Stories from the Library: Looking to Learn
Sat., Dec. 13, 2025–Mon., June 15, 2026
Huntington Art Gallery, Focus Gallery
In “Looking to Learn,” visitors will encounter rich visual and historical, printed and manuscript materials that illustrate shifts in teaching methods in England and the United States.
The exhibition explores how changing ideas about child development inspired educators and parents to incorporate hands-on activities, practical subjects, and play into children’s learning. Highlights include the first schoolbook printed in California, Tablas para los niños que empiezan a contar (Tables for children who are beginning to count)—produced in 1836 by printer Agustin Vicente Zamorano. Other featured materials include richly illustrated wall charts, board games, and lesson books that reflect evolving viewpoints about childhood, morality, and intellectual curiosity.
About Stories from the Library
The “Stories from the Library” exhibition series celebrates The Huntington’s world-class Library collections by presenting rare archival materials through new and unexpected thematic lenses. The first installment, which opened June 21, 2025, featured exhibitions on Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and visionary figures who shaped Los Angeles.
Future iterations will explore such topics as damaged books and materials, early science and medicine, international relations, and reflections on mortality. The series will continue through 2028, coinciding with the transformation of The Huntington’s Library/Art Building.
Generous support for the Stories from the Library exhibition series is provided by the Robert F. Erburu Exhibition Endowment. Additional support is provided by The Neilan Foundation, the Steinmetz Foundation, Laura and Carlton Seaver, and the John Brockway Huntington Foundation.
