In celebration of the 175th anniversary of William Morris's birth, the Cleveland Public Library's Special Collections Department is featuring a display of his works. 

William Morris was born in 1824, near London, England.  He was a writer of poetry, fiction, and a translator of ancient and medieval texts.  He was also an architect, artist, and a socialist reformer.  Morris created designs for textiles, furniture, and wallpaper that helped to initiate the Arts and Crafts Movement in England.  The Arts and Crafts Movement emphasized simplicity, good craftsmanship, and good design.  The movement rejected the Victorian ideas of opulence and over embellishment.  The importance of William Morris can be seen today in the lasting legacy of his designs and the enduring appeal of his work.

The Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department has made accessible a new collection of sheet music of popular songs from the late 19th century to the present for piano and voice.  The collection is primarily made up of gifts donated by generous patrons of the music collections in the Fine Arts Department.  A few of the many titles included in this gathering of diverse donations are, Dear Little Pansy Blossom; Just kiss yourself goodbye; and Treasures that gold cannot buy.

The collection is arranged into two series. The first series contains sheet music pieces that are in the modern format. The second series contains sheet music pieces that are in the oversize format. Each series is arranged alphabetically by title and then composer. Each piece is in its own respective folder and labeled by composer (m), lyricist (l), and title. The collection will expand as more pieces are added.  This collection, the Sheet music file: assorted gifts to the Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department, has an online finding aid to assist patrons and staff in locating titles.  To view this collection or others of sheet music, visit the Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department on the 3rd Floor of Main Library.

Magazines (periodicals in library language) have always been an immediate reflection of the culture in which they are written and produced - cultural barometers of what is "new and current" at a particular moment in history. Today, the printed word is struggling, but many publications have migrated to online versions.

Cleveland Public Library has a vast collection of periodicals dating back one hundred years or more.  You can read the serialized stories of Sherlock Holmes, which first appeared a chapter at a time, in the monthly publication The Strand, or enjoy the ads of old cars and women's fashions in Life.

The Special Collections Department houses some of the rarer and more valuable periodicals.  The Owl, published in London from 1919-1923, was a literary magazine which also included work from some of the leading artists of the time. (Image at left is by Rockwell Kent.)

Broom, an international magazine of the arts, published in Rome from 1921-1924, was intended to be an outlet for members of the "lost generation," some American writers and other artists disillusioned with the United States following World War I who moved to Europe (including most famously F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Cole Porter).

     Cleveland has seen its share of blunders over the years, and each one has been well publicized.  What receives little or no acknowledgement though is that Cleveland has produced its share of treasures as well. One such treasure is the artist Ora Coltman, who was born in Shelby, Ohio in 1858.  He studied at the Art Students League in New York City and the Academie Julian in Paris.