Opening Reception
A Dual Legacy
Dedication of The Charles Longcope Jr. Photography Research Archive & the James Lynn Williams Rare Books & Special Collections Study Room
NOVEMBER 15, 2024
6:30 - 7:30 PM PST
followed by a special Film Screening at 7:00pm
BMF MAIN GALLERY
Join us as we celebrate a transformative gift to our educational mission with the dedication of two vital research spaces. The Charles Longcope Jr. Photography Research Archive and the James Lynn Williams Rare Books & Special Collections Study Room will expand our capacity to preserve, study, and share our remarkable collections for generations to come.
This special ribbon-cutting ceremony honors James Lynn William's vision of creating dedicated spaces where scholars, students, and researchers can engage with both our historic photography collection and rare book holdings. These newly named spaces represent a significant milestone in our commitment to visual and literary education.
Join us for a historic moment in our organization's journey as we celebrate the dedication of two transformative research spaces. Through the extraordinary generosity of James Williams, we are proud to unveil The Charles Longcope Jr. Photography Research Archive & the James Lynn Williams Rare Books & Special Collections Study Room, creating permanent homes for our prestigious collections and advancing our educational mission.
The Charles Longcope Jr. Photography Research Archive will provide scholars, students, and researchers unprecedented access to our extensive collection of historic photographs, negatives, and photographic ephemera. This carefully designed space incorporates state-of-the-art preservation technology and specialized viewing areas, ensuring that our valuable photographic heritage will be protected and accessible for generations to come.
Directly above the Archive, the James Lynn Williams Rare Books & Special Collections Study Room offers a dedicated environment for the study of our distinguished rare book collection and original Athletic Model Guild indexes. This intimate research space provides optimal conditions for examining delicate materials while fostering scholarly engagement with our literary treasures. The proximity of these two collections creates unique opportunities for cross-disciplinary research and discovery.
Jim Williams' visionary gift reflects our commitment to advancing visual and literary education. By creating these purpose-built spaces, we strengthen our position as a leading institution for research in both photography and rare publications. These new facilities will support our ongoing educational programs, enable expanded research opportunities, and enhance our ability to serve scholars from around the world.
Please join us for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception as we honor James Williams and Charles Longcope Jr.'s transformative contribution to our institution. The evening will include:
• Welcome remarks from Dennis Bell
• Dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting
• Guided preview tours of both new spaces
• Special exhibition of highlighted works from our collections
Bob Mizer Foundation is deeply grateful to Jim Williams for this remarkable gift that will impact researchers, scholars, and students for generations to come.