Library showcasing several displays on Thornton Wilder

The McKillop Library has mounted several new displays on Thornton Wilder and his Newport novel “Theophilus North” to coincide with the Thornton Wilder Society conference being held at the University this week.

The library’s foyer features several examples from the Newport Postcard Collection, available through Digital Commons. This glimpse into life in Newport almost a hundred years ago continues with “Theophilus North’s Newport,” a display in the southeast wing of the library that showcases items from the library’s special collections. Featured in this display is a signed first edition of “Theophilus North.” Also on display in this area are books about Newport Collection, which also have circulating copies in the library’s main collection.

Outside the special collections room is “Firsts & Rare: Thornton Wilder Editions from Salve Regina Special Collections.” In this display are several new acquisitions of signed or rare editions of Wilder’s works, as well as an acting edition of “The Skin of our Teeth” published in 1944 from the Stephen R. Pastore Collection.

These exhibits were planned and curated by Genna Duplisea, archivist and special collections librarian, in collaboration with Kristen Butler, special programs librarian, and students Alana Boulter ’18, Jacqueline Dest ’15 and Brittany Fox ’18.