Seminars and Symposia
The Legacy of Alexander von Humboldt in the Americas: Experience
of Nine Exhibitions
Dr. Frank Holl
University of Munich
Dr. Frank Holl (University of Munich, Germany) is
an authority on Alexander von Humboldt. In the last eight years, he
has curated and organized several Humboldt exhibitions throughout the
world (Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Germany, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru). At
the moment, he is preparing exhibitions for New York, Madrid and Tokyo.
His talk will draw from the experience of organizing Humboldt exhibits
with different national teams and from different perspectives, marking
the 200th anniversary of his visit to the Americas.
About Alexander von Humboldt:
In 1804, Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) concluded a great journey
of exploration and discovery in South America, New Spain (Mexico) and
Cuba, initiated in 1799, with an 1804 visit to the United States at
the invitation of President Thomas Jefferson. The enormous undertaking
established him as the greatest and most famous geographer and explorer
of modern times. The journeys from 1799 to 1804 became the highpoint
of his life-long scientific investigation and documentation of the unity
of nature. The American experience also moved the politically engaged
Humboldt, a man inspired by the Enlightenment and ideals of the French
Revolution, to publish among other writings books on Cuba and Mexico
that offered critiques of colonialism and slavery and strongly advocated
on behalf of the native peoples he saw cruelly exploited. The last of
the great European polymaths, Alexander von Humboldt was important to
the development of several disciplines. The fame and influence that
followed Humboldt’s American explorations were truly enormous:
he was quite literally one of the most famous people in the world. His
name is found today not only on the Humboldt Current along the Pacific
coast of South America, but also in mountains, streets, schools, research
centers, glaciers, plants and animals throughout Latin America.
When: Thursday, March 11, 5:00pm
Where: Room 9205
The Graduate Center
City University of New York
365 Fifth Avenue (@34th Street)
New York City
To reserve, send e-mail to bildner@gc.cuny.edu.
