The goal of the library exhibition program is to provide a space for student work and campus research to be shared with the community and that our exhibition program provides an opportunity to present stories, voices, and work that otherwise may not be able to be shared.
  • Museum display case containing a historical document with an eagle emblem and several stone slabs.
  • Museum display case of a colorful map of the United States, an open book, and historical documents.
  • Museum display of a red pamphlet titled "The Case of Joe Hill" alongside other historical documents.
  • A sign in a museum display case reads "NO KINGS SAVE DEMOCRACY" in bold orange and black letters.
  • Museum display case of a portrait photograph, handwritten letters, and small historical booklets.
  • Museum display of two large open books with illustrations and text, a smaller closed book, and a document.
  • Museum display of vertical manuscripts, patterned fabric, and textured bark-like material with labels.

America in the Archive: The Many Voices of Democracy

Level 4

The United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. The birth of the nation was rooted in a long history of place, people, and beliefs that extended beyond the continental United States and continues to expand in our present. These many histories, often streamlined as linear narratives, find their source in the myriad material artifacts contained in an archive. Far from a straightforward history, archives describe weblike, simultaneous, and intertwined stories while at the same time, pointing to gaps in the record.
Discover the layered history of democracy in America through the voices and stories of the people who were instrumental in helping to create democracy and essential to preserving it in our present and future. This exhibition will explore American history with a particular focus on Utah and the Intermountain West.

The exhibition is FREE and open to the public.

  • Accordion-style book in a display case with a large orange and yellow pop-up flame.
  • Open manuscript with red and blue illustrations of figures and a dragon-like creature, held by clear straps.
  • Pop-up book featuring three white cone-shaped figures with grey tops and arms on a tan background.
  • Exhibition of various books on a table, including a colorful multi-layered book in a clear display case.
  • House-shaped frame containing an illustration of a figure in a blue dress holding a sword above their head.

Persistent Memory: Medievalism and the Art of the Book

Level 4, Reading Room

The European Middle Ages have been of enduring interest to artists throughout time; from the Gothic Revival of the 17th century, to the Pre-Raphaelites of the 19th century, to the mid-century medieval of the 1950s-1970s, we have seen this period captivate artists, musicians, authors, comedians, and more.

The fascination with the medieval, and more specifically, the medieval book, is certainly present in the artists’ books of the J. Willard Marriott Library Rare Books Collection. Here you will see the persisting nature of medieval aesthetics, techniques, conventions, and figures explored through a selection of artists’ books and fine press works that are situated alongside medieval facsimiles and manuscript fragments to demonstrate the connections across time.

Medieval books have a steadfast hold in our cultural memory. Frequently, medieval influences are combined with contemporary interests and book-making technologies, resulting in works that blur historical boundaries and present new and old visual languages in concert. When looking at these works you may wonder: Where are the significant medieval influences—in the structure, text, or visual elements? Or, How does the artist ask you to interact with the past and present?