175 Years Later, Moby-Dick Makes Waves at UH Libraries
“It is not down in any map; true places never are.”
University of Houston Libraries recently hosted a celebration of the American classic Moby-Dick, which turns 175 this year. Students, faculty, librarians, staff, and visitors attended the event, held in the MD Anderson Library Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, to explore the novel’s enduring legacy.
The interactive experience centered on an iconic work of fiction, blending literature, archives, and community engagement. Guests participated in public excerpt readings and a trivia game with prizes; and listened to a recording of baritone John Allen Nelson of the Moores School singing Starbuck’s aria from Jake Heggie’s opera “Moby-Dick.” User Services library supervisor Riley Vagis (’25) gave an introduction for the performance.
The highlight of the celebration was an archivist-led display tour featuring materials related to Moby-Dick from UH Libraries Special Collections Rare Books Collections. Processing archivist Kevin Kinney offered guests an immersive opportunity to discover historical resources and gain a deeper understanding of the novel’s significance nearly two centuries after its publication. The display was curated with the guidance of Christian Kelleher, director of exhibitions and external relations, and Julie Grob, Special Collections coordinator for instruction.
Communications and events coordinator Meghan Miller (’17) collaborated with Kinney and Vagis to develop a program of literary exploration and lighthearted engagement. Miller, who is a fan of the novel, says it endures through its cultural reach and the power of its prose.
“Moby-Dick is one of those books that’s hard to forget after you’ve read it,” she said. “Beyond its status as an American literary classic, it has permeated so many other disciplines, including music, science, film, business, and so much more. For me, it’s Melville’s language which is at once beautiful, powerful, frothy, dense, melismatic, hilarious, tragic… you name it, this book has it.”