Okay, this is a big one. Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, has been working tirelessly on an exhibit and book devoted to Houdini and his collections. Tomorrow, "Houdini's Library" opens to the public. The exhibit is a major contribution to Houdini's legacy, featuring a jaw-dropping amount of previously unexplored Houdini material. Below are details.
Houdini’s LibraryAugust 29, 2026 – January 24, 2027Discover the hidden treasures of Houdini’s Library, an exhibition that delves into the life and extraordinary collection of Harry Houdini, one of history’s most famous illusionists. On stage, Houdini crafted his performances with a deep sense of history and the magicians who came before him. Off stage, he spent years building a collection of books, manuscripts, and ephemera documenting the long global history of magic and theatre. From a first edition of Reginald Scot’s 1584 classic The Discoverie of Witchcraft to the handwritten travel diary of legendary actor David Garrick, delve into how Houdini’s collection reflected his quest to preserve history—a tradition continued by the Ransom Center since it acquired his collection in 1958. Commemorating the centenary of Houdini’s death in 1926, Houdini’s Library invites visitors to explore the intersections of magic, history, and collecting.
This exhibition is organized by Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts.
A large, beautifully illustrated coffee-table book, researched and written by Eric, will be released on September 15. I received an early copy, and it's a stunner! You can pre-order it on Amazon. Eric will also be giving a talk at the exhibition on September 17 (click for details).
Houdini was enormously proud of his collections, and I've no doubt this exhibition would have given him more happiness and pride than anything that has appeared in the last 100 years. It is also FREE. So get on over to the Harry Ranson Center and experience Houdini's Library.
Want more? Eric, a fellow patron, has shared a dozen behind-the-scenes images of the exhibit installation. Click below to get an early look at the treasures inside.
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