Friends of Baker Library at Dartmouth

FOR ALMOST twenty years, incredible as it sounds to me, I have been using the facilities of the Dartmouth College Library. It had a good collection of books when housed in the "Museum," but it now has an infinitely better one in what must surely be one of the finest college library buildings in the land. It won't be long before we reach the half million volume mark, and perhaps at the end of this year we shall have reached it. This I do know: that for purposes of research, ordinary or extraordinary, our library is well equipped. However, in the rare book and manuscript department, we still have far to go, in spite of generous alumni gifts and the work of the library staff, and it is of this particular aspect of our collections that I write here.

My proposition is a simple one, and has, in fact been previously made, but before I describe it, I first want to tell how the matter has come to a head at this time.

In January a friend of mine, James T. Babb of New Haven, who is a well known book collector, arrived in Hanover for the week end. We met for dinner at a friend's house where I heard something about the "Yale Library Associates," of which organization Mr. Babb is secretary. Their most recent coup was to acquire Mr. George T. Keating's famous Conrad collection for the Yale library. The "Associates" have received other gifts too numerous to describe here. I suspect that Archibald MacLeish's recent gift of the manuscript of his Conquistador was their doing. At any rate the next morning between classes I introduced Mr. Babb at the Baker Library. Mr. Babb then described in some detail to Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Rugg, and Mr. Laing what the "Yale Library Associates" had been doing, and how they functioned. Mr. Goodrich had been watching the activities of "Friends of the Library" at various universities for some years, and Mr. Babb's enthusiastic and reasonable account gave the necessary fillip to what has long been in the minds of the librarians and certain alumni. Mr. Babb persuaded the librarians that what Yale had done, and was doing, Dartmouth could also do. Mr. Goodrich agreed that I might at this time assume temporary responsibility, and be the spokesman for a new association to be called, perhaps, "Friends of the Baker Library at Dartmouth College," the purpose of which should be to get when and where possible, complete collections, single rare volumes, manuscripts, diaries, letters, books and pamphlets which throw light on the cultural history of this or other countries; in other words any original or rare material. These to come from channels other than the library itself has ordinary access to, for our rare book department, or the Treasure Room, as the case might be.

At the start we know that we cannot seriously compete with the Harvard or Yale University libraries, two of the finest in the world, but that does not seem any reason why we should completely fold up our tents and slip away self consciously into the darkness of a false modesty. Our librarian has properly felt that the last feW years offered no suitable opportunity for any seriously organized campaign cither for money or for rare books. He is now willing, however, that the "Friends" at this time make a start, and has offered me his entire co-operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

The idea is something like this. The organization, "Friends of Baker Library at Dartmouth College," is to have no official connection with the Baker Library or its staff. It is to be organized independently of the library, and its sole reason for existence is to procure for the library unusual, valuable, and original material, which ordinarily would not come its way through the customary channels of purchase. Presumably the organization will have officers, but the librarian and I are agreed that no dues should be charged, and that no regular meetings should be held. (What meetings there might be would probably be held for the time being at least in New York or Boston.) For the moment I shall act as temporary secretary until permanent officers are elected. Who they may be, when and where elected, is for the moment

of minor importance. Now the thing to do is to circulate the idea.

Approval of the Alumni Council will be sought for the society, as an alumni project, at the Council's meeting in June.

I shall hope to