With just days to go before closing for good on January 27, New-York Historical Society is extending its evening hours for people to see its blockbuster exhibit, Harry Potter: A History of Magic in its final week.
Because of the extraordinary popularity of the exhibit, the museum is staying open until 7 pm most weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday of the final week. Advance booking of the timed-tickets is essential.
Visitors will also receive 10% discount for dinner at Storico, the restaurant within New-York Historical, when they present an exhibition ticket during the last week of its run.
The blockbuster British Library exhibition at New-York Historical Society captures the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories with manuscripts from J.K. Rowling’s personal archives, original illustrations from Harry Potter artists, costumes and set models from the award-winning play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and centuries-old books, manuscripts, and magical objects from the British Library, New-York Historical, and other museums.
“Harry Potter” is a must-see on so many levels. It isn’t just for fans of J.K. Rowling’s wildly popular series, providing amazing insights into her creative process through glimpses at original hand-written drafts and drawings. It also provides extraordinary insights into the history of magic – the centuries of folklore, myth and legend – that provided the foundation for her stories. You see the original documents and artifacts that Rowling drew on history and tradition (I thought it all came from her imagination, and did not realize everything, even the names she used, had a foundation in history. You also realize how magic and witchcraft actually provided the foundation of science and medicine.
Unique to New York Historical’s presentation—and on public view for the very first time—are Mary GrandPré’s pastel illustrations for the cover of Scholastic’s original editions of the novels; Brian Selznick’s newly created artwork for the covers of the 20th anniversary edition of the Harry Potter series published by Scholastic; cover art by Kazu Kibuishi featured in Scholastic’s 15th anniversary box set; and costumes and set models from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
We spent an entire day at the Historical Society. There are so many fascinating exhibits – some which are permanent, like a collection of Tiffany lamps and a room devoted to everyday objects of old New York that remind you of the Smithsonian, and some exhibits which are temporary and constantly change.
See also ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’ is Spellbinding Exhibit at New-York Historical Society (http://goingplacesfarandnear.com/harry-potter-a-history-of-magic-is-spellbinding-exhibit-at-new-york-historical-society/).
Visit harrypotter.nyhistory.org to book your timed-tickets in advance.
Brittney Cooper and Rebecca Traister Join Irin Carmon on January 23 to Examine Women’s Rage, Women’s Power
Here is more of what is happening at the New-York Historical Society:
EXHIBITIONS
Billie Jean King: The Road to 75
LAST CHANCE: Now through January 27, 2019
Presented in honor of her 75th birthday, this exhibition celebrates Billie Jean King through more than 75 photographs depicting her remarkable life and career. A sports icon as well as a lifelong advocate for gender equality and social justice, King lobbied for and obtained equal prize money for women at the US Open in 1973. She is renowned for her celebrated win over Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” match on September 20, 1973, and has won an incredible 39 Grand Slams.
Mort Gerberg Cartoons: A New Yorker’s Perspective
COMING SOON: February 15 – May 5, 2019
Artist Mort Gerberg grew up with a pencil in his hand, creating cartoons from the time he was a young boy in his native Brooklyn. Illustrated with a sensitivity and humor that have made him beloved by his audiences, his work has been featured in major publications, including the New Yorker and Saturday Review. The 100 cartoons on view in this exhibition cover a range of topics, such as life in New York City, women, youth, old age, and politics.
Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow
Now through March 3, 2019
Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow explores the struggle for full citizenship and racial equality that unfolded in the 50 years after the Civil War. When slavery ended in 1865, a period of Reconstruction began, leading to such achievements as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. By 1868, all persons born in the United States were citizens and equal under the law. But efforts to create an interracial democracy were contested from the start. A harsh backlash ensued, ushering in a half century of the “separate but equal” age of Jim Crow. Opening to mark the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, the exhibition is organized chronologically from the end of the Civil War to the end of World War I and highlights the central role played by African Americans in advocating for their rights. It also examines the depth and breadth of opposition to black advancement. Art, artifacts, photographs, and media help visitors explore these transformative decades in American history and understand their continuing relevance today.
