Sandoz Center to host Brothers Grimm exhibit

Featuring over twenty books from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at the University of Florida, “Grimm Changes” illustrates the transformation of the Grimm tales from oral folk tales to the beloved fairy tales of today.

This year is the 200th anniversary of the publication of the Brothers Grimm, Kinder- und Hausmärchen or Children and Household Tales. Not originally intended for children, the book was published for scholars and the middle class. The first volume, a collection of folk tales that were considered to be distinctly German, was published in 1812 by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

During their lifetime, there were seven editions, the last one appearing in 1857. By this time, Wilhelm Grimm had succumbed to public desire and heavily altered and edited many tales so that they were hardly recognizable from the first edition and thus suitable for children.

Sandoz Center Director, Sarah Polak, said that she is thankful to the Smathers Libraries for loaning out the exhibition.

“I had heard about Grimm Changes,” Polak said, “but was told that the Smathers was not planning to travel the exhibit around the country. I wrote for special permission to bring the exhibit to Chadron and we were allowed to have it.”

The Sandoz Center is the only place people will be able to see the exhibit. Polak said that she and her staff are excited about the many opportunities for activities with this exhibit.

The Sandoz Center is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. For more information about the exhibit, contact Sarah Polak at 308-432-6401.