Gathering medieval French prayerbook, Kabuki in America, Sylvia Plath’s thoughts

According to Kelly Bullard, assistant curator of printing and graphic arts at Houghton, “The presence of this feminine saint likely points to the leaf’s place of production: a women’s religious house, where manuscript and early print production commingled to create printed, hand-colored, and illuminated religious souvenirs.” The poster on display in Houghton’s exhibit is part of a larger collection of ephemera documenting the performances of the Deer family, who became known for their shows that mixed trick horse riding, dancing, and songs with romanticized tableaux depicting Native people on the American frontier. Houghton has also acquired letters written by Medrud’s father, Kōzo, a community leader who was arrested by the FBI as an enemy of the state and held in a series of prison camps separate from the rest of the family.

Author: Anna Lamb

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