1. Today’s Mustache Monday honors some of those who lost their lives on RMS Titanic.

    John Jacob Astor IV, whose family helped found the New York Public Library.

    John Borland Thayer, a Pennsylvanian cricketer and railroad executive.

    William Thomas Stead, a pioneer of investigative journalism.

  2. Sometime in 1910, according to an often-repeated story that has acquired the status of legend, William Augustus Spencer visited the new central building of the New York Public Library, still under construction at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. He was so impressed that he vowed there and then that he would bequeath his personal collection of fine illustrated books to the Library. He then returned home to Paris. For his next visit to New York, in April 1912, he booked passage from Southampton, England, on the RMS Titanic. Read the rest of Kathy Coblentz’s account of how the NYPL came to acquire the Spencer Collection (it’s more complex than you might think).

    Sometime in 1910, according to an often-repeated story that has acquired the status of legend, William Augustus Spencer visited the new central building of the New York Public Library, still under construction at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

    He was so impressed that he vowed there and then that he would bequeath his personal collection of fine illustrated books to the Library. He then returned home to Paris.

    For his next visit to New York, in April 1912, he booked passage from Southampton, England, on the RMS Titanic.

    Read the rest of Kathy Coblentz’s account of how the NYPL came to acquire the Spencer Collection (it’s more complex than you might think).

  3. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and remember those who perished as well as those who survived, the Music Division of the NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts has opened All Hands on Deck: Remembering the Titanic (1912-2012). On exhibit are sheet music of songs performed on the ship and written in its honor, as well as photos from from the films “Titanic” (1953) and “A Night to Remember” (1958). Also, save the date for two Titanic events: - a concert titled The Titanic (1912-2012): Remembering the Era, the Music and the Musicians at LPA on May 5 at 2:30 p.m. Vocalists Constance Green, Ellen Lang and Irwin Reese will recreate the music performed on board the ships along with other popular songs of the era. - 100 Years of Titanic with John Batchelor, Charles Pellegrino, and Stephen Spignesi - a panel discussion at Mid-Manhattan Library on Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30pm.

    To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and remember those who perished as well as those who survived, the Music Division of the NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts has opened All Hands on Deck: Remembering the Titanic (1912-2012). On exhibit are sheet music of songs performed on the ship and written in its honor, as well as photos from from the films “Titanic” (1953) and “A Night to Remember” (1958).

    Also, save the date for two Titanic events:

    - a concert titled The Titanic (1912-2012): Remembering the Era, the Music and the Musicians at LPA on May 5 at 2:30 p.m. Vocalists Constance Green, Ellen Lang and Irwin Reese will recreate the music performed on board the ships along with other popular songs of the era.

    - 100 Years of Titanic with John Batchelor, Charles Pellegrino, and Stephen Spignesi - a panel discussion at Mid-Manhattan Library on Tuesday, May 15 at 6:30pm.