Meditations in an Emergency
Now through April 28, 2019
The New-York Historical Society’s first artist-in-residence, Bettina von Zwehl, presents new works inspired by her study of the Museum’s collection of American portrait miniatures and silhouettes, including profile drawings by Benjamin Tappan (1773–1857). The 17 silhouette portrait photographs of New York City teens—a silent memorial for those who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day 2018—serve as a catalyst to engage viewers with ideas of protest and teen activism. Based in London, von Zwehl is an internationally recognized fine art photographer whose work explores the form and practice of portraiture by drawing upon historical iconography as well as the traditions of painted portrait miniatures and cut-paper silhouettes. Her powerful and intimate photographs honor the past while expanding the boundaries of portraiture.
Betye Saar: Keepin’ It Clean
Now through May 27, 2019
Contemporary artist Betye Saar has shaped the development of assemblage art in the United States, particularly as a device to illuminate social and political concerns. A key figure in the Black Arts Movement and the feminist art movement of the 1960–70s, Saar’s distinct vision harmonizes the personal and the political. Over the years, Saar has transformed the representation of African Americans in our culture by recycling and reclaiming derogatory images such as Aunt Jemimas, Uncle Toms, sambos, and mammies to confront the continued racism in American society and create representations of strength and perseverance. This exhibition focuses on one facet of her work—washboards—created between 1997 and 2017. Presented in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery, part of the Center for Women’s History, the exhibition is organized by the Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles.
Audubon’s Birds of America
Ongoing
Visitors have the unique experience of viewing John James Audubon’s spectacular watercolor models for the 435 plates of The Birds of America (1827–38) with their corresponding plates from the double-elephant-folio series, engraved by Robert Havell Jr. Each month, the exhibition rotates to highlight new species—featured in the order they appear in Audubon’s publication—which showcase the artist’s creative process and his contributions to ornithological illustration. Other works from New-York Historical’s collection, the world’s largest repository of Auduboniana, illuminate Audubon’s process. January welcomes the Northern Parula, and in February, the Peregrine Falcon is on view. Accompanying the Peregrine Falcon is a photograph of Damien Mitchell’s mural located at 752 St. Nicholas Avenue inspired by Audubon’s watercolor.
Objects Tell Stories, the Gallery of Tiffany Lamps, and the Center for Women’s History on the Fourth Floor
Ongoing
Explore American history through stunning exhibitions and captivating interactive media on our transformed fourth floor. Themed displays in the North Gallery present a variety of topics—such as slavery, war, infrastructure, childhood, recreation, and 9/11—offering unexpected and surprising perspectives on collection highlights. Touchscreens and interactive kiosks allow visitors to explore American history and engage with objects like never before. As the centerpiece of the fourth floor, the Gallery of Tiffany Lamps features 100 illuminated Tiffany lampshades from our spectacular collection displayed within a dramatically lit jewel-like space. Within our new Center for Women’s History, visitors discover the hidden connections among exceptional and unknown women who left their mark on New York and the nation with the multimedia digital installation, Women’s Voices, and through rotating exhibitions in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery. Objects from the Billie Jean King Archive are also on view.
Collector’s Choice: Highlights from the Permanent Collection
Ongoing
Since 1804, the New-York Historical Society has been welcoming to its collection some of the most esteemed artworks of the modern world. Collector’s Choice: Highlights from the Permanent Collection showcases a selection of paintings that reflect the individual tastes of several New York City collectors who donated their holdings to New-York Historical. Joining Picasso’s Le Tricorne ballet curtain are featured American and European masterpieces spanning the 14th through the 21st centuries from Luman Reed, Thomas Jefferson Bryan, and Robert L. Stuart, including colonial portraits of children, marine and maritime subjects, and an installation showcasing recently collected contemporary works.
HARRY POTTER: A HISTORY OF MAGIC EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMS
The Epic Tale of Children’s Literature
Wednesday, January 16, 7 – 8:30 pm
$35 (Members $30) | Students $25
Harry Potter is one of the latest in a long line of great children’s literature characters. Journey through a colorful century of writing and illustrating for young people with Leonard Marcus, and see how the field has evolved from Madeline to Mo Willems, from the Hardy Boys to Harry Potter. Wine and cheese will be served. Ages 21 and up.
Sorcery Saturday
Saturday, January 19, 7:30–10:30 pm
$35 (Members $30) | Students $25
Join us for a spellbinding evening at the Museum! Enjoy magical cocktails, see costumes from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, examine magical artifacts from around the world, and try your hand at enchanting crafts and activities in our renowned Library. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Ticket includes entry to Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Ages 21 and up.
