By: Blythe E. Roveland-Brenton, Ph.D. '00G
January 18, 2006
This article was originally published in the Fall/Winter '05
edition of the St. John's Alumni Magazine.
Libraries are at the heart of any reputable institution of higher
learning, but what often adds to their distinction are the
“special” items and collections that few, if any, other
schools and colleges own. St. John’s is fortunate to have numerous
unique items available for study by students, faculty and visiting
researchers that were acquired over the course of its history
through purchase and donation. Many of these exceptional books,
manuscripts, art and objects are housed in Special Collections and
University Archives in St. Augustine Hall on the Queens
campus.
Old and rare volumes, especially Bibles and other religious books,
were part of the early library at the original Brooklyn campus on
Lewis Avenue and the Schemerhorn Street campus housed, among other
books, the notable Myer Collection of early publications on the
theory, practice and history of accounting, which were the
bequest of Joseph C. Myer, the first dean of the School of Commerce
(1927-34). Works in this collection span the 15th through early
20th centuries and include 15th- and early 16th-century volumes by
Luca Pacioli, the father of accounting.
As early as the 1940s, when various committees were charged
with planning the new campus at Hillcrest, suggestions for the
library included a dedicated space for rare books, Vincentiana, St.
John’s history and a museum. When St. Augustine Hall was completed
in 1964, a special collections area was incorporated and the Rare
Book Room, designed and furnished during the mid 60s through the
mid 70s and known today as Special Collections, was gradually
filled with existing library holdings and new acquisitions. In
1969, the Office of Historical Collections emerged in the library
to house other rare items and had one director during its brief
existence, Dr. Irving G. Williams ’36C, ’38G, professor of history
and renowned scholar on the vice presidency. Williams
envisioned building a collection of primary historical documents to
encourage research by students, faculty and other scholars. By the
time of its closing in 1971, he compiled an impressive array
of individual documents and manuscript collections through purchase
and donation including those written by U.S. presidents, vice
presidents, congressmen, ambassadors, educators, authors, religious
leaders and other historical figures. Records of organizations like
the American Friends of Irish Neutrality and the American League
for an Undivided Ireland were also acquired at that time. The
holdings of the Office of Historical Collections were transferred
to the newly-established University Archives where they remain
today.
Other manuscript collections have come to the University since then
including papers of political figures like Governor Hugh L. Carey
’42C, ’51L, ’67HON and other prominent figures such as James
Needham ’51CBA, ’72HON, former chairman of the New York Stock
exchange, and Paul O’Dwyer ’29L, lawyer, politician and champion of
civil rights. A collection of documents written by popes and saints
dating from 1256 through the 20th century given by Congressman
Seymour Halpern ’67HON offers students the opportunity to examine a
small sample of primary papers not ordinarily accessible to
them.
Over the years, assorted non-book material found a home in Special
Collections including religious and other art as well as like works
by noted photographers such as Garry Winograd, donated by Theodore
L. Barba ’65P. A large collection of majolica pharmacy jars,
together with related artifacts and books, donated by the family of
Lucy and Edward Carofano, is a treasure trove for serious students
of the history of pharmacology. And people are often surprised
to find that St. John’s is the permanent home to the Fischer Lawn
Tennis Collection because of the University’s proximity to the site
of the U.S. Open. Trustees of the William Fischer estate, not
satisfied with the two previous hosts of the collection that
consists of hundreds of publications, photographs, scrapbooks and
documents on this popular sport and attracts researchers of the
game from across the nation and the world, decided upon St. John’s
in 1976.
Naturally, the bulk of the material in Special Collections consists
of books. Aside from those mentioned already, other specialized
holdings include a Children’s Historical Collection, which has at
its core a group of 19th-century children’s books donated by Anne
Thaxter Eaton who was once an instructor in the library science
program, and the Heller Collection of 18th- and 19th-century
volumes about stenography and shorthand given by Dr. Saul Heller.
The Rare Book Collection, comprised largely of religious works
includes three incunabula (books printed during the infancy of
Western printmaking before 1500) and one of 10 extant copies of the
third edition of the Saur Bible printed in German in 1776 in
Pennsylvania. The British used most of the copies for litter for
their horses and paper for their rifles, hence this edition is
often referred to as the Gunwad Bible. The University has been
fortunate to see this book collection grow through generous
donations of rare works from many friends, particularly alumni like
the Hon. James F. Tierney ’39C, ’41L, and Dr. Robert J. Cascio
’56C, ’60G. The most recent acquisition, the Gottscheer Heritage
Preservation Collection, began to take shape in 1997 with items
donated by representatives of the Gottscheer Relief Association of
Ridgewood, Queens, with the encouragement of William Schauer ’50C,
’52L. The Gottscheer people emigrated from a German-speaking
district of the Austrian duchy of Carniola, now part of Slovenia,
and many settled in Queens. The growing collection includes
published sources and some documents and photographs
concerning the history, language and culture of the
Gottscheers.
Of course, not all that is old, unique or rare belongs at our
University. Academic libraries evaluate potential new additions
according to acquisition policies guided by curricula and
institutional mission. While gifts that fit within a library’s
collecting scope are always appreciated, donated items, especially
those that belong in Special Collections or Archives settings,
involve costs for the receiving library. Old and rare items
have particular preservation requirements that call for
accommodations with appropriate humidity and temperature controls
and staff time is required to process, catalog, develop guides that
outline their history, contents and notable facts and maintain them
so that they can be found and used by researchers. These days, such
items are often digitized so that they will be accessible to many
more people, contributing additional costs. But the gems that do
become part of the University Libraries provide opportunities for
scholarly research and enjoyment by general library visitors, are
used as teaching tools and bring prestige to the institution.
Some donors are alumni and faculty while others are friends who
simply wanted to find an appropriate home for their items. It would
be impossible to do justice to such numerous and varied collections
or mention all the generous donors in this brief overview, but
perhaps this glimpse into the wide-ranging materials represented in
these library departments will inspire readers to explore the
University’s holdings in more detail through their Web pages,
online catalog or a visit to campus.
Dr. Roveland-Brenton is the University Archivist.
Materials housed in Special Collections and the Archives are
available for study by members of the University community and
visiting researchers. Appointments are recommended.
Photo Caption:
Incunabula Bible from 1492 (Rare Book Collection).