What's New at the Library

February 13 – April 10, 2008
Library flat and wall cases

This wall case exhibit celebrates the earliest recording of Allen Ginsberg’s best-known poem, “Howl,” recently identified in the Reed archives. Ginsberg and Gary Snyder ’51 stopped off at Reed to give a reading while on a Pacific Northwest road trip in February of 1956. This followed their October, 1955, explosive readings in San Francisco that brought the Beat Poets into the public eye. Included is the issue of The Quest announcing a “poetry reading” in Anna Mann on February 13th, 1956, the box lid of the 8″ reel-to-reel tape, and the two post cards written by Ginsberg and Snyder at this time to their friend, Philip Whalen ’51.

The larger part of the exhibit displays correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, and published titles of Beat poets Snyder, Whalen, Lew Welch ’50, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac. Their lively friendship and connection with Reed is clear in their many letters and often in their poems.

Fascinating, colorful examples of the volumes gathered by Reed alumna, Janet Walker Binford ’36, grace the exhibition cases in the Hauser Library. The Binford Collection, part of the library’s special collections, contains gems of early exploration and travel, including Captain Cook’s volumes of his 1784 Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, highlights of the gardening world with a focus on rhododendrons, and carefully selected examples of children’s and other illustrated volumes. The collection also boast hundreds of titles printed by the Binford family’s publishing house in Portland, Binfords & Mort. September 10 – November 26, 2007.

The history of creative writing at Reed is a lively and long one. Over thirty different titles, edited and published by students, have appeared since the founding of the college. Some titles were seen only once while several ran for over a decade. Major authors and poets had their student pieces published at Reed, including Mary Barnard, Gary Snyder, Phil Whalen, Katherine Dunn, Don Berry, Debra Ginsberg, Lee Blessing, and Mei-mei Berssenbrugge. Come see samples of many of these literary magazines and their contents. May 25 through July 2007.

A celebration of five decades of work presenting lectures, awarding scholarships, and supporting Reed College. This exhibit honors the Committee, now in its final year, and its many activities which have greatly enriched Reed and the Portland community. Library flat and wall cases. September 2006