Jackson District Library is one of the fortunate places to have a visit from one of the Notable Michigan Authors for 2008. Diane Maddex, architect and author of the book Alden B. Dow: midwestern modern, will be speaking on Saturday, April 26th, 1 p.m. at the Carnegie Library. Her book is now in the library collection, and copies will also be available at the program.

Architect Alden Dow, son of Herbert Henry Dow, designed Ann Arbor’s city hall, community center and public library, Midland’s Center for the Arts and hundreds of other buildings in Michigan and elsewhere. Memorializing his art, the volume has 185 color photographs, offering what has been called a “beautiful visual experience from start to finish.”

Dow studied with Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin the summer of 1933. Famous the world over, many books have been published on Wright, but one of the library’s best is Frank Lloyd Wright: the houses by Alan Hess, 2005: a breathtaking panorama of these homes across the nation, including some in our own area. Using warm tones in natural settings, each home is depicted in beautiful, clear light.

On the new book shelf right now is Houses of the Founding Fathers: the men who made American and the way they lived by Hugh Howard, 2007.This lovely historical book has interiors as well as exteriors of carefully restored mansions and homes that are now national monuments.

Another of our feature books is AIA Detroit: the American Institute of Architects guide to Detroit architecture by Eric J. Hill, 2003. This compact volume is filled with landmarks worth visiting in this great city. Check it out and take it with you on your next visit to the Motor City.

Don’t miss the program this Saturday and stop by the 700’s room to pick up some of our beautiful architectural volumes afterwards!