Records of the Library's exhibits program include annual reports, subject files, committee minutes, correspondence, files on individual exhibits, posters, press releases, schedules, and audio tapes.None of the files are complete but the administrative outlines of the exhibits program can be gained from the annual reports of the Exhibit Coordinaotr and from the records of the Exhibit Committee. Approximately one-half of the files contain materials relating to specific exhibits, and this documentation can be found in all four series. Records of the Exhibit Coordinator include files, 1916-1926, maintained by Victor Hugo Paltsits; files, 1945-1952, of Karl Kup; files, 1968-1978, of Dennis Loy; and 1953 Consultant's Report on exhibit activities. Exhibit Committee general files, 1958-1959, 1967-1979, relate to the Committee's responsibilities for coordinating exhibitions, and Bernard McTigue's records, 1980-1984, as chairman. Exhibitions Program Office general files, 1983-1988, include records pertaining to the administration of exhibitions programs and files on individual exhibits and vendors. Exhibitions files date from 1910 and include materials on individual exhibits in the Central Building and at the Performing Arts Research Center. Additional materials about exhibits can be found in the N.Y.P.L. Archives in the records of the Director's Office and of individual departments of the Library.
Biographical/historical: Prior to the creation of the Library, its predecessor organizations - the Astor and Lenox Libraries - held exhibits of art work, manuscripts and rare books. With the opening of the Central Building in 1911 the exhibit programs expanded. Victor Hogo Paltsits, Chief of the American History Division, served as Exhibits Coordinator between 1914 and 1926, followed by Charles McCombs, Chief Bibliographer, who coordinated exhibits from 1927 to 1947. Karl Kup, Chief of the Print Room, served after McCombs until 1952. The Director of the Library appointed a committee on exhibitions chaired by the Chief of Public Relations. Dennis Loy served as Exhibit Coordinator between 1968 and 1978. In the early 1980s the exhibits program was given greater visibility and the Exhibitions Program Office was created in 1983. In 1984 the Library opened the Gottesman Gallery as its primary exhibit space. Both the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Performing Arts Research Center mount exhibits in their respective buildings.
Action: Inventoried 199202 lw Records
Content: Unpublished finding aid available at repository.
Content: The history of the Central Administration offices is described separately.
