Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

The Karpeles Manuscript Library is the world’s largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents. The library was founded in 1983 by California real estate magnates, David and Marsha Karpeles, with the goal of stimulating interest in learning, especially in children. All of the Karpeles Manuscript Library services are free.

Libraries

To make the documents more accessible, there are ten Karpeles museums across the US. Items are rotated between museums quarterly and each of the museums present a daily general exhibit and one or more special scheduled exhibits throughout the year. In addition, Karpeles is aggressively expanding the content of its website. Each of the libraries is located in an historic building.

Alvin, Texas

Karpeles Manuscript Library in Alvin, Texas is located in the old First Methodist Church building at 800 West Sidnor St., about a 30 minute drive from Houston. As of January, 2012, its opening date had not been announced.

Buffalo, New York

Facade of North Hall in Buffalo, NY

In Buffalo, the Karpeles Museum consists of two separate buildings: (1) Porter Hall at 453 Porter Avenue at Jersey Street and Plymouth Avenue and (2) North Hall at 220 North Street at Elmwood Avenue. The Porter Hall was originally the Plymouth Methodist Church, while the North Hall was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1911. Part of the North Hall's facade fell off on the southeast side of the building on February 18, 2008 but no one was hurt.

Charleston, South Carolina

Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Charleston library is housed in a former Methodist church named St. James Chapel which was built in 1856. The building is in the Greek Revival style following the Corinthian order and was inspired by the Temple of Jupiter in Rome. During the Civil War Confederates used the building as a hospital and stored medical supplies there. Hurricane Hugo tore off the roof of the building and destroyed its interior on September 21, 1989. Following renovation, the building reopened on November 11, 1990.

Duluth, Minnesota

The Duluth Museum 46°47′49″N 92°04′58″W at 902 East 1st Street was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1912.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Kapeles Manuscript Museum, Fort Wayne, is housed in a domed church built in 1940 as the First Church of God. It is located at 3039 Piqua Ave. The Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 4. The museum houses a rotating collection of unique documents and artifacts. The collection's caliber and breadth are the direct result of the efforts of David and Marsha Karpeles. The museum provides an educational outreach program in the form of mini-museum displays that are set up in local school buildings and maintained by museum staff.

Jacksonville location

Jacksonville, Florida

Main article: Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum (Jacksonville)

The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Jacksonville is located in the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building, a 1921 neoclassical structure in the Springfield neighborhood. Most residents have never even heard of, let alone visited, Karpeles, but many of their children have. There is also an antique-book library, with volumes dating from the late 1800s, and a children's center.

Newburgh, New York

The Karpeles in Newburgh, New York is located at 94 Broadway. It houses the Dona McPhillips Historical Painting Series which includes many portraits of famous Americans grouped together as "Founding Fathers", "Civil War Union", "Civil War Confederates", "Indian Heroes", "More Indian Heroes", "Pathfinders", "Texas", "Blacks", "Pioneers" and "Women".

Rock Island, Illinois

Rock Island location

The museum building in Rock Island was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1896 in the Broadway Historic District and is expected to open in January or February 2012. Chris Kelly is the interim director.

Shreveport, Louisiana

The Karpeles Manuscript Library in Shreveport at 3201 Centenary Avenue was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist. Its director is Jean Glabus.

Tacoma, Washington

The Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Tacoma, Washington is located at 407 South G Street, across the street from the Wright Park Arboretum.

Examples of documents from the collection

Music

• Ludwig von Beethoven's "Emperor Concerto"
• Handel's Messiah, copied in the hand of Beethoven
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro"
• Richard Wagner's "Wedding March"

Science

• Darwin's Theory of Evolution
• Descartes' Treatise as the Father of Philosophy
• Einstein's Theory of Relativity
• Galileo's announcement of the completion of his publication Dialogue on Two New Sciences
• Some of Donald A. Hall's initial sketches and calculations for the design of the Spirit of St. Louis
• Excerpts from John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding
• A note written by Charles Lindbergh
• A portion of Newton's studies on religion
• Astronomer Michael Molnar's Mystery of the Star of Bethlehem

Religion

• The first printing of the Ten Commandments from The Gutenberg Bible (ca. 1455)
• John Calvin's Ioannis Calvinus
• Luther and the Birth of Protestant Movement
• Pope Lucius III's Proclamation of the Holy Crusade

Literature

• Roget's Thesaurus
• The stage version of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer
• Webster's Dictionary

Political history

• Bill of Rights
• Confederate Constitution
• The Declaration of Allegiance to the Government of the United States by the Native American Indians
• Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
• John Hancock's Cover Letter to the Declaration of Independence
• Olive Branch Petition
• George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Exploration

• Christopher Columbus's Lettera Rarissima
• Sir Ernest Shackleton's hand-drawn map of Antarctica
• Amelia Earhart's Certificate of Landing for her solo flight across the Atlantic

Artwork

• Pat Burger Homeless Exhibit Collection
• Dona McPhillips Historical Exhibit Collection
• Norman Rockwell pencil drafts Exhibit Collection
• The Brock Brothers Illustration Archive
• Classic Book Illustrations

See also

• First Church of Christ, Scientist (Jacksonville, Florida)

Further reading

LA Times, "Worth more than the paper it's printed on", February 15, 2004.

External links

• Official website
• Santa Barbara, California
• Tacoma/Seattle, Washington
• Newburgh, New York
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Duluth, Minnesota
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Buffalo, New York - Porter Hall
• Buffalo, New York - North Hall
• Shreveport, Louisiana
• Fort Wayne, Indiana