I Recall the Experience Sweet and Sad: Memories of the Civil War 

To mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, this exhibit showcases the memoirs of men and women who lived through it--Union and Confederate nurses, a former slave turned camp nurse and laundress, a southern woman married to a Union solider, and Walt Whitman, whose work as an army hospital nurse inspired some of his greatest works. 

Start: January 4, 2012 | End: April 8, 2012 | Perkins Gallery 

The Puerto Rican Disapora: Photographs by Frank Espada

Frank Espada's black-and-white gelatin silver prints document the rural and the urban experience of Puerto Rican migrants to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. The Libraries recently acquired Espada's papers, a rich resource on social activism, migration, and civil rights in the 20th century. 

Start: January 16, 2012 | End:  July 2012 | Rubenstein Gallery

Charles Dickens: 200 Years of Commerce and Controversy

In this exhibition, commemorating Dickens’s 200th birthday (February 7, 2012), rare works by Dickens and from his time illuminate the intersections between Dickens’s marketable public persona and the many controversies in which he involved himself, from copyright law to poverty.  

Instruments of Torture

"Tools of Conservation" showcases some of the tools we use in book and paper conservation. Small items such as scalpels, brushes and bone folders are displayed, as well as materials like Japanese paper and sewing threads.

From Campus to Cockpit: Duke During World War II

This exhibit documents the academic, military, and humanitarian accomplishments of the Duke University community during World War II. One highlight is the 1942 Rose Bowl, which was relocated to Duke Stadium from Pasadena, California following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Photographs, documents, artifacts, and archival film footage tell the story of Duke’s spirited efforts to support the nation during a turbulent time of war.

Student Mural-Perkins Library 2010/2011

  In the fall and winter of 2010/2011 a group of students came together to make the Old Perk, a popular study space, more inviting for students.This website includes pictures of the mural in progress. This mural will remain on exhibit until the rennovation of Perkins is completed sometime after 2013.

Student Exhibits

There are 3 spaces available for students to have exhibits in Perkins library. Click here to learn about the student wall in Perkins and see the calendar of upcoming exhibits. Contact the  DUU Visual Arts Committee for more information on the Old Perk Gallery and the Technology Alcove.