A draft of Webster’s dictionary in the Morgan Library

In order to create a standardized American dictionary, Noah Webster learned 26 languages.

Seeing the draft in the Morgan Library in NYC, I was drawn to the fact that it was handwritten and had parts crossed out.  I suppose this is because a dictionary normally feels so unmoveable, so fixed, despite the fact that it – and language itself- is always evolving in some way.

The Morgan Library rotates its books on display periodically so I felt so lucky to see the dictionary draft (I love dictionaries!).

Here are some other photos I took of the library in case you have never been.  It’s worth a visit!