midday we trek, actually we simply cross another street,
to the Allen Memorial Library, Dittrick Medical History Center where we will
take lunch. James Edmonson, the Chief
Curator will be our luncheon speaker and host to their outstanding collection
of rare books and equipment related to anatomy, science & technology,
surgery, and herbals.
In the afternoon, small groups will tour the Cleveland
Institute of Art Library, where librarian, Cristine Rom, plans to share their
artists’ book collection. The
Institute's nationally recognized collection of artists' books contains about
1,600 books from the 1960s to the present, and is international in scope. The
collection is especially strong in early conceptual artists’ books and contains
many of the most historically significant books of this genre, including Edward
Ruscha’s seminal Twenty six Gasoline Stations. The collection also includes
artists who, more recently, have focused on the book’s physical
characteristics. In total, the collection reflects the history of this dynamic
art form since the genre’s emergence in the second half of the 20th
century. Your visit to the Cleveland
Institute of Art Library will perhaps challenge you to rethink your ideas of
the book as object and as concept.
Gary Esmonde, the librarian at the Eleanor Squire Library of
Cleveland Botanical Garden will be displaying Pierre Joseph Redoute's “Les
Rose,” commissioned by Napoleon and considered by many experts as the finest
example of botanical illustration. Also,
Gary informs us that tour members will have the opportunity to purchase
collectible books, including books from the noted American artist, Viktor
Schreckengost's private library.
Thursday evening, the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western
Reserve University invites us to its bookish venue for dinner and a
symposium. University Associate Provost
and Librarian, Arnold Hirshon, serves as our host as we revel in an evening of
fellowship centered on books and their various capacities to delight and enrich
us all. Reflecting its 190 year old
history as a leading private university in Ohio and one of the major research libraries
in the country, the Kelvin Smith Library has collections across a range of
disciplines.
The special exhibit that the Kelvin Smith
Library will mount for FABS will highlight collections cultivated by previous
donors that are treasures of our rare book collection. As time permits, during the FABS visit KSL
will also gladly retrieve items from our collections that are of particular
interest to FABS members. At our dinner
Arnold Hirshon will give a brief talk on “Infinite Visions of Alice.” His presentation will concern visual imagery
as contained in the work of the many illustrators and artists who have
translated into art Carroll’s text for Alice in Wonderland and Through the
Looking-glass. Arnold’s presentation
will be an excellent prelude to our Friday visit to the home of Jon Lindseth to
experience his extraordinary collection of Lewis Carrolliana.
At this point, it may read as if we have journeyed hundreds
of miles in pursuit of good books. But
alas the days’ events have occurred within a short walk of our hotel, such is
the cultural richness of Cleveland’s University Circle area. Rest up bibliophilic adventurer for on Friday
we travel further afield in our quest for good books.
Friday, June 13th it will be raining books, despite what the
meteorologists claims, as our day begins with trips to two of Cleveland’s most
notable book collector’s, Jon Lindseth and Bob Jackson. Ensuring a more intimate experience, smaller
groups of 25 will visit the private collections of these two consummate
bookmen. Jon Lindseth who is a scholar
and a collector plans to speak about his forthcoming book (late 2014) about his
collection of Jewish fables and will show us some of this material. He has
worked on the project for sixteen years with Emile Schrijver of the University
of Amsterdam, Professor of Jewish Book History and Curator of the Rosenthaliana
collection at Amsterdam. This is believed to be the first scholarly analysis of
the extensive use of fables in Jewish writing.
Lindseth will also share his passion for collecting Alice
when talks about the forthcoming book (2015) on the translations of Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland. How many
editions of Alice have been printed a curious bibliophile might ask? More than 7500 editions in over 140 languages
have been published. The book is part of
the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice with a conference in New York
from Oct 8-11, 2015 and simultaneous exhibitions at eight NY locations. The
translation exhibit will be at The Grolier Club with Alan Tannenbaum as co-curator. The project is sponsored by The Lewis Carroll
Society of North America.
Robert Jackson, a FABS past president, needs no introduction
in the rare book world. He is also a
collector who has studied and written extensively on his collecting
interests. Jackson will be displaying
items from his Rockwell Kent Collection which is arguably the most important
Kent collection in private hands. We
will also view his notable collection of 19th and 20th Century English and
American literature, with a focus on the Bloomsbury Group. Lindseth and Jackson are two gentlemen who
indubitably defy the stereotype about collectors not reading their books!
Wending our way toward center city we stop on the near east
side at the Morgan Conservancy . While enjoying a light lunch , Director, Tom
Balbo and his staff, will give us a tour
of their facility. The Morgan is reviving
the noble arts of hand-made papers (some say the finest this side of Japan) and
letter press printing in Cleveland.
Continuing West, we stop at the Cleveland Public Library
where Pamela Eyerdam and Kelly Brown will surely move us with their special
collections. Especially of note is the
John J. White collection on chess.
We continue to the near westside to Zubal Books
(www.zubalbooks.com). It is without a
doubt one of the world’s largest independent bookstores, with approximately 2
million books in stock! We will get a
private tour of a book shop that has successfully made the transition from a
customer friendly, browsing shop of old to a 21st century internet driven shop
that is thriving. Recently they have reopened a small section for those of us
who love to browse. Mr. Zubal will
explain his techniques for surviving in the shifting sands of bookdom. The more culinary daring among us or those
simply looking for dessert after our lunch, will have an opportunity to taste old
syrup once used to make Twinkie filling that still fills the pipes in a 300,000
square feet Hostess Bakery building bought by Zubal to house their ever
expanding stock of books.
