Rare Manuscripts, Original Cartoons At Iconic New Yorker Exhibit

MIDTOWN, NY — The New Yorker is turning 100 this year, and to celebrate, the New York Public Library is curating an exhibition that takes visitors behind the scenes of the iconic magazine.

The exhibition, "A Century of The New Yorker," opens on Feb. 22 at the library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

The show will bring to life the many writers and stories that have defined the publication since it was first published in 1925 with rare manuscripts and founding documents, along with other artifacts, photos and, of course, original cartoons.

“In ways we see and don’t see, The New Yorker has shaped so many aspects of American culture, politics, and intellectual life over the past century,” Julie Golia, the co-curator of the exhibition, said.

The lineup of rare manuscripts and artifacts in the exhibit includes:

• The prospectus for The New Yorker (1924);
• Original artwork for the first issue of The New Yorker by Rea Irvin (1925);
• W.H. Auden’s handwritten draft of “Refugee Blues” (1939);
• John Updike’s handwritten assignments for Talk of the Town (1940s);
• Original signed art by Helen Hokinson (1941);
• The New Yorker type identification and style guide (1981);

• Correspondence between William Shawn and John Hersey related to “Hiroshima” (1946);
• The typescript draft of “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote, with revisions and deletions by William Shawn (1965);
• Hannah Arendt’s original typescript manuscript of “Eichmann in Jerusalem” (1963);
• Cynthia Ozick, "The Fallibility Rag," poem dedicated to New Yorker grammarian Eleanor Gould (1987);
• A mock-up of the first New Yorker website and other 21st-century artifacts; and
• Original film featuring current and recent writers, editors, and staff exploring the history, legacy, and future of The New Yorker.

The exhibit is the centerpiece of the magazine's year-long centennial celebration, starting in February 2025.

"In taking stock of a century of stories, personalities, and yes, cartoons, this exhibition offers a captivating look at the history of the magazine," David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, said.

To learn more about the upcoming exhibit, click here.

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is located at 476 5th Ave. in Manhattan.

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