Visitors to Paper Trees at Atlanta’s High Museum will notice some unusual books and blocks of wood among the artworks. The exhibit, which ponders the role and presence of trees in American art from the 19th century to the present, incorporates some special objects from the collection of the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking at Georgia Tech. Three volumes of Hough’s American Woods are on exhibit now through February 17, 2027. 

These volumes are part of a 14-volume set created by Romyn Hough between 1888 and 1924. His goal was to document every variety of tree found in North America. Trees are described in booklets, but what makes Hough’s American Woods significant is that samples of each tree species are included in the volumes. An end cut, radial cut, and slab cut for each variety documents the appearance of the woods. Hough invented a machine to produce the wafer-thin cuts, which are so thin that light transmits easily through each slice.

Staff at the High Museum reached out to the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking in late 2025 to discuss the loan. Anni Pullagura, associate curator of American art, worked with Paper Museum staff to identify which volumes would be most appropriate to include in the exhibit. During the discussion of the loan, staff also shared information about the Paper Museum’s “Fibrary”, or Fiber Library. The Fibrary was established at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in the 1930s as a repository of the breadth and depth of plant materials that could be used in papermaking. By the early 2000s the Fibrary was transitioned into the Museum’s collections, and is most frequently used as a study tool. Examples of wood from the Fibrary were also loaned for Paper Trees. Exhibition visitors are able to touch these examples in order to build greater connection between the artwork they are viewing and the trees that inspired it. 

Pullagura says, “Paper Trees explores how artists sought to translate the natural world onto the canvas. While organized around the idea of the tree study — that is, practice sketches or drawings meant to train the artist’s eye — each artwork emphasizes artistic practice and technique across multiple schools of art. We’re particularly thrilled to be able to present rarely seen objects from the museum’s holdings of American works on paper alongside wood sculptures from the collection, showing the multiple ways that trees and tree-life continue to inspire artistic practice today. Of particular significance is a new partnership with the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking at the Georgia Institute of Technology, generous lenders to this exhibition. Their loan of rare fiber and archival objects emphasizes the connection between art and science in the history of conservationism and the protection of our natural lands." 

Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking Director Virginia Howell says, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to share some of the special items in the Paper Museum collection and introduce people to the variety of resources we have available.” The Paper Museum has a collection of approximately 100,000 objects, and about 7,000 books covering the history of papermaking from its origins to today and around the world. The museum has two complete sets of American Woods. The one shared with the High is the “deluxe” edition, with leather-like slipcases with marbled edges. This set is one of the original objects from the museum collection. 

To find out more about Hough’s American Woods, check out the June 2017 Artifact of the Month: https://paper.gatech.edu/artifact/rare-book-houghs-american-woods-part-i

To learn more about the Fibrary, see the online exhibit Fiber + Pulp: the specimens. https://paper.gatech.edu/fiber-pulp

Paper Trees is on exhibit until February 21, 2027 at the High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE. Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff have free admission to the High with their BuzzCard. 

The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking is open Monday – Friday from 9-5. Admission is free.