WEST LIBERTY, June 7, 2016 — West Liberty University’s Paul N. Elbin Library was instrumental in securing the current “First Folo, The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare” traveling exhibition, now open to the public at the Mansion Museum in Oglebay.
Elbin Library Director Cheryl Harshman played a pivotal role in connecting the Museums of Oglebay Institute with the Folger Shakespeare Library officials and was pleased to lend treasures from the Nelle M. Krise Rare Book Room to the museums for inclusion in the national exhibition.
The West Liberty artifacts tracing the history of books and the written word add the perfect touch to the touring exhibit that marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The star of the exhibit of course is a 1623 original edition of the playwright’s first published collection that is one of the most influential books in the world, one of 82 copies owned by the Folger.
“We are thrilled to work with Oglebay Institute on this important exhibit. It is a fabulous display featuring a rare copy of the First Folio. I hope that all antique enthusiasts and especially book collectors get a chance to tour it while it is in Wheeling,” Harshman said. Tours are available daily and special events are planned as well to compliment the national exhibit.
The Nelle M. Krise Rare Book Room at WLU is located on the second floor of the library and includes antique furniture, silver, glassware, paintings, photographs and the fabulous rare books, many of which are at the Mansion Museum till the First Folio leaves on June 13.
Named for a past West Liberty president Paul N. Elbin, the Elbin Library is the heart of academics at the university. Its inventory includes more than 150,000 items in print, audio, and video formats; plus two special collections – The Henry Lash Sheet Music Collection and the Nelle M. Krise Rare Books Collection.
An English professor for 40 years, Nelle Krise was an enthusiastic collector of books and a very popular professor. Many alumni still remember Professor Krise who together with former West Liberty librarian, June Flynn, hosted many holiday parties and literature events. Krise Residential Hall also is named after her.
Krise loved the written word and she backed her passion with purchases as avid collectors do. She found and acquired rare books that will amaze you. For example, a 15th Century illuminated Book of Hours, a beautiful Dutch manuscript, with Gothic lettering and elaborate gold decorations that are still vivid and precious.
This hand-printed manuscript on vellum is now on display, under glass in the Mansion Museum. The Book of Hours would have been made as a prayer book and status symbol since only a very rich person could own it. The leather cover on the exterior of the book dates to the 16th or 17th century, according to Harshman.
Another Krise treasure in the Shakespeare exhibit is a small cuneiform writing tablet that is actually a receipt for sheep and goats, dating to 2350 B.C.E. The earliest form of writing, based on pictograms, was developed over 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Over time, pictograms developed into a script that we know as cuneiform, which is what is on this tablet.
Other rarities in the Krise Collection include a tiny piece of Egyptian papyrus that dates to before 30 B.C.E. This impressive tiny treasure is from the Ptolemaic period, which was from 323 B.C. to 30 B.C. Papyrus is a primitive writing material made from the papyrus plant, which is native to Africa and grew along the Nile River in Egypt.
There also are several rare items dating to the Middle Ages to enjoy like a 1493 Nuremburg Chronicle leaf, printed by Anton Kroberger. Once the most famous illustrated book of the 15th Century, the Nuremberg Chronicle is a history of the world up to 1492 and was compiled by Hartmann Schedel, a physician and humanist. Nuremberg artist Michael Wohlegemuth, created 645 designs for the 1,809 illustrations in the book. There are several other Krise treasures in the Shakespeare exhibit, all of which are normally housed at the Elbin Library and available for viewing.
Harshman also is presenting a free family event at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 11, Create a Folio, at the Mansion Museum. During the one hour program, Harshman will explain about the printing and making of the First Folios. Families will then create their own version of a folio.
For more information, please contact Harshman at 304.336.8183.