Welcome to George Peabody Library's Wunderkammer!

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-23804268-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); From dandies in danger to the lusty dramas of educated fleas, the George Peabody Library proves that the past was indeed STRANGE! Visit us in Baltimore (don't worry, in addition to the strange things depicted here, we also have plenty of old and rare and classy books, too). Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9am -5pm; Friday 9-3 Address: 17 East Mount Vernon Place Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: [phone] Libguide: http://bit.ly/g1UsTk Email: [email protected]

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So many wonderful researchers from parks around the world visited us today! Their reading tastes are quite eclectic (I mean, Madame DuBarry and Henry Drummond????), and they don’t quite get staff-only areas, but hey, who is complaining!

Figures from Les Animaux Sauvages (Wild Beasts) a ca 1840 game!

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Take a look inside yesterday's mystery book! You guessed it--it's a Peep Show of the Magnificent New Crystall [sic] Palace at Sydenham! #vintage #rarebooks

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Can you read backwards? Imagine running a printing press! Thanks Griffin Printing for this excellent specimen. #printingpress #librariesofinstagram #vintage

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Behold the true game of thrones!  The New Round Game of Historical Loto is the educational game of choice to learn all about Richard III’s dastardly deeds!

Each blue card contains the name of a prominent English ruler, complete with dates of key events that occurred during their reign. The game master places the marble upon the board, pulls a date, and the game players must scream “MINE” before the marble strikes the bell! (Screaming, of course, only if the date pulled corresponds to a date on the playing card.)  Truly educational fun for everyone!

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Now this is how you apply for a job!

From a letter ca 1890s to the Peabody Librarian.

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That awkward moment when you discover that the father of pragmatism may have “borrowed” a book from your library without permission!

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The Wilde Winter is upon us here at JHU Special Collections! #specialcollections #librariesofinstagram

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Thanks to JHU undergrad Samantha Igo for documenting our Halloween party at the Peabody Library! We even had a plague doctor in attendance. Talk about a classy soiree!

In addition to pumpkin carving, selfie booth shenanigans, and general Halloween mischief, our undergrad guests were also treated to special performance of The Raven by Baltimore’s own Katherine Fahey!

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Undergrads of Johns Hopkins University, rejoice! The Hogwarts of Baltimore is opening up its creepy Victorian doors to you on Halloween.Come dressed as your favorite literary character or author and enjoy a variety of spook-tacular activities including a costume contest, marshmallow decorating, pumpkin carving, live music by Fourtissimo, and a special performance by shadow puppet artist Katherine Fahey! Will the ghosts of the library haunt you? Come and see!

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Located: The perfect caterer for all your Halloween needs!

( This disturbing image that would surely make Hannibal proud is from  The New and Complete Newgate Calendar ( Lond. Printed for A. Hogg, 1818 ). The illustration depicts the sordid story of Theodore Gardell's murder of Mrs. Anne King and his  disposing of the body after dark by throwing King's limbs into his fireplace.)

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This detailed fold-out from the Tableau de L'Inconstance (1612) gives us #pagefrights! Written by Pierre de Lancre, a French witch-hunter appointed by King Henry IV, this book describes the Witches' Sabbath, lycanthropy and the breeding of demonic children! In the copper cut you may notice dancing, broomstick riding and frog catching as particularly lecherous and fiendish activities!! #witches #spooky #demons #witchhunt

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Attention all JHU undergrads! You are invited to our third annual undergraduate Halloween bash at the George Peabody Library! RSVP today!

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Behind Chaplin’s Musical Movie Show featuring the biggest names in kangaroo and giraffe actors! Ca 1920 early cinematic toy

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Dare you behold the enormous head that made all of London tremble in 1837? Per Francis Buckland, author of Curiosities of Natural History, whose father bravely crossed the threshold of Cosmorama in order to view this curious monstrosity, the head was said to be "recent and oily." If only he offered to shampoo it! Alas, the historic record makes no such note of such benevolence.

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Have you seen our Reddit yet? We’re forging boldly ahead into the wilderness of yet another social media site! Check out our posts here for more wacky and fascinating highlights from our collection and don’t forget to follow our Instagram and like us on Facebook to stay up to date on the happenings here at Special Collections! 

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Attention @johnshopkinsuniversity incoming freshmen!!! 

Are you a lifelong bibliophile, eager to delve into university collections? Do you get an adrenaline rush from the smell of old books?? Or do you simply want to gain research experience and work with fantabulously cool, real-life professional librarians??? Then keep reading! 

This fall, we’ll be taking on four members of the Class of 2020 as Freshman Fellows--join our cohort and you’ll be able to work on your own research project using materials from our collections, with the mentorship of our experienced and wacky staff! Fellows will be paid a stipend of $1000 and produce a final project of their choosing in the spring semester. 

The application and further details are available here on our site. Please email completed applications and any further questions to our email by September 9. 

Not a freshman? Pass along our flyer (above) to any freshmen you know!  

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Ever wondered what it looks like up in the stacks of the George Peabody Library? Wonder no more, fabulous bibliophile friends!! Check out these lovely snaps from behind the scenes at Peabody and get a glimpse of what it’s like to wander the stacks of Baltimore’s “Cathedral of Books.” 

See more here on our Flickr and Instagram!

Photographs taken by our lovely employee, Jesse Chen.