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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Today is publication day for Houdini’s Library. Over 10 years of research and planning, and easily over a million items reviewed. Deeply grateful to Abbeville Press for such a beautiful book, all my colleagues @ransomcenter.bsky.social.

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Reposted by Eric Colleary

Texas Monthly @texasmonthly.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Thanks to dogged detective work by a curator at UT's Harry Ransom Center, an important piece of furniture was rescued from oblivion. It goes on display this month. 👀 www.texasmonthly.com/culture/houdin…

texasmonthly.com

The Mystery of Houdini’s Disappearing Bookcase

It will be a centerpiece in the Harry Ransom Center's new exhibit.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

My new Substack, The Queer Curator, is live! Join me as I explore the tangled threads of queer cultural stewardship with writers, artists, estates, agents, publishers, producers and more. open.substack.com/pub/queercur...

open.substack.com

Everyone's Culture Now

Welcome to The Queer Curator. We begin with a paradox: queer stories have never sold better, while the underlying infrastructure is under attack.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

A high point in 2025 was interviewing director Sir Richard Eyre onstage at The Globe in London for UT’s Chancellor’s Council. I’ve known him for nearly five years now and acquired his papers for the Ransom Center in 2023. We had such a lovely conversation about leadership and storytelling.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

My book is done! Houdini’s Library arrives August 4, 2026 from Abbeville Press, with an accompanying exhibition @ransomcenter.bsky.social later that month. A behind-the-curtain look at the private library that fueled Houdini’s imagination and preserved centuries of magic.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

French magician Félicien Trewey at age 37. Known for his remarkable dexterity and wit, Trewey was an acclaimed magician, mime, shadowgraphiste, and early film performer. This photograph, taken around 1885, is part of the personal collection of Harry Houdini, now held @ransomcenter.bsky.social

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The 1906 earthquake leveled San Francisco—over 80% of the city was destroyed including the city’s vibrant theater district. Opera houses, vaudeville stages, and concert halls were reduced to rubble. These images from @ransomcenter.bsky.social

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Today was a big email catch-up day. I totaled up the number of words emailed over six hours and it was the equivalent of a book chapter. No wonder my writing muscles are tired when I sit down to write an ACTUAL book chapter!

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

I told ChatGPT a bit about what I do for work and gave it an image of me, and asked it to create a portrait of me at work and… it’s kinda shocking. 😳

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Excited to share the Ethel Waters Papers with researchers and visitors to @ransomcenter.bsky.social! Over thirty record storage boxes and 180+ non-commercial recordings of the legendary actress and singer have joined the performing arts collections here. www.hrc.utexas.edu/press/releas...

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Autumn days in Austin are sacred.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

David Mamet’s trilogy of short plays, “The Old Neighborhood,” opened #otd Nov. 22, 1997 on Broadway. Mamet’s hometown of Chicago provides the backdrop to what has been referred to as one of his most autobiographical works. | 📸 Poster from Mamet Papers @ransomcenter.bsky.social #theatrehistory

Red poster featuring a blue battered matchbook with “The Old Neighborhood” printed on the cover.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I’m far too anxious of a person to be existing in this timeline.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

It’s been a minute, so reintroducing myself. I’m a trained theatre historian working in museums, archives, and nonprofits. I live in Austin TX. Married to a wonderful man for over 2 years. Currently writing a book and organizing an exhibit on Houdini’s Library for @ransomcenter.bsky.social

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 07/11/2023

It’s been a minute since we announced some recent additions to the performing arts collections @ransomcenter.bsky.social Today, I’m sharing the news that iconic actress Rosemary Harris has gifted her papers to the Ransom Center.

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 11/10/2023

The deadline for @RansomCenter fellowship applications is fast approaching - November 1 at Noon CST! We’ll be awarding ~60 fellowships to support travel to the Center, ranging from 1 week to 3 months. More details at: www.hrc.utexas.edu/fellowships/ 🧵1/2

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 30/09/2023

I've been trying to find traces in local newspapers of an itinerant American actor, whose diary recently came to us @RansomCenter. On the day after his company left Grand Haven, Michigan in Sept. 1851, the local newspaper (Grand River Times) published this passionate op-ed. 🧵

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Eric Colleary @ecolleary.bsky.social · 22/09/2023

Are the skies clearer here? A brief intro: Have worked in museums & libraries for 20+ years. Theatre historian and arts/humanities/nonprofit advocate. Often sharing resources and new/old gems from the collections. Look forward to connecting!

Eric Colleary points to a label text in a museum gallery in front of a group of volunteers. Large photos of performers hang on the walls.

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