Abstract

Beyond Glass Cases represents the Library Company’s ongoing commitment to boldly, honestly, and thoughtfully interpret challenging, and at times harmful, collection items. An independent research library founded in 1731 and specializing in American society and culture from the 17th through the early 20th centuries, the Library Company has collected books and graphics throughout its almost 300-year history. Today, the Library is faced with the task of finding new and better ways of advancing understanding and engaging public awareness of the complex histories of these challenging collection items, while still holding space for their historical significance. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Beyond Glass Cases showcased the work of The Library Company’s project partners: speculative historian Tafari Robertson; musician Zachariah Julian; anthropologist and historian Paul Wolff Mitchell; and visual artist Mark Thomas Gibson as they created art works, curate exhibitions, and composed music in dialogue with Library Company material. Their projects transcended the traditional exhibition model of a staff curator selecting items and putting them under Plexiglas vitrines in a gallery accompanied by authoritative labels telling visitors why an object is significant. The work of the project partners, advisory group members and staff is documented in this book by curator and writer Daniel Tucker to document the lessons learned as the Library Company navigated the three-year Beyond Glass Cases project. With contributions from Bill Adair, Linda Kimiko August, Rachel D’Agostino, Mark Thomas Gibson, Emily Guthrie, Sharon Hildebrand, Tania Isaac Hyman, Zachariah Julian, Shannon Mattern, Paul Wolff Mitchell, Erika Piola, Tafari Robertson, Daniel Tucker, John C. Van Horne, and Sarah Weatherwax.