New York State Library
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Exhibits at the Library

Online Exhibits

An archive of exhibits created by the Research Library and MSC for the website featuring interesting materials that are part of the New York State Library's vast collections.

Almanacs

This online exhibit highlights a variety of almanacs from the Library's collection, which includes paper copies of over 10,000 almanacs, dating from 1684 to the present.

Attica Uprising

Images and resources about the 1971 Attica prison riot.

Capitol Fire

The March 29, 1911 fire in the New York State Capitol at Albany devastated the collections of the New York State Library, which was then housed in the Capitol.

Civil War Illustrations

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the New York State Library is posting a series of online exhibits featuring Civil War illustrations from contemporary news magazines, such as Harper's Weekly, from the Library's collections.

Creating a More Perfect Union

The history of the Constitution of the United States with resources and representation at the New York State Library.

Douglass Letters

This collection consists of six letters written by Frederick Douglass, former slave and prominent black anti-slavery activist and orator, to Miss Hannah Fuller, organizer of the Skaneateles Ladies Anti-Slavery Society.

The Firefighters Collection

The Library has an extensive collection of historic resources on the individual fires, firefighters and firefighting equipment of New York State.

Leroy "Satchel" Paige in the New York State Library Collections

A selection of local newspaper clippings featuring Satchel Paige, legendary baseball pitcher who played in Negro league baseball and Major League Baseball.

Lincoln's Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation

A hand-written draft of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, has been part of the Library's collection since 1865.

New York During the American Revolution

Highlights primary source documents from the collections during the time of the American Revolution within New York State. The premise of this exhibit is based upon the New York State Library Educator Guide for the American Revolution, 2022.

Processing a Collection

This exhibit uses the Abele Transportation History Collection to demonstrate how the Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit processes newly-acquired materials.

Roosevelt and His Era

An illustrated exhibit of books, manuscripts, magazine articles, sheet music, memorabilia and artifacts related to Theodore Roosevelt, based on the collection gathered by Lyall Squair of Syracuse.

Steamboats on the Hudson

An exhibit of materials from the Library's collections that document the history of the development of steamboats, created to commemmorate the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's steamship launch.

Sulzer Impeachment

On October 17, 1913, NYS Governor William Sulzer was removed from office after being convicted by a special impeachment court. This exhibit recognized the one hundredth anniversary of the impeachment by highlighting a few items from the New York State Library's special collections that are related to the event.

Van Rensselaer Manor Papers

This collection documents over two hundred years of daily life in the Manor of Rensselaerswijck, founded in 1630 near what is now Albany, NY, from its earliest years until the mid-19th century.

Washington Collection

This online exhibit contains sample pages from George Washington's Farewell Address, as well as images of other items in the collections of the New York State Library that once belonged to Washington.


On-Site Exhibits

An archive of monthly exhibits that have been displayed on the Library's public floor since January 2011.

Millinery Trade Review (August 1924), from the exhibit on fashion magazines

Fashion Magazines

August 2017

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants, from the exhibit on invasive species

Invasive Species

July 2017

Illustration of two soldiers, one in a kilt, from 'Songs from the Trenches.'

World War I Poetry

June 2017

book covers from the exhibit of new titles

New Books

October 2015

Section of 'Chronological Chart of Ancient, Modern and Biblical History' from the Ancient Egypt display

Ancient Egypt

September 2015

NASA photo of the Challenger STS-6 launch

Space Travel

June-July 2015

New books on display in the NYS Library.

New Books

March 2015

poster: Racism Chains All

Black History Month

February 2015

Part of an Earth Science exam from 1979, showing a question about a volcanic eruption.

Regents Exams

June-July 2012

Vintage illustration of a swimmer at an Adirondack lake

Adirondacks

March 2012

Last Updated: October 12, 2023