The Harry Potter Effect
Wednesday, January 23, 7 – 8:30 pm
$35 (student $25)
Twenty years after the publication of the first book, the Harry Potter phenomenon still looms large in popular culture and our cultural consciousness. Join moderator Karen Ginman and a panel of journalists, editors, and booksellers as they explore how Harry and his friends have changed the landscape of children’s literature and how they continue to permeate different facets of everyday life. Wine and cheese will be served. Ages 21 and up.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for America’s Soul from the Revolution to the Civil War
Andrew Delbanco, Brent Staples
Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 pm
$38 (Members $24)
In the decades following the American Revolution, the new nation was deeply divided. As countless enslaved people risked their lives to seek refuge in the free North, Congress struck a deal—the Compromise of 1850—to soothe the mounting tensions between Northerners who opposed slavery and Southerners who demanded the return of their human “property.” That tenuous balance finally collapsed with the eruption of the Civil War in 1861. Experts examine how fugitive slaves shaped the American story.
The Presidents: George W. Bush
Peter Baker, Douglas Brinkley
Wednesday, January 16, 7 pm
$38 (Members $24) | 35 and under $10
Confronted by one crisis after another, President George W. Bush struggled to defend the country and remake the world, serving during an era marked by the September 11th terror attacks, the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, and financial collapse. Join Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times and a political analyst for MSNBC, and Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian for CNN and the New-York Historical Society, as they discuss the Bush presidency.
Black Women Artists and Curators in New York City
Ashley James, Dominique Jean-Louis, Denise Murrell
Friday, January 18, 6:30 pm – 8 pm
$15 | Free for Members of the Women’s History Council
In November, the Center for Women’s History opened Betye Saar: Keepin’ It Clean in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery amid a remarkable outpouring of black women’s creative labor in New York City. Meanwhile, also on view at New-York Historical, Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow tells many of the historical stories that Saar’s artwork interrogates. At the Brooklyn Museum, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power features Saar’s work alongside that of her contemporaries in the Black Arts Movement. And at Columbia’s Wallach gallery, Posing Modernity: The Black Model from Manet to Matisse to Today explores the changing modes of representation of the black figure as central to the development of modern art. Join us as curators Ashley James (Brooklyn Museum), Dominique Jean-Louis (New-York Historical Society), and Denise Murrell (Columbia/Wallach) celebrate these riveting exhibitions—all currently on view in New York City—and highlight the connections and relationships between them. Refreshments will be served.
What the History?!: Fashioning the New Negro
Sunday, January 20, 12:30 – 2 pm
$30 (Members $20) | Students $25
How did African Americans use fashion to fight for equality? Join us as Harvard professor Dr. Jonathan M. Square, founder of Fashioning the Self in Slavery and Freedom, explores African American fashions as a radical form of self-determination on a special tour of our exhibition Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow. Afterwards, we’ll gather for discussion and he’ll lead a visual analysis of images and photographs of famous and more obscure African Americans who employed fashion not only to critique and counter ideologies that cast them as inferior, but also to stake a claim in larger political struggles for freedom and equity. Ticket includes Museum Admission, a bagel brunch, tour, and discussion.
The Furies: Women’s Rage, Women’s Power
Brittney Cooper, Rebecca Traister, Irin Carmon
Wednesday, January 23, 6:30 pm
$25 (Members $18)
Two of America’s most important feminist voices have written books grappling with the power of women’s anger. Brittney Cooper’s Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower and Rebecca Traister’s Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger take women’s fury seriously as a political response and force for change. They place women’s rage in historical context, and show how such anger has been trivialized or weaponized to undermine women. Join us for a lively conversation as Cooper and Traister discuss women’s anger with New York magazine senior correspondent and CNN contributor Irin Carmon. Refreshments will be served.
Andrew Roberts
Thursday, January 24, 6:30 pm
SOLD OUT
Winston Churchill easily had the best sense of humor of any British politician of his day—and perhaps any prime minister in history. He made regular, funny jokes at even the most perilous moments of his life and his country’s. Andrew Roberts, author of the new biography Churchill: Walking with Destiny, examines Churchill’s extraordinary wit and the political use to which he put it. From Wildean quips to English High Irony to ruthless ridicule, Churchill’s capacity to joke was a powerful weapon in his political armory.
Memorializing the Civil War in 21st-Century America
Eric Foner, Edna Greene Medford, Harold Holzer
Tuesday, January 29, 6:30 pm
$38 (Members $24)
In recent years, monuments commemorating the Confederacy have created enormous controversy. Hundreds of memorials honoring Confederate leaders such as General Robert E. Lee and President Jefferson Davis were constructed not immediately following the Civil War, but during the height of the Jim Crow era between the 1890s and 1950s. In the wake of the 2017 white nationalist march in Charlottesville, VA, experts ponder how memory and the ongoing battle for racial equality continue to shape modern America.