We will be back at our home base, the Glidden House, and
tour participants will have some free time before catching the bus to Loganberry
Books. This book shop is one of the few
remaining independent shops in Cleveland.
This is no surprise as the shop’s owner, Harriett Logan, has created a
“bookish” paradise of literary delight.
Browsers are welcome and you are sure to discover the unexpected as you
peruse the seemingly never ending shelves.
Larry Rakow, a Cleveland dealer specializing in children’s books will
share his collection of “movables.” These
visually intriguing books pop up, down and every which way. Tonight’s dinner will be held at the nearby Cleveland
Skating Club.
Saturday, June 14th we journey to the Oberlin College
Library. Situated in the charming town
of Oberlin about 45 minutes west of Cleveland, this historic liberal arts
college is home to one of the finest undergraduate libraries in the
country. We will need the better part of
a day for our planned “bookish” events.
In the morning there is a Rowfant Panel Discussion on books and their
various capacities to please the mind. For
the second part of the symposium on Saturday morning, Ray English, will
moderate a panel of Oberlin faculty members from several disciplines who will
describe Oberlin’s developing book studies curriculum as well as the ways in
which they teach with rare books and special collections materials. In the
afternoon following lunch, FABS members will have the opportunity choose among
several of Oberlin’s special collections and also take a look at the library’s
letterpress studio. Collection viewing
opportunities will include materials from the library’s well-known antislavery
collection, history of book materials, fine press collections, the Eric Selch
Collection on the history of music and musical instruments, the Thomas
Jefferson Architectural Books Collection, and medieval manuscripts from
Oberlin’s library and the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Participants may also spend time in the
Allen, which is considered one of the finest college/university museums in the
America. After which, we return back to
the Glidden House to prepare ourselves for that evening’s banquet.
This Saturday evening the Rowfant Club opens its doors and hosts
us in their historic Clubhouse for a dinner banquet, an after dinner speaker
and a Club book exhibit. The venerable
Rowfant Club was founded in 1892 and is one of the few American book clubs with
its own home and library. Fine food,
fine books and “bookish” fellowship define the club as they continue their
thrice weekly meetings. Yes, that is
correct, club members meet three times each week, certainly making this club is
one of the most active book clubs in country.
Our speaker is a name well known in our book community, Paul Ruxin. Paul has presented numerous talks on the book
and the various ways that books and book collecting delight and inspire us. He is an avid Boswell Johnson collector. David Novak, the Club librarian, plans a
special exhibit of Club highpoints.
Sunday, June 15th tour participants spend the morning
touring Lakeview Cemetery. This is not
your typical cemetery, it is known as "Cleveland's Outdoor Museum and
Arboretum." It's Cleveland's historical, horticultural, architectural,
sculptural and geological gem found just minutes from University Circle. A magnificent collection of trees, shrubs and
plants make for an exceptional urban green space and provides a wonderful
refuge for birds and small animals, as well as a showplace of extraordinary
architectural and sculptural treasures, including Garfield’s monument, the Wade
Chapel with its stunning Tiffany stained glass, and the Rockefeller obelisk.
Later Sunday morning we conclude our bibliophilic adventures
with a visit to the John Carroll University and the Grasselli Library. Chuck Zaborbila will share their special
collections which includes Abraham Lincoln material. Then there is time for brunch at the Shockey
residence, before we set off to the airport departing for destinations far and
wide. Until next year… book friends!
We hope our invitation has awakened the book adventurer in
you. Whether this is your very first
FABS tour or whether you are a tour veteran, FABS Cleveland 2014 promises to be
a bibliophilic adventure not to be missed.
We encourage you to sign up today as the event is limited to the first
fifty attendees.
Please address your tour questions to Terry Shockey (shockey.terry@gmail.com) or Larry
Siegler (lawrence_siegler@ml.com )
and use FABS’14 in your email subject line.
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Registration: $595 per person. Reservations accepted until March 1st,
2014. Cancellations refunded until March
11th. Communications for the FABS
Cleveland Tour & Symposium should be by e-mail or self-addressed stamped
envelope. Please reserve ______ places
for:
Name: __________________________________ and
__________________________________
Address:
______________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________ e-mail:
______________________________________
Club affiliation:
_________________________________________________________________
Collecting interests:
_____________________________________________________________
Special restrictions (food, mobility, etc.)_____________________________________________
I enclose a check for $ _________________ Payable to The
Rowfant Club
I plan to arrive before 3 PM for the opening event on Wednesday,
June 11th (please check). Yes____ No ____
I plan on staying for the Sunday, June 15th Brunch. Yes____ No ____
Send to: The Rowfant Club, 3028 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland
OH 44115 Attn. Terry Shockey
Hotel Reservations: The Glidden House, 1901 Ford Drive,
Cleveland, OH 44106. Please make your
own hotel reservations. Thirty rooms are
being held at the Glidden House. Phone:
866 812-4537. E-mail: info@gliddenhouse.com. Ask for the The Rowfant Club “FABS” rate of
$139 + tax.
Please note that our schedule is subject to change.
