John E. Baxter donated over 311 volumes representing almost all
the published works of four American authors: Thomas Bailey Aldrich
(1836-1907), William Dean Howells (1837-1920), Henry Van Dyke
(1853-1933), and Edith Wharton (1862-1937). There are approximately
a dozen inscribed or presentation copies among these volumes
bearing the author's signature.
Many of the books in this collection (the collection has grown
to over 360 titles), first editions in their original binding,
provide support for comprehensive research in late 19th- and early
20th-century American fiction and literary criticism.