In Memory of Barbara Cole, Proprietor, John Cole’s Bookshop

Rotunda Gallery

In Memory of Barbara Cole, Proprietor, John Cole’s Bookshop

October 29–November 20, 2004

Barbara Cole and her husband John opened their La Jolla bookshop in 1946. Through the years, Barbara was constantly looking out for the Athenaeum, sending to us books on art and music that might be appropriate for our collection, or contributing to the quarterly book sales. Her quaint bookshop maintains a special place in our community, offering a welcome respite to booklovers weary of impersonal chains and mega-bookstores. The exhibition, presented in the Athenaeum’s Rotunda Gallery and Artists’ Book Case, served to honor the memory of this dedicated woman, who passed away in the Spring of 2004. The exhibition included photographs of the Cole family and their bookshop, letters and drawings from friends and authors, including Theodore Geisel, Leo Lionni, and Maurice Sendak. Also included were pieces from Barbara’s collection of European and Mexican folk art and children’s toys.