The Playful Antiquarian

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s underwear, or why special collections are special

August 6th, 2003

I read this article and thought it was too relevant and interesting to relegate to my sideblog. It is mainly about the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas, its recent renovation, and its curators’ efforts to make its collections more accessible. It also mentions other rare book and special collections libraries, including the Boston Atheneum and the Huntington Library.I, particularly, loved the closing quote from the director of the Ransom Center, Thomas Staley, about the fine art of acquistions: “‘It’s chess,’ says Staley, ‘not checkers.”’ I really like the idea of acquistions as a game of chess.

Entry Filed under: Articles