Houdini’s Library uncovers a side of Harry Houdini that has long remained in the shadows. Known worldwide for his dramatic escapes, Houdini was also one of the most dedicated collectors of his era, assembling an unparalleled archive of books, manuscripts, photographs, playbills, and ephemera documenting the histories of magic, spiritualism, theatre, and popular entertainment. Drawing on years of research across international archives and private collections, the book offers the first comprehensive look at how Houdini built his legendary library and how it shaped his identity on and off the stage.
When I have come to a town, the police have tried to show me that their shackles could not hold me, and have failed; the booksellers have tried to sell me many books, and have succeeded. – Houdini
At the heart of Houdini’s library are exceptional materials that trace the craft of magic and the wider worlds that shaped his imagination. Highlights include the legendary Evanion Collection, rich with eighteenth and nineteenth-century broadsides, rare lithographs, and annotated ephemera documenting magicians from Boaz to Philippe; Houdini’s first edition of Reginald Scot’s Discovery of Witchcraft and early conjuring manuals like Hocus Pocus Junior; and Houdini’s own heavily used reference works, inscribed volumes, clippings, photographs, posters, and research notes. His dramatic holdings are equally remarkable, spanning David Garrick’s 1751 travel diary, original tour letters of Charles and Ellen Kean, Edwin Booth memorabilia, and countless playbills salvaged from libraries and trash bins. The collection also ventures into unexpected territories, from Houdini’s work as an aviator and his spiritualist investigations, to the ephemera that reveals the private habits of a man who collected with a voracious appetite.
Opening at the Harry Ransom Center in late August 2026, the accompanying exhibition brings this world to life through rare artifacts, newly discovered materials, and many items never before displayed. Visitors will encounter the stories behind Houdini’s collecting obsessions, the performers and traditions that inspired him, and the afterlife of the library that continues to influence scholars, artists, and magicians today.
Book: Abbeville Press on August 4, 2026
Exhibit: Houdini’s Library at the Harry Ransom Center (Aug 29, 2026-Jan 27, 2027)
Events: (Forthcoming)
