Mizzou Libraries recently had the opportunity to share one of its rare books with a national audience through a major museum exhibition in Chicago. This collaboration began when Cesáreo Moreno, curator at the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), reached out about borrowing Mizzou’s copy of La portentosa vida de la muerte (1792) by Fray Joaquín Bolaños. Published in Mexico City, the book it is now on display in Images of Faith: 3000 Years of Spiritual Expressions in Mexico, an expansive exhibition exploring centuries of religious and spiritual expression in Mexican culture. La portentosa vida de la Muerte personifies Death as it goes through different life stages to encourage readers to meditate on the inevitability of death. The text combines biblical themes, such as Adam and Eve, with the memento mori tradition as a preparation for eternal life. The book contains 18 etchings by Francisco Agüera Bustamante depicting Death in a manner reminiscent of Mexican Day of the Dead iconography.
The exhibition revisits NMMA’s original Images of Faith show from 1987 and highlights living traditions of popular faith across time. With the museum preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, the inclusion of materials from institutions like Mizzou adds depth and historical richness to the exhibition. For the Mizzou Libraries, contributing to this effort is both an honor and an opportunity to highlight the strength of its Special Collections on a prominent stage.
Special Collections at Mizzou plays a central role in teaching and research, particularly in the arts and humanities. Faculty and students frequently work directly with rare books and primary source materials through hands-on instruction sessions. While these collections are well known within the university, opportunities like this exhibition help introduce them to audiences beyond campus and beyond Missouri. Exhibitions are a powerful educational tool, allowing rare materials to spark curiosity, learning, and conversation.
Although Mizzou Libraries hosts several popular online exhibitions, there is a unique impact in seeing a rare book in person. Being able to encounter a centuries-old volume—its physical presence, craftsmanship, and history—is an experience that cannot be fully replicated digitally. Displaying La portentosa vida de la muerte in a major cultural center like Chicago expands access to that experience and underscores the value of preserving and sharing these materials.
In this case, the NMMA requested a specific item that aligned closely with the exhibition’s themes. Exhibition loans are carefully evaluated, with the primary concern always being the long-term well-being of the collections. The borrowing institution provides a detailed facilities report outlining environmental controls, security measures, and display conditions. Temperature, humidity, lighting, and security protocols must all meet preservation standards to ensure that the material is protected while on display.
The length of the loan is also an important consideration, as extended exhibition periods can place stress on a book’s binding and structure. Finally, the physical condition of the item itself is assessed. Only works that are stable and suitable for display are approved for loan, ensuring that preservation is never compromised in the process of access and outreach.
This collaboration continues a long history of Mizzou Special Collections contributing to exhibitions at a range of institutions, including museums, historical societies, and national organizations. Past partners have included the Museum of Art & Archaeology, the State Historical Society of Missouri, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Park Service. These partnerships reflect an ongoing commitment to sharing resources, expertise, and scholarship.
For Special Collections staff, participating in exhibitions is one of the most rewarding aspects of the work. It offers a chance to promote the collections, build relationships with peer institutions, and ensure that the materials entrusted to Mizzou Libraries continue to educate and inspire audiences far beyond the walls of the university.
