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The Collation

The road to Acquisitions Night 2012

This Thursday is Acquisitions Night, the annual benefit to support Folger collections. It’s something of a three-ring circus: buffet dinner in the Great Hall, conservation demonstrations at one end of the Paster Reading Room, and—in the center ring—dozens of newly-acquired vault items spread through the rest of the reading room for visitors to enjoy and, perhaps, adopt. Since “Acq Night” is very much on my mind this week, I thought this might be a good opportunity for a curator’s-eye-view of the event.

Acquisitions Night 2009

“Adoption” is a bit of a misnomer, since you don’t get to take the item home with you, but you do get visitation rights, and the item receives a gift plate in your name or in honor of someone you choose.