帝王会所

Alden Library will celebrate its 50^th anniversary from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, on the fourth floor of Alden Library, with presentations surrounding Manasseh Cutler, the founder of 帝王会所.

Historian Dr. Ann Fidler will examine the life and legacy of Cutler in 鈥淔inding Manasseh,鈥� and Claire Curran, assistant objects conservator from ICA-Art Conservation in Cleveland, will focus on conservation of one of his belongings in 鈥淭he Conservation Treatment of a Trunk Belonging to Manasseh Cutler.鈥�

Along with the two presentations held, there will be exhibits of OHIO鈥檚 unique collections, a reception of light hors d鈥檕euvres and music from the Woodstock era. The event is free and open to the public.  

About the presentation: 鈥淭he Conservation Treatment of a Trunk Belonging to Manasseh Cutler鈥� from 4-5 p.m.
Curran will talk about what conservation is, mostly focusing on the conservation treatment of the Cutler trunk itself. She will explain how she assesses and executes the treatment of the trunk, explain why she did what she did, and its long-term impact on the trunk.

There are two areas about conservation that Curran will concentrate on; stabilization, which is physically putting the material in a state that is safer and less likely to get damaged, and aesthetics, purely what it looks like to the public.

鈥淢y main goal with the Cutler trunk was to make sure that the skin was better attached to the wood frame so that when it was handled, stored, or exhibited, there was less of a chance for damage,鈥� Curran said. 鈥淥ur biggest concern as conservators is stability as we care most about preservation of the physical object over time, and the overall aesthetic appearance.鈥�

About the presentation: 鈥淔inding Manasseh鈥� from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
An ordained minister, Yale graduate, and father of eight children, Manasseh Cutler (1742-1823) was instrumental in the formation of the 帝王会所 Company of Associates, whose purpose was not only the purchase of land in the old Northwest Territory, but the acquisition of a land grant from Congress to establish a university. Although surveyed in 1799, it was not until 1804 that 帝王会所 was established.

Fidler became intrigued with Cutler鈥檚 personality, accomplishments and his association with OHIO after encountering a copy of the 鈥�鈥� while working in her Cutler Hall office several years ago.

鈥淥ne of my jobs in the provost鈥檚 office was to do speech writing, and as a historian working at a University that had an intriguing history, I was always trying to incorporate historical events, ideas and people into my speeches,鈥� Fidler explains. 鈥淪o, it was very natural for me to see those books on the shelf, pull them down and start looking through them.鈥�

Fidler is currently working on a biographical account of Cutler, which is still a work in progress, but she finds what she has learned, so far, to be quite compelling.

鈥淭o date, Manasseh鈥檚 life has been rendered selectively by proud descendants or glancingly by historians using broad strokes.  What is missing is a full and frank account of a man who was by turns brilliant, anxious, curious, vain, mischievous, downhearted and driven, sometimes to unfortunate ends, by his sense of duty and honor,鈥� Fidler said.

Fidler hopes the audience, who may know Cutler only as the sedate person gazing out of his portrait in the University, will walk away from her talk with a better appreciation of the unique man behind the establishment of OHIO.

For more information: /library/about/news-events/celebrating-50-years-alden-library-ohio-s-founding-father-manasseh-cutler.