Rare documents a part of Lilly Library display

One of the first printings of the Declaration of Independence, letters from George Washington and the New Testament of a Gutenberg Bible are just a few of the rare items visitors to the Lilly Library can see.\nThese items and others are part of an exhibit that opened Oct. 2 in celebration of the Lilly Library's 40th anniversary. The exhibit, on display in the Lilly Lounge until Dec. 16, explains how the library received the famous items and thousands of other rare books, manuscripts and sheet music.\n"We had done a treasures exhibit for our 25th anniversary, which is basically us showing our rarest items," said Becky Cape, head of the Library's public services and assistant curator of manuscripts. "But I said 'No. Let's do an exhibit on the history of the library for the 40th.'"\nOfficially dedicated Oct. 3, 1960, the Lilly Library has its origins in Franklin Hall, the original site of the Main Library. In 1914, President William Bryan decided that IU needed a department of special collections for research purposes to supplement the Main Library's collection.\nThe special collections originally took up one room in the Main Library until Herman B Wells, who actively worked to enhance IU's libraries, became University president in 1937.\nWith the help of J.K. Lilly, philanthropist and then-president of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, the department of special collections changed drastically. Nov. 26, 1954, Lilly sent a letter to Wells presenting a gift of more than 20,000 volumes, 17,000 manuscripts, 52 oil-portraits and 300 prints of literary and historical figures from his personal collection. Lilly sent the letter, a copy of which is displayed in the exhibit, with no prior notice.\n"He didn't want much publicity about his gift," said Erika Dowell, visiting public services librarian. "It was like that until his gift grew, then it was more public."\nThe library now has more than 7 million manuscripts, 400,000 books and about 150,000 pieces of sheet music in its seven floors, receiving more items nearly every day.\nThe oldest item is Babylonian Cuneiform, figures cut into slabs of clay which were then baked, written between 2,000-2,500 B.C.\nThe most recent items are books that have yet to be published.\n"We have a standing order on many books as soon as the author publishes them," Cape said. "I guess you could say we are building the rare book collection of the future."\nA popular item for visitors is the New Testament of the Gutenberg Bible, the first printed book. It was printed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455 and is one of 48 copies in the world.\nThe Lilly Library's strengths are British and North American literature and history, Cape said. A letter from George Washington accepting the presidency, one of the first printings of the Declaration of Independence and its extensive Lincoln collection are some of the best known items that hold historical significance.\n"We compare extremely well to the special collections of other schools." Cape said. "Of course, schools like Harvard have a bigger collection, but they've been around a lot longer and they have more money. But I would say the Lilly is probably up there in the top 10 in the nation."\nAnyone can walk into the Lilly Library and see the exhibits on display in the main room. Faculty and students find the items in the library useful for research.\n"Normally, students who wanted to look for a very old book would have to look at some sort of reproduction, like a picture of it," said Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Amos Kennedy. "The unique thing about the Lilly is that students can see the actual book."\nCape said items on public display are a small fraction of the library's possessions. She said most of the library's collections are in protected rooms and can be retrieved by a librarian.\n"The Lilly Library is special because it is one of the few places in the world that one can see and handle rare books and manuscripts." Dowell said. "You don't even need a letter from the professor. The whole registration takes only about five minutes"