A copy of Sir Isaac Newton’s book, Opticks, which was printed in 1730 and currently is part of UNMC’s rare book collection, will be featured Thursday evening on a Nebraska Educational Television special titled “Saving Nebraska’s Treasures.”
During the show, which will air at 9 p.m. on NET 1 (Cox Cable channel 12), John Schleicher, head of special collections and assistant professor in UNMC’s McGoogan Library of Medicine, displays and discusses the book with paper and book conservator Dr. Sheila Siegler.
The segment features Dr. Siegler offering facts about the book and tips for preserving the text, which was printed on handmade paper three years after Newton’s death.
Other Nebraska treasures featured during the show include American Indian artifacts, the Harvey Boston Studio Photo Collection, a frontier rifle and a beaver castorium, which was used by trappers to carry beaver scent used in capturing the river rodents.
Click here for more information and to see portions of Schleicher’s interview and here to see a blog entry from Siegler about the show.