It's Bizarre To Think That Cleveland Is Home To The World's Largest Alice In Wonderland Collection, But It's True
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 15, 2023
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
We, as Clevelanders, don’t talk enough about the Cleveland Public Library. This incredible local institution is home to a treasure trove of knowledge. Not only is the library a place for learning, but for quiet reflection. One could spend hours lost in the designs of the Downtown Cleveland library’s architecture or perusing the oddities in its special collections. Interestingly, the library is also home to one of the largest Lewis Carroll and “Alice in Wonderland” collections in the world. Why, you ask? Well, a visit to the library can help clear that up. And if you haven’t visited the library yet to get a sampling of this knowledge yourself, well… “The best way to explain it is to do it.” Let’s a take a virtual visit to a place where we’re all mad, shall we?
With some 11 million books in the library's collection, it's easy to think every story that's ever been told is hiding here. However, the main library branch in Downtown Cleveland houses a story like no other.
Construction on the oldest portion of the library started in 1923 and concluded in 1925, and it is full of old school charm.
Stunning Georgia marble, sweeping ceilings, fine Art Deco features, and New Deal-era art are my favorite features in the building. Many paintings throughout the building date back to the Federal Art Project, which created work and fostered culture in the midst of the Great Depression.
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But the building itself isn't the Federal Art Project milestone waiting to greet visitors.
Believe it or not, the Cleveland Public Library has one of the largest "Alice in Wonderland" collections in the world. This includes both books and collectibles, and some are amazingly old.
One of the most iconic scenes in literary history is, of course, the "mad" tea party in "Alice in Wonderland." This ceramic, circa 1935, was made under direction from the Works Progress Administration. Though various similar pieces were made from one cast, hand-painted elements make each piece in this collection unique.
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To a degree, the collection is born out of the library's dedication to collecting unique chess boards.
Like the "Alice" collection, the Cleveland Public Library's chess collection is world-renowned. Both the Lewis Carroll memorabilia and chess sets are part of its Special Collections, which can be found on the third floor of the Main Library. Housed alongside rare and notable books, knickknacks, and cultural items, the chess sets remain a continuous draw for researchers and curious Clevelanders.
In Carroll's books like "Through the Looking Glass," chess is a common theme. The collections naturally go hand-in-hand!
The Cleveland Public Library's Special Collections Department contains more than just books! This beauty, which was likely created right here in Cleveland, is suspected to be done with watercolor and crayon. It was dated to around 1930, but the artist's name is obscured and thus lost to history.
And the Main Library isn't the only portion of the district hiding such treasures.
This beauty is one of eight tiles in the children's room at the Carnegie West Branch Library. These historic tiles from 1910 were made by the
Grueby Faience Company, who famously showcased their tiles at the Chicago Art Institute in 1908.
All in all, the Special Collections at the Cleveland Public Library are worth getting to know.
Beyond the aforementioned collectibles, the special collection also houses rare architectural publications, winners of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, miniature books, and folkloric artifacts.
If you're wondering if the "Alice in Wonderland" collection is a new feature, it's not! It has delighted unsuspecting visitors for decades.
Once upon a time, the children's room at the library was known as the Lewis Carroll Room. This theme, which debuted with the newly-unveiled library in 1925, helped inspire the growth of the "Alice" collection.
This photo from 1936 takes us back to the early days of the Lewis Carroll collection at the Cleveland Public Library. For nearly a century, visitors in-the-know have sought out the impressive collection of themed collectibles.
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And that's only scratching the surface of all that the Cleveland Public Library has to offer!
Look for the collection on the third floor at 325 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44114.
With one of the largest “Alice in Wonderland” collections in the world, the Cleveland Public Library has a unique bragging right! Beyond this, however, there’s so much to love about this incredible local institution. What’s your favorite thing at the Cleveland Public Library?
If you visit the Cleveland Public Library on a sunny day, make sure to carve out time for a visit to the Eastman Reading Garden. It’s not quite Wonderland, but it’s pretty darn close!
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