The Middleton Collections is one of the finest resources in the world for the study of the bookbinding history and practice. Presently numbering some 2,000 volumes (and countless ephemera), the collection is housed in its own reading room within the Cary Graphic Arts Collection. Though not yet catalogued, the Middleton Collection is fully available to researchers for on-site use, while reasonable correspondence inquiries will be answered as quickly as possible. The acquisition of the Middleton Collection was made possible through a generous grant from the Frank M. Barnard Foundation and its chief trustee, the late Dudley A. Weiss, in whose honor the reading room is named.

Bookbinding 2000: A Conference Celebrating the Installation and Opening of the Bernard C. Middleton Collection of Books on Bookbinding, June 1–3, 2000
In June 2000 the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection hosted over 400 guests for a highly successful conference, exhibition, and gala celebration in honor of Bernard C. Middleton's contributions to the art of bookbinding, and RIT's acquisition of Mr. Middleton's outstanding book collection. Some of the world's foremost scholars and bookbinders presented a series of stimulating talks and detailed demonstrations at the event. Click here to download a PDF of the original conference prospectus.

Publications about the Middleton Collection

	The Binder’s Art: Catalogue of an Exhibition of Highlights from the Bernard C. Middleton Collection of Books on Bookbinding This handsome exhibition catalogue was letterpress-printed to commemorate the Cary Collection’s acquisition of Mr. Middleton’s celebrated book collection. 1989.
	Highlights from the Bernard C. Middleton Collection of Books on Bookbinding This elegant cloth-bound, full-color catalogue features a number of rare items from the Middleton Collection on display during the Bookbinding 2000 Conference. The catalogue also includes four essays by Bernard Middleton gathered together for the first time. 2000.
	Bookbinding 2000 Conference Proceedings The content of the six conference lectures is gathered here into a fine volume with full-color illustrations. 2002.

News: November 2002
We are now in the process of editing the videotape record of the bookbinding demonstrations presented at the conference for publication in VHS and DVD formats.

Middleton Collection Inquiries
David Pankow, Curator
Melbert B. Cary, Jr. Graphic Arts Collection
E-mail: dppwml@rit.edu