Exhibit

50 Shades of Modern

Detail of cover of Atraccions fanzine of various men walking, masked, and such.
Atraccions. Barcelona: Guillem Cifré and Xavi Cot, 1982–1984. 2025-461.
Detail of cover of Atraccions fanzine of various men walking, masked, and such.
Opens Monday, Aug 24, 2026
Open to the public

Location

Edison and Newman Room, Floor 1
Houghton Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge, MA 02138

Seeking to provoke both “wow, what an amazing object” and “wow, I didn’t know Houghton collected stuff like that,” 50 Shades of Modern showcases just a few of the thousands of acquisitions Houghton’s Modern Books and Manuscripts Department has made over the past 20 years. Dating from 1800 to the present, these items show the continuities of institutional collecting; initiatives supporting new directions in teaching and research; and the generosity of the many donors who have helped make the collection what it is.

Among the highlights are 

  • Henry David Thoreau's notes concerning the wreck of the Elizabeth
  • Collection of Black American portrait photographs from the 1860s–1880s
  • Sex pulp fiction 
  • Black Panther Party ephemera
  • David Benedetti's 1981Social Climax Text: a Computer-written Novel
  • Comic books and science fiction novels
  • Archives of personal and family papers of Vladimir Nabokov, Albert Murray, Gore Vidal, Robert M. Pirsig, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and more.

Curated by Leslie Morris, Gore Vidal Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts. 

Access the audio guide on Houghton's Bloomberg Connects guide.

Curatorial Chats

Join Leslie on one of the 30-minute guided tours listed below. This will include discussion of the themes of the exhibition, highlights from the materials on display, and ample time for participant questions. Attendees should gather in Houghton's lobby. Advance registration is required. 

Opening Reception

Join us on September 16 from 5:30–7:00 PM in the Edison and Newman Room as we celebrate the opening of 50 Shades of Modern. Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Room Closures

The Edison and Newman Room will be closed for events at the following times:

  • December 3 starting from 2:45 PM

Planning to visit?

Houghton exhibitions are open to all visitors. Please see Harvard Library's Visitor Access Page for the most up-to-date information about visiting the library.

Persons with disabilities who would like to request accommodations or have questions about physical access, please contact us.