Madeleine Albright
Wednesday, January 30, 6:30 pm
SOLD OUT
When the Cold War ended, many, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, believed that democracy had triumphed politically once and for all. Yet nearly 30 years later, the direction of history no longer seems certain. Join one of the world’s most admired international leaders as she discusses the history and current resurgence of fascism, drawing on her experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and her distinguished career as a diplomat, uncovering the virulent threat it poses to international freedom, prosperity, and peace.
Linda Greenhouse, Robert Post, Kenji Yoshino
Saturday, February 2, 9 – 9:30 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast | 9:30 – 11 am: Program
$48 (Members $38)
Following a Friday night screening of The Story of Qiu Ju, legal scholars discuss the complicated nature of the rule of law—exploring how norms, culture, and community tradition are often pitted against or left unrecognized by formal legal doctrine and policy.
American Foreign Policy in the Age of Trump
Richard N. Haass, David E. Sanger
Monday, February 4, 6:30 pm
SOLD OUT
Esteemed foreign policy experts return for an update on the current state of global affairs from North Korea and Iran to the European Union. Join us for a conversation on where America stands among its allies and enemies in the world today.
Amy Adler, Nadine Strossen, Akhil Reed Amar
Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 pm
$38 (Members $24) | 35 and under $10
Join leading legal scholars for a talk on the First Amendment—uncovering why the basic Constitutional right has been subject to so much controversy and misunderstanding as well as the continued vital importance of free speech today.
Immigration and the Constitution
Cristina Rodríguez, Akhil Reed Amar, Denny Chin
Thursday, February 7, 6:30 pm
$38 (Members $24)
Coinciding with the 102nd anniversary of the sweeping, restrictive Immigration Act of 1917, legal scholars delve into the history of immigration law in the United States. Discover how constitutional interpretations of immigration law and policy have shaped the fabric of American society for generations and continue to spark heated political debate today.
Harold Holzer
Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 pm
$38 (Members $24)
Almost immediately following his assassination, Abraham Lincoln was transformed from the embattled wartime leader and the Great Emancipator into somewhat of an American saint. More than 150 years since his death, conservatives, liberals, and independents alike continue to find inspiration and guidance from the 16th president’s wisdom and steadfastness. Beginning with Lincoln’s funeral tour and the creation of Daniel Chester French’s memorial—a story ironically filled with incredible racism—up through the present day, Lincoln Prize winner Harold Holzer explores the iconic leader’s enduring presence within the American consciousness.
Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America
Martha S. Jones, Eric Foner, Wednesday, February 13, 6:30 pm, $38 (Members $24)
In conjunction with the exhibition Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, historians uncover the history of how free African American activists fought for their status as citizens before the Civil War. Explore the constitutional challenges—including the U.S. Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sandford—and successes along the road to the passage of the 14th Amendment and expanded citizenship for all Americans.
The Outbreak of World War II: 80 Years Later
John H. Maurer, Saturday, February 16, 9–9:30 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast | 9:30–11 am: Program, $48 (Members $38)
World War II stands out as the deadliest and perhaps most famous conflict in human history. But how did the War begin, and could the massive bloodshed have been avoided? In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the war’s outbreak, historian John Maurer revisits the origins of fighting in Europe in 1939 and illuminates how Western democracies came to confront Adolf Hitler and the threat of global fascism.
Yoram Hazony, Roger Hertog, Tuesday, February 19, 6:30 pm, $38 (Members $24)
What safeguards exist to protect liberty in our rapidly changing world? Reflecting on historic nationalist movements—from 16th-century Europe and America to the more recent “Brexit”—author Yoram Hazony discusses the role nationalistic ideals have played in bringing independence to people throughout history and how love of country can promote the virtues of personal and collective freedom.
Ragtime to Jazz: Harlem’s Black and Jewish Music Culture, 1890-1930
Wednesday, February 20, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Free, but registration is required. RSVP to [email protected]
Harlem historian and Columbia University Community Scholar John Reddick brings Harlem to life with this riveting look at the neighborhood’s history and the pulsing creativity it nurtured at the dawn of the 20th century, crafting modern music and the American songbook as we know it. Through sheet music, recordings, and other documents, Reddick illustrates the cultural links between Harlem’s turn-of-the-century African American composers (James Reese Europe, H.T. Burleigh) and its Jewish composers (George Gershwin, Richard Rogers) and the back-and-forth influence they had on jazz and popular music. Join us to explore how African American and Jewish musicians expressed their outsider feelings in society through their art.
