Illustrated lecture and Book Release Party with Tom Baione of New York’s American Museum of Natural History
Date: Thursday, Jan 10
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $5
Presented by Morbid Anatomy
*** Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing
Most people are well acquainted with the front-stage wonders of New York’s American Museum of Natural History-the world class habitat group dioramas, the highly stylized hall of biodiversity, the epic dinosaur skeletons; what is less well known is the equally astounding back-stage collection, which includes an world-renowned collection of exquisite, rare, and beautifully illustrated books on the natural sciences held by museum’s research library. The new book Natural Histories: Extraordinary Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History Library , edited by AMNH’s Tom Baione, brings these hidden works to the fore, showcasing forty extraordinary works created between the 16th and 20th centuries, covering all seven continents, and spanning such diverse scientific fields as anthropology, astronomy, earth science, paleontology, and zoology. The book also features essays about each work by Museum curators, scientists, and librarians, as well as forty extraordinary, suitable-for-framing art prints of images from the book.
In tonight’s highly illustrated lecture, join American Museum of Natural History’s Boeschenstein Director of Library Services and volume editor Tom Baione for a look inside the Natural Histories… and a virtual trip behind the scenes of the Library’s Rare Book Room. Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase-and have signed!-their own copy of this gorgeous new volume.
Tom Baione, a Brooklyn native, started working in the Museum’s Library in 1995 after attending Pratt Institute’s School of Library and Information Science. After years in the Library’s Special Collections and Reference Services units, Tom became the Library’s Director in 2010. He is an active member of New York’s Grolier Club and lives in midtown with his high school sweetheart. The Museum was his favorite childhood destination and he still reports a thrill upon entering the museum each day.