An intimate group of alumni joined Earle Havens (a Yalie who is currently the curator of rare books and manuscripts for the Johns Hopkins library system) for a private tour of the Evergreen library this afternoon. The Evergreen house is one of several properties once owned by the prominent Garrett family and includes an incredible array of rare books and manuscripts collected by T. Harrison Garrett and his son, John Work Garrett. The collection includes the first, second, third, and forth folios of Shakespeare; documents from all of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (including Oliver Walcott, Yale class of 1747); some of Gutenberg’s earliest printed documents; and books from George Washington’s personal library. Earle brought these documents to life with stories and historical context, letting those of us less well-versed in rare manuscripts peek into this rich history. Around us, the house sat as though in wait for John Work Garrett, with filled cocktail glasses on the tables in the library and tea and cookies set out in the parlor. It was as though we had stepped back in time – and then stepped even further back – for an hour or two.

A huge thank you to Earle Havens for sharing his passion and knowledge with us. This tour was a rare treat.

To those who could not secure one of the spots on the tour, we encourage you to visit the Evergreen House. For more information, please visit: http://www.museums.jhu.edu/evergreen.php