Guidelines: An Introduction

On this site, you will find guidelines for submitting proposals to either program of exhibitions. Via the navigation at the upper left of this page, you will see links to the sections of the website that provide guidelines for what will be required to curate both types of exhibitions.

The Grolier Club Exhibitions Program

Since 1884, the Grolier Club has presented nearly 1,000 exhibitions, and we are extremely proud of our illustrious program, which has always been open to the public free of charge. In keeping with our traditions and our mission and best museum practices, we abide by the following principles in developing exhibitions with curators: 

The Grolier Club expects exhibitors to prepare original interpretations of their presented materials. Please note, we are not a venue for traveling shows unless we are a first stop. In submitting a proposal, you confirm that the concept and interpretation of the materials will be new to this format and not presented in the same manner or with the same text as seen in a previous exhibition of your collection. Additionally, our exhibitions primarily comprise original materials, and we display reproductions in only in very limited and approved circumstances.

The Grolier Club celebrates the art and history of the book and its related crafts; we expect exhibitors to prepare interpretations of their presented materials which ideally, in the collective, tell a narrative story, ask an important question, or challenge visitors to think about materials in a new light. 

Our Exhibitions Department is staffed with full-time professionals who will support your project both technically and creatively, as may be needed. We expect that curators will collaborate and cooperate with our expert staff to realize the curator’s vision consistent with the principles stated here.

Members' Exhibitions:

Smaller in scale, these exhibitions are intended to share Grolier Club members' collections with the Club's membership and the general public. Members' exhibitions are mounted in the Club's second floor Rare Book Room and hallway.

Public Exhibitions: 

Larger in scale, these exhibitions are mounted in the Club's first floor Exhibition Hall.

NB: You must be a Grolier Club member to curate a Member's Exhibition, but Club membership is not a requirement to curate a Public Exhibition.

Club History

The Grolier Club was founded in New York City in 1884 by nine business and cultural leaders, all collectors of books and prints, “to foster the study, collecting, and appreciation of books and works on paper, their art, history, production, and commerce. It shall pursue this mission through the maintenance of a library devoted to all aspects of the book and graphic arts and especially bibliography; through the occasional publication of books designed to illustrate, promote and encourage the book and graphic arts; through exhibitions and educational programs for its members and the general public; and through the maintenance of a Club building for the safekeeping of its property, and otherwise suitable for the purposes of the Club" (Grolier Club Constitution).

Since that time the Club has mounted nearly 1000 diverse and imaginative public exhibitions, while at the same time contributing to the knowledge of book history and bibliography through publications, symposia, lectures, and the formation of a great library. The Club was named for Jean Grolier (1479-1565), leading bibliophile of the Renaissance and patron of scholars and printers (as well as Royal Treasurer under four French kings). Since its founding, membership in the Club has been based on one’s bibliophilic activities. Club members include people from all sectors of the book world, who enjoy not only the company of like-minded persons but also the use of the Clubhouse and attendance at members-only events.

Our Georgian-style building at 47 East 60th Street has housed the Grolier Club since 1917 and marks the Club’s third location. The Clubhouse was extensively renovated in 1984, enlarging the main exhibition hall and adding a large environmentally-controlled storage facility. Most recently, in 2018 the exhibition hall was again renovated, including the addition of exhibition cases that meet the highest conservation standards. 

The innovative exhibitions presented at the Grolier Club (often the first of their kind) have included such topics as chess, murder mysteries, flying, Jane Austen, muckraker journalists, pop-up books, and imaginary books. Members and guest curators are currently continuing this tradition, planning unique, informative and stimulating exhibitions. The Club has published over 145 books - some of them standard references in their fields - on such subjects as William Blake, Mayan writing, Albrecht Durer’s alphabet book, and the well-known Grolier Hundred selections in literature and science. The specialized library of over 100,000 volumes is open by appointment to all scholars and bibliophiles.

Since our founding, and in all three of our locations, The Grolier Club has always opened exhibition space for visits by members of the public, a tradition distinct to our institution and a legacy of which we are exceedingly proud.