John A. Farrell, Douglas Brinkley, Thursday, February 21, 7 pm, $38 (Members $24) | 35 and under $10
John A. Farrell, who discovered the evidence that Richard Nixon interfered in President Johnson’s peace efforts in Vietnam during the 1968 presidential election, in conversation with Douglas Brinkley, discusses the life and career of a man who led America in a time of turmoil and left the country in a darker age.
Civil Rights in the Age of Trump
Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Tuesday, February 26, 6:30 pm, $38 (Members $24) | 35 and under $10
In conjunction with New-York Historical Society’s exhibition Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses how the legacy of Jim Crow continues to reverberate throughout American society today and illuminates how much work is still left to be done on the path towards racial equality and civil rights for all.
Hamilton’s Best Friend: Love, Marriage, and the Duel
Richard Brookhiser, Dale Gregory, Thursday, February 28, 6:30 pm, $38 (Members $24) | 35 and under $10
Join us for the final installment of our five-part series on Gouverneur Morris, Alexander Hamilton’s best friend. Learn how Morris spent his later years—falling in love with the sister-in-law of Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, a disgraced member of the prominent Randolph family—and follow him to the days after the infamous Hamilton-Burr duel, when he gave the eulogy at Hamilton’s funeral and established a fund for his fallen friend’s family.
JUSTICE IN FILM SERIES
This series explores how film has tackled social conflict, morality, and the perennial struggle between right and wrong. Entrance to the film series is included with Museum Admission during New-York Historical’s Pay-as-you-wish Friday Nights (6–8 pm). No advance reservations. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 6 pm.
The Story of Qiu Ju (1992)
Friday, February 1, 7 pm
In this Venice Film Festival Golden Lion award winner, Qiu Ju, a peasant woman living in rural China, travels to the big city in an effort to get justice for her husband after he is humiliated by a local community leader—and deals with the pitfalls of the justice system along the way. Directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Gong Li, Liu Peiqi, Lei Kesheng. 100 min.
A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Friday, February 8, 7 pm
Introduced by Thelma Schoonmaker, three-time Academy Award-winner and longtime editor for Martin Scorsese, this British post-war classic and special effects marvel of its time will be presented in a new restoration. After bomber pilot Peter Carter miraculously survives his plane crashing, he must defend his right to live against seemingly impossible odds. Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Starring David Niven, Kim Hunter, Robert Coote. 104 min.
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
A teenage girl bored with her humdrum life is thrilled when her sophisticated and worldly uncle comes to visit her quiet town, but she quickly realizes he’s brought with him much more than what initially meets the eye. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, Macdonald Carey. 108 min.
People Will Talk (1951)
In this romantic comedy with echoes of the McCarthy era, a physician becomes embroiled in a witch hunt-like misconduct trial by a jealous rival who questions everything from his work methods to his personal relationships. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Starring Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain, Finlay Currie. 110 min.
OTHER EVENTS AT NEW-YORK HISTORICAL
Family History Experience with New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
Wednesday, January 23, 2 pm – 4 pm, $50
Explore New York history and discover your own family’s history! Presented in partnership by the New-York Historical Society and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, this exciting collaborative program invites you into the New-York Historical Society’s Museum and Library to dive into New York’s past while learning research skills to uncover your family history—all in one afternoon. The program includes a tour of extraordinary and everyday objects from New-York Historical’s collection, advice on how to conduct genealogical research in the special collections at the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at New-York Historical, and tips on how to discover your family’s story from an expert at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. This comprehensive experience is ideal for those who are just starting their own research.
Behind-the-Scenes Look at Conservation
Thursday, February 21, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, Purchase at nyadventureclub.com
On this behind-the-scenes tour, take an intimate and interactive journey through the conservation lab where staff preserve some of the most illuminating paper-based treasures in New-York Historical’s collection, primarily held within the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library. Witness firsthand how conservators prepare, treat, install, and de-install Library and Museum paper-based collections for exhibitions and loans, as well as stabilize large collections for storage and use. Try out conservation treatment techniques led by the conservation staff.
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (at 77th Street), 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org.