Explore Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature, a remarkable traveling exhibition from the National Library of Medicine, on display at Central Library from October 7 through November 16. This captivating display, accompanied by local curiosities from Petunia and Loomis and archival materials, delves into the timeless impact of Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus.
Mary Shelley’s vision of a scientist driven to create life continues to resonate more than 200 years after its publication. Written in 1816, Frankenstein explores the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition, raising questions about humanity, ethics, and the perils of playing with nature’s boundaries. As Shelley’s creature confronts rejection and isolation, the novel serves as a powerful metaphor for society’s enduring apprehensions toward scientific progress.
This exhibition examines these themes through historical artifacts, educational resources, and a digital gallery. Explore the intersection of science and fear, as well as how Shelley’s work still echoes in modern-day debates about scientific advancements. The display includes a fully digitized gallery from the historical collections of the National Library of Medicine.
Sneak Peek into the Exhibit:
Mary Shelley was only 18 years old when she began writing Frankenstein, inspired by a “waking dream” in which she envisioned “the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life.” Portrait of Mary Shelley, ca. 1851-1893 Courtesy The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Luisi Galvani (1737-1798), a professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna, performed an extensive series of experiments in “animal electricity” or “galvanism” to reanimate dead tissue in the 1780s and 1790s. Illustration from Essai Théorique et Expérimentale sur le Galvanisme, tome premier (Theoretical and Practical Essay on Galvanism, first volume), Giovanni Aldini, 1804 Courtesy National Library of Medicine
Human dissection advanced medical knowledge in early 19th century, while it challenged traditional understanding of what it means to be human. Illustration from The anatomy of the arteries of the human body, with its application to pathology and operative surgery, Richard Quain, 1844 Courtesy National Library of Medicine
The English actor Thomas Potter Cooke played the role of the monster in Presumption. During the performances, his face was painted green, his lips were stained black, and he wore blue body paint. T. P. Cooke as the monster in Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein, Thomas Charles Wageman (c. 1787–1863) Courtesy The Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelly and His Circle, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
In a film version of Frankenstein, Boris Karloff portrayed the monster. His makeup showed the creature with a surgically altered skull, scars, and bolts protruding from his neck, which deeply affected audiences. Boris Karloff as the Monster in Frankenstein, 1931 Courtesy Universal Studios Licensing LLC
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind exploration into the fears and wonders of science, past and present. We welcome you to visit, reflect, and engage with this thought-provoking exhibit at Central Library!
The National Library of Medicine produced this exhibition and companion website.
