Lecture | Houdini's Library

When Harry Houdini died on Halloween 1926, he left behind one of the greatest private libraries of magic, spiritualism, and theatre history including hundreds of thousands of books, prints, photographs, playbills, and ephemera accumulated over three decades of compulsive, competitive collecting across multiple continents. Grolier member Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, will draw on his new book Houdini's Library (Abbeville Press, 2026) to explore Houdini's other life as a bibliophile: the antiquarian bookshops, the extra-illustrated volumes, the librarian he installed in his attic, and the dramatic posthumous dispersal of the collection. Colleary's talk marks the centenary of Houdini's death and accompanies both the publication of the book (which will be for sale and signing at the talk) and the run of Houdini's Library, a Ransom Center exhibition running August 29, 2026 to January 24, 2027.

Registration

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Accessibility

An ADA-compliant lift from street level to the lobby is available to anyone with mobility issues. All desk staff should be ready and able to assist you in operating the lift, with or without advance notice.

A “T-Coil” assisted listening system is available to anyone attending a lecture in the Exhibition Hall. Visitors with hearing aids should turn their devices to the “T” setting in order to access the system; visitors without hearing aids may request a “loop receiver” with earphones.

Environment

The temperature and humidity in the exhibition hall are tightly controlled for the sake of the valuable items on display, and this may cause the room to feel chilly, particularly in warmer weather, to those coming in from outside. Members and visitors are advised to bring a light wrap when visiting an exhibition, or attending an event in the hall.