Dallas Collects

28 May - 1 August 2004

Bridwell Library, SMU opened a new exhibition, Dallas Collects, that showcased treasures acquired by important book and graphic art collectors in our area. The exhibition was eclectic by its very nature, featuring a variety of rarities such as medieval manuscripts, literary autographs, first editions, early printing and graphics, and modern art. A unique aspect of Dallas Collects was the presentation of the items: the Library asked each collector to write his/her own description of the piece. Thus, in addition to the descriptive, viewers enjoyed anecdotal accounts from a collector’s world. In this way, the exhibition gave one a sense not only of the object, but also of the collector who found it and the thrill of the chase that all collectors feel at some time. Among the collectors participating in the show were John Collins, George and Natalie Lee, Joseph McKnight, Ludwig Michael, Ross Perot, Charles Ryrie, Rabbi Gerald Klein, and Charles Tandy.

Among the rarities on exhibit were: first editions of Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and John Updike; the original deed to the city of Dallas; the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493; early law books; an autograph letter by Richard Wagner; a book illustrated by Hans Arp and Lazar El Lissitsky; and manuscripts by Robert Frost and Emily Dickenson.

We knew the breadth and depth of collecting in Dallas would impress viewers, but we hoped it might also inspire new collectors. The exhibit was on display in the beautiful Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Galleries at Bridwell Library -- 2,500 square feet of exhibition space that Stanley Marcus once called “the most elegant space in America for displaying books.” The exhibition opened on May 28, 2004.