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Justice Illuminated:
The Art of Arthur Szyk

Internship

Using Posner Center Facilities

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A gift of Henry and Helen Posner Jr. in memory of his parents, Henry and Ida Posner Sr., the Posner Center is located on the Carnegie Mellon campus between the College of Fine Arts and the Tepper School of Business, facing Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall and the tennis courts.

The 11,400 square foot earth-sheltered building was designed by Paul Whitehead of WTW Architects. The rooftop features the Kraus Campo, a meditative outdoor space created by alumnus artist Mel Bochner (A 1964) and landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh.

Posner Center opened in 2004. Brochure [pdf]

The Collection

Posner Center houses rare and historic books and art collected by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Posner Sr. The collection is notable for works recording the history of science, and for finely bound books, classic literature and other important documents. For example, one of only four extant copies of the first printing of the U. S. Bill of Rights and its ratifications resides in the Posner Collection. The collection must be maintained in museum-quality conditions. These concerns mandate policies on security and cleanliness.

Fulfilling the family's educational mission for their collection, the Posner Fine Arts Foundation funds two internships per year for Carnegie Mellon students. Student interns work directly with collection materials and create major exhibits on topics of their choice. Library staff mount smaller displays from the collection throughout the year.

To further preserve and protect the collection, the Posner family also supported its digitization. As a result, nearly all of the collection is available in full-text to researchers worldwide via the Internet: http://posner.library.cmu.edu/Posner/

Open to the Public

Posner Center gallery and exhibits are open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., except holidays and during designated VIP events. Phone: 412-268-7680.

During open hours, Posner Center staff answer questions about the building, current exhibits, the collection, the Posner Fine Arts Foundation, and the Posner family.

The Boardroom

The Posner Center Boardroom is the home of the Carnegie Mellon Board of Trustees.

The Boardroom is available to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, Advisory Boards and similar groups, and may be used for other university meetings depending on specific needs and availability.


Requests to use the Boardroom and/or other areas of Posner Center for events or meetings are coordinated by the University Libraries in consultation with the President's Office.

Speakers

Library faculty are available by request to speak with groups about the Posner Family Collection.

To schedule speakers, contact:

  • Mary Kay Johnsen, Special Collections and Design Librarian, 412-268-6622, mj0g@andrew.cmu.edu

 

 


December 3, 2008
Jillian Chisnell, Arts Specialist and Posner Center Coordinator, 412-268-6330, jillianc@andrew.cmu.edu