A new exhibit at the New York Public Library celebrates ‘The New Yorker’ magazine’s 100th anniversary
The New Yorker, one of the most revered New York-based publications in the country, is officially turning 100 years old, and the New York Public Library is stepping in to celebrate the occasion.
Next month, on February 22, the library will debut a new exhibit titled “A Century of The New Yorker” showcasing the magazine’s history from its 1925 launch to the present, highlighting the stories and ideas that have defined it throughout the years. The exhibition will be mounted for a full year.
“In ways we see and don’t see, The New Yorker has shaped so many aspects of American culture, politics and intellectual life over the past century,” said Julie Golia, Associate Director, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books, and Charles J. Liebman Curator of Manuscripts, who also co-curated the exhibition, in an official statement. “’A Century of The New Yorker‘ invites the library’s visitors into the pages of the magazine, revealing the fascinating history of the country’s most important magazine through our rich collections.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to view old covers, rare manuscripts, photographs, founding documents and, of course, an archive of cartoon art that defines the magazine’s aesthetic.
Among the many highlights on display, visitors should be sure to take note of a mock-up of the first New Yorker website, the typescript draft of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and the magazine’s type identification and style guide.
Visitors will basically be able to trace the creation of one of the most influential magazines in the country.
This exhibit is just one part of the publication’s centennial celebrations, which also include the premiere of Tales from The New Yorker, a new film series at Film Forum, and, according to a press release, “the digitization of the magazine’s hundred-year archive.”
Speaking of the magazine’s history: The New York Public Library acquired The New Yorker’s records in 1991, so patrons can freely browse through them and access both current and past issues with a simple library card. Keep in mind that the archive includes over 2,500 boxes!
