Chicago's Newberry Library: 23rd Annual Book Fair

Over the years, I have often visited the Newberry Library, an independent research library focusing on the humanities, to do genealogical or historical research. As an independent research library, it has been an educational, cultural, and historical presence in Chicago since the late 1860s. I have often been fascinated with its collection of rare books, maps, music, and manuscripts. Across the street from the library is Washington Square, a small park also known historically as Bughouse Square, where people used to congregate to listen to soap box oratory.

While the library offers exhibits of its collections, musical and theatrical performances, lectures and discussions, seminars, and teacher programs, I think one of its best events is the annual 4-day book sale. More than 100,000 donated books, sorted into 60 categories, are available for purchase, many for less than $5.00.

I arrived before the opening of the book sale at 10:00 a.m., so I went across the street to the park and talked with some artists, who were painting the fountain and surrounding garden in the middle of the park. They said they were part of a group from the Palette and Chisel Academy, located at nearby Dearborn Street. As plein air (open air) painters, they met once a week on Saturday and painted all year round in different locations in the city. As we talked about their activities, I noticed that the library had opened. We said our goodbyes, and I dashed across the street to the library’s front entrance.

Upon entering, I picked up a map of the layout of the book fair. On the first floor, there are six rooms filled with books. I left my rolling bag, which I intended to use to stash my books, at one of the two Squirreling Areas, where you can leave whatever you want and pick it up later. You just write down your name on a piece of paper and then they use a clothes pin to attach to your things. There’s a certain degree of trust involved here because they don’t ask for any i.d.

My first stop was in Room 3 where they housed books on Collectors, Art, Architecture, Photography, Chicago, and Cooking. I picked up some art books  and then looked at the Collectors’ section. Although the rooms were air conditioned this year, there was a musty smell in the air (probably mold and dust from the old books mingled with people standing in such close proximity). No one said anything, but there was a certain orderliness to everything. You looked at the books in front of you and then when the person to your right moved, you moved to take up that person’s space, and the person to your left moved to fill yours, and so on. You got the sense that the people there loved books by the way they flipped through catalogues in boxes, reached up on shelves, opened and closed books endlessly, always searching for that hidden treasure.

After two hours of searching, I bought four books to add to my collection:

A Hawaiian Florilegium, Botanical Portraits from Paradise by Mary Grierson and Peter S. Green. Beautiful botanical paintings.

The Art and Technique of Sumi-e, Japanese Ink-painting as Taught by Ukai Uchiyama by Kay Morrissey Thompson. Spectacular ink and brush paintings.

Expressionist Watercolors , 1905-1920, by Werner Hofmann. Beautiful watercolors. Many removable paintings in sleeves for closer study.

Leonardo da Vinci. Memorial edition with 1609 gravure illustrations and 12 full color plates.

After the book fair, I went outside to find that they had closed off the street and set up a stage for the Bughouse Square Debates. The Black Bear Combo marching band opened the show, and then three Chicago high school finalists in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest performed Walt Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric.” Jorge Mujica, an immigrant rights activist, was awarded the John Peter Altgeld Award, named after the former Illinois Governor (1892-96) who sacrificed his political career by pardoning Haymarket anarchists who had been condemned in 1887 for their words rather than their deeds.

The Bughouse Square Debates, a tradition which is carried on by people of all walks of life, celebrate the freedom of speech and honor those who fought for that right. Today's topics include less government involvement, local food systems, socialized transportaton, decriminalizing prostitution, and dogs in cafes. I decided not to stay to listen to the debates. I was quite happy with my books stuffed in my travel bag on wheels. It was a good day.

Amy A. Rudberg is a freelance writer, editor, and researcher. She recently created ArtStyle Blog, A Voice for Artists in Chicago.