Tompkins County Public Library

Monday, July 25, 2016

ITHACA EXPLORES HUMAN ORIGINS - November 23, 2016 through February 28, 2017

TCPL is excited to be able to bring the Smithsonians's national traveling exhibition "Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean To Be Human?" to our community during the holiday season this year.

This exhibit was organized by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in collaboration with the American Library Association, and was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation with support from the Peter Buck Human Origins Fund.

TCPL is partnering with many local organizations, in particular members of the Discovery Trail, together with professors from Cornell University and Ithaca College, to present many fascinating programs during the time the exhibit is on display.  In addition the Smithsonian will be presenting programs in conjunction with the opening of the exhibit.

An additional complementary exhibit What We Were Makes Us What We Are has been developed with the support of Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and the Museum of the Earth under the direction of Beth Stricker, Cornell Professors Adam Arcadi and Fred Gleach, Ithaca College Professor Jennifer Muller and Paleo-Artist John Gurche. This exhibit will be displayed in the Avenue of the Friends through the end of February 2017. 

PRI will also be presenting programs for Darwin Days Celebrations during February.

Local support has been made possible by TCPL Foundation from New York State Council for the Humanities, Tompkins County Tourism Board, and the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI).

Details about the exhibits and programs will be available on a dedicated web page currently being developed.

For further information please contact Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grubb at sgrubb@tcpl.org.


TCPL’s presents Grace Miller White and her 1909 novel Tess of the Storm County

This small exhibit on display in the Avenue of the Friends presents Tess of the Storm County, the 1909 novel by Ithaca author Grace Miller White (1868-1957) and will be on display during August 2016. White is known for her Storm Country Series, as well as numerous other novels.  Tess of the Storm Country was made into a film four times.



Featuring film posters, covers of early editions of the novel, and information concerning Ithaca Grace Miller White herself, this exhibit is displayed in conjunction with the Wharton Studio Museum’s Annual Silent Movie Under the Stars presentation, and will be on display through the end of August.

Wharton Studio Museum’s summer movie tradition continues with its 6th Annual Silent Movie Under the Stars on Saturday August 27th, 2016 at Taughannock Falls State Park! The evening features a stunning big-screen showing of Tess of the Storm Country, a 1922 film adaptation of Ithacan Grace Miller White’s 1909 novel of the same name, starring the inimitable Mary Pickford.




Cloud Chamber Orchestra will play an original score composed for the film.  Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic, lawn chair and blanket and enjoy lovely Taughannock Falls State Park and a view of Cayuga Lake as the sun sets before the movie begins at sundown (around 8:15pm). 

Admission is FREE and open to the public (there is a $5 per car parking fee at the park). M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust is the event’s Presenting Sponsor.                                           

Silent Movies Under the Stars is produced by Wharton Studio Museum in partnership with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and the support of numerous local sponsors.

For more information about this exhibit please contact Library staff member Terry Harbin at tharbin@tcpl.org.