Category Archives: History

There be monsters

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Just in time for Halloween, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library in Toronto has opened De Monstris, an exhibition exploring the long cultural tradition of frightening monsters that inflamed imaginations and triggered irrational fears throughout history. De Monstris examines scary illustrations and writings from … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Canada, Europe, History, Libraries, Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Circle of Classified Knowledge

Posted on October 6, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who visit TBTP on a regular basis know that I am excessively fond of infographics of all sorts. I am particularly interested in early examples of the form. This wonderful set of graphics was created for a … Continue reading →

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European Heritage Journeys

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

In conjunction with European Heritage Days 2018, UNESCO has launched a new web platform solely dedicated to sustainable travel to European heritage sites. World Heritage Journeys is co-funded by the European Union and promotes sustainable travel to some of the … Continue reading →

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Books for Fighters

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The sign in the photo taken in Barcelona in 1938 reads “give books to fighters”. The campaign collected reading material for anti-Fascist volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

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Coffee Makes The World Go Round

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Lavazza, the world famous coffee producer, has just opened it new headquarters at Piazza Nuvola in Torino, Italy. While that might not be exciting to some readers, those of us who think that coffee makes the world go round are … Continue reading →

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Lives In Transit

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

“This exhibition conceives of passports as the ruins of a modern dream now in terminal crisis – the dream of a globalized world. Drawing on the collections of Harvard Library, Passports: Lives in Transit addresses this major contemporary issue through … Continue reading →

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Save Walt Whitman’s House

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Walt Whitman, America’s most beloved poet, lived at 99 Ryerson Street in Brooklyn, New York when his world famous book Leaves of Grass was first published in 1855. Although the poet lived in more than 30 buildings in New York City … Continue reading →

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Philly: Come for the history, stay for the food

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

For decades, many of us in the Philadelphia area have been baffled by the inability of anyone to make good use of the old Bourse building in the heart of the historic district. The beautiful 19th century Beaux Arts landmark … Continue reading →

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Reading Rx

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Since I’m laid-up this week due to a very dumb injury, I thought that a reading prescription was in order. This mix of novels and nonfiction should keep me out of trouble for a few days. So, what are you … Continue reading →

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Books Are Sharks

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

“We were talking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which was something which resembled an iPad, long before it appeared. And I said when something like that happens, it’s going to be the death of the book. Douglas said, … Continue reading →

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