NEW EVENTS ADDED! Meet America’s Presidents & the Architect Who Built the White House at Two New NSU Exhibits – Now to Nov. 24

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – History buffs are in for a rare treat this fall when the Alvin Sherman Library at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) features two concurrent White House exhibits in its Second Floor Gallery, including one with letters handwritten by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

James Hoban's elevation for the President's House, 1793. Provided by the White House Historical Association.

Running through Nov. 24, participants can travel back in time to “meet” America’s past presidents and James Hoban, the architect of the White House. The concurrent exhibits include:

• James Hoban: Architect of the White House
  A traveling panel exhibit from the White House Historical Association on the design and construction of the White House by the 18th century Irish architect James Hoban.
• Presidential Letters and Signatures
  from the Collection of Sheldon C. and Rosalind Kurland
  Featuring original documents and hand-written correspondence signed by George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and many more. Get a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of nearly all of America’s past presidents.

Both exhibits are on display through Nov. 24 in the Second Floor Gallery in NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library, at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd. in Davie. The exhibits are FREE and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

As part of the exhibits, special lectures and tours will also be offered, including:

• Presidential Debates: An Overview on Thursday, Oct. 7 at noon 
  Professor Gary Gershman of NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will discuss the history of presidential debates.
• Behind the Scenes with Two Exhibits on Thursday, Oct. 14 at noon
  Nora Quinlan, the NSU Alvin Sherman Library’s Director of Reference, will give a tour of the two exhibits.
• The Founding Fathers in the White House on Thursday, Oct. 21 at noon
  Professor Tim Dixon of NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will discuss the presidencies of George Washington (who never lived in the White House!), John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
• The White House in Hollywood on Thursday, Oct. 28 at noon
  Join Nora Quinlan, the NSU Alvin Sherman Library’s Director of Reference, for a history of the depiction of the White House in Hollywood films.
• The Irish in the White House on Thursday, Nov. 4 at noon
  Professor David Kilroy of NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will discuss the Irish occupants of the White House.
• Collecting Manuscripts: the How’s and Whys on Thursday, Nov. 11 at noon
  Sheldon Kurland, a lawyer and book dealer (Barrister, Inc.), has been collecting books and manuscripts for over 30 years. His talk will tell how he built his manuscript collection, which includes the residential letters on display.
• James Hoban: The Irish Architect Who Designed & Built the White House
  on Friday, Nov. 12 at noon
  A talk by William B. Bushong, Ph.D., historian and webmaster of the White House Historical Association and authority on the life and work of the Irish architect James Hoban. Bushong served as curator for the James Hoban exhibit currently on display.
• Behind the Scenes with Two Exhibits on Thursday, Nov. 18 at noon
  Nora Quinlan, the NSU Alvin Sherman Library’s Director of Reference, will give a tour of the two exhibits.

Stay tuned for more events to come! For more information on the exhibit or related events, please visit http://nova.campusguides.com/hoban or call 954-262-4637.

About the Library: The Alvin Sherman Library is a joint-use facility, which is the result of an innovative agreement between NSU and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. The five-story Library, Research, and Information Technology Center is Florida’s largest library building at 325,000 square feet. It serves the residents of and those who work in Broward County, as well as NSU students, faculty, and staff members. For more information visit www.nova.edu/library/main/. To sign up for a library card, visit www.nova.edu/library/card.

Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 (office), 954-873-8494 (cell), andrali@nova.edu