Posner Center Open House Photo Gallery

CMU students at exhibit

During Spring Carnival, the Posner Center for Special Collections invited members of the CMU community to explore the recently renovated space and experience its inaugural exhibition. The open house highlighted Special Collections as a campus and community resource, both for scholarly research and more spontaneous exploration.

“Rare Books & Ancestral Machines” features more than thirty books and objects from the Posner Center, many of which are on view for the first time. The exhibition surveys the Center’s collections and traces more than four centuries of scientific inquiry and learning.

During the open house the Class of 1966, which held their 60th reunion during Carnival, received a special tour of the Posner Center guided by Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley and Special Collections Coordinator Catherine Blauvelt.

The Posner Center for Special Collections is open to visitors Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours from 3–7 p.m. on Thursdays to view the exhibition (the reading room is closed during this time). Community members can also book a research appointment or a class visit by contacting Special Collections.

Visitors were able to see a variety of rare materials on display, including Copernicus’ 1543 “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres” and an early printing of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
Visitors were able to see a variety of rare materials on display, including Copernicus’ 1543 “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres” and an early printing of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
Also on view were “Discours de la méthode” (1637) by René Descartes and Andreas Vesalius’ “De humani corporis fabrica.”
Also on view were “Discours de la méthode” (1637) by René Descartes and Andreas Vesalius’ “De humani corporis fabrica.”

Lemley welcomes the Class of 1966 to the Posner Center.
Lemley welcomes the Class of 1966 to the Posner Center.
1966 College of Engineering graduate Robert Frazer inspects Leibniz's “A Brief Description of an Arithmetic Machine,” an illustrated depiction of the first general purpose mechanical calculator.
1966 College of Engineering graduate Robert Frazer inspects Leibniz's “A Brief Description of an Arithmetic Machine,” an illustrated depiction of the first general purpose mechanical calculator.

A group examines a WWII-era Enigma machine.
A group examines a WWII-era Enigma machine.
Attendees admire the Digitization Lab’s new DT BC100, a rare and powerful book capture system designed specifically for fragile materials.
Attendees admire the Digitization Lab’s new DT BC100, a rare and powerful book capture system designed specifically for fragile materials.

Digitization Projects Manager and Data Deposit Coordinator Ann Marie Mesco explains the process of digitizing photos.
Digitization Projects Manager and Data Deposit Coordinator Ann Marie Mesco explains the process of digitizing photos.
Digitization Technician Joseph Mesco highlights some recently digitized photos.
Digitization Technician Joseph Mesco highlights some recently digitized photos.

Throughout the day, Lemley guided visitors around the exhibition.
Throughout the day, Lemley guided visitors around the exhibition.
1966 Mellon College of Science graduate Lawrence Sulak stops to view Hasan Ibn al-Haytham’s “Book of Optics.”
1966 Mellon College of Science graduate Lawrence Sulak stops to view Hasan Ibn al-Haytham’s “Book of Optics.”

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