Photograph of Who Built Bryn Mawr? 2024 exhibition, titled Disoriented: The First Asian Students

Exhibitions and Events

Upcoming Events

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

Title ReWritings above an array of words for types of rewritings.

ReWritings

We rewrite classic and canonical stories in many ways. Retellings and adaptations; prequels and sequels; parody, abridgement, and imitation; mashup, gender swapping, and alternate universes. Published-in-print and fanfiction authors are telling new storie
1912 Gallery, Special Collections 1st Floor of Canaday Library
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History Underfoot: Henry Chapman Mercer's Tiles for the New Library at Bryn Mawr College (1905) with tiled floor

History Underfoot

This exhibition asks us to look down and consider the historic tile floors of Old Library. Designed by Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930), founder of the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works, these beautiful floors demonstrate an Americanist ideology that was comm
Lower level, East Hallway Old Library
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Students in Class of 1902 pose for class picture

Disoriented: The First Asian Students, 1893-1924

This exhibition, organized by Grace Foresman (BMC '24) and Yihan Liu (BMC '23) as the newest contribution to the Who Built Bryn Mawr? project, explores the early history of Japanese and Chinese students at Bryn Mawr, a history colored by prevailing stereo
Coombe Suite Gallery Canaday Library, 2nd Floor
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detail of work by artist Bethany Collins. Zoomed in to reveal erasure of text and remaining text "“but he continued to grieve for his native land, dragging his steps up and down along the shore of the sounding sea in great distress.”

Bethany Collins, The Odyssey

Two works exhibited in Bethany Collins: Tempest (1912 Gallery, Spring 2023) have been added to Special Collections. One of those, The Odyssey: 1990/1851/1980/2002/2000 (2022), is on view longterm on the lower level of Carpenter Library. 
Lower Level Carpenter Library
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Exhibition Calendar

Copy about the calendar should go here. If you are adding all exhibitions as stories, you can link directly to the story listing page or the filtered events page and do not need to use libcal. 

Collaborating on an Exhibit or Program

You've done great work, now show it off! If you would like to organize an exhibit on campus, please apply for space using the application forms below.

Special Collections and its Museum Studies program aim to facilitate opportunities to display community members' research or collections on campus in a professionalized manner. Contact speccoll@brynmawr.edu with questions about how to partner.

College Communications is available to coordinate digital displays of community members' research on campus. Contact communications@brynmawr.edu with questions.

Student-led exhibitions & events using Bryn Mawr Special Collections

To propose an exhibition or event utilizing special collections materials, email the following information to speccoll@brynmawr.edu.  

  1. Name of Exhibition or Event 

  1. Curatorial Statement - A short exhibition description/narrative of the proposed exhibition or event. This can be one paragraph to a page in length. 

  1. Exhibition Checklist- A draft list of what you propose to display that includes titles with classification number, accession number, or box and folder number. 

  1. Time Frame – Indicate the proposed length of the exhibition and date range preference if you have one. The length of the exhibition is dependent on the space available in the schedule and the materials requested. 

Consider the following when conceptualizing the exhibition or event (through the development phase you will be asked for many of these items):  

  1. Use linked Worksheet for your Internal Deadlines: Phases of Exhibition Development document 

  • Note: For a March exhibition, the first draft of the checklist is due by Thanksgiving break so that staff can assess feasibility of display and begin preparing materials for an exhibition. The object(s) must be determined to be in good condition and able to withstand the ordinary strains of handling and exhibition.  

  1. Install Needs – List all potential display needs (height-adjustable shelf cases, table cases, pedestals, walls) and hanging/book support supplies that each object needs to be displayed to your specification. Staff will confirm what cases and display materials are available for use and ask more specific questions prior to installation.  

  • Note 1: You will have to install and deinstall the exhibition with the help of Spec Coll staff during regular weekday hours. 

  • Student curators produce object labels, exhibit signage, and/or outreach materials (posters, postcards, etc.); object labels must include accession numbers for A&A collections and standard, short, bibliographic information for books. 

  • Spec Coll curatorial staff can recommend an external graphic designer or print vendors if desired, but are not responsible for exhibition design or graphics 

  • Spec Coll requires final digital versions of all printed exhibition materials for its cataloging records, and two physical copies of print publications (if any) distributed at or throughout the exhibition. 

  • Spec Coll can post your event on our social media and cross promote if student curators provide the images and text to post. Student curators are responsible for checking for and meeting deadlines for specific dates for social media. 

  • Students may need additional campus approval to show materials outside of any spaces managed by Spec Coll 

Past Exhibitions

There should probably be some text about past exhibitions here. There should probably be some text about past exhibitions here. There should probably be some text about past exhibitions here. There should probably be some text about past exhibitions here.

View All Special Collections Exhibitions
Exhibition Poster for Bauhaus at Bryn Mawr

Bauhaus at Bryn Mawr: Marcel Breuer’s Furniture for Rhoads

Coombe Suite Display Case
2nd Floor, Canaday Library

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detail of work by artist Bethany Collins. Zoomed in to reveal erasure of text and remaining text "“but he continued to grieve for his native land, dragging his steps up and down along the shore of the sounding sea in great distress.”

Bethany Collins: Tempest

1912 Gallery
Special Collections, Bryn Mawr College
1st floor of Canaday Library

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Self Portrait of Artist wearing blue and red floral make-up as camouflage with wallpaper behind her

Not ~ At Home: Cecilia Paredes

1912 Gallery
Special Collections, Bryn Mawr College
1st floor of Canaday Library

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