One of JCSM’s cornerstone collections, The Louise Hauss and David Brent Miller Audubon Collection, has inspired far-reaching investigations into the artistic and scientific representation of the natural world, particularly in North America. Within that collection, one of the true gems is a complete set of the bound volumes of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, a publication John James Audubon began working on almost immediately after he completed his more well-known project, The Birds of America. The Quadrupeds was published in three volumes between 1845 and 1848, though work on the project began in the early 40s.
JCSM’s set is particularly beautiful since the original binding is of high quality the set has been cared for and the individual prints have had little exposure to light and other damaging environmental factors.
On Friday, March 2, we will invite all of the authors of Audubon’s Last Wilderness Journey: The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, to give talks about their research. The book event will be in the morning, so visitors will have the opportunity to visit the corollary exhibition featuring The Quadruped folios, as well as framed loose prints and contextualizing objects and information.
Schedule and Registration
9:00 am
“Welcome, Introduction, and Remarks on Louise Hauss and David Brent Miller Audubon Collection at JCSM,” Marilyn Laufer, JCSM director.
9:15 am
“The Making of the Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” Ron Tyler, former director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and author of “Audubon’s Great National Work: The Royal Octavo Edition of the Birds of America.”
9:45 am
“Set in Stone: The Use of Lithography in Audubon’s Quadrupeds,” Dennis Harper, JCSM curator of collections and exhibitions.
10:15 am
“Modernization of Natural History: From Audubon to Now,” Sarah Zohdy, assistant professor of Disease Ecology in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University.
11:00 am
Panel Discussion by Co-Authors of “Modernization of Natural History: From Audubon to Now,” Sarah Zohdy, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Robert A. Gitzen and James B. Armstrong, faculty of Auburn University’s School of Forestry adn Wildlife Sciences.
11:30 am
““In All Its Original Wildness”: The Quadruped Essays of John Bachman and John James Audubon,” Daniel Patterson, professor emeritus of American Literature, Central Michigan University, and author of The Missouri River Journals of John James Audubon, and John James Audubon’s Journal of 126: The Voyage to the Birds of America.”
12:30 pm
Book signing
Following the “Launch and Learn” event at JCSM, Photographer Joel Sartore will speak at 4 pm at Foy Auditorium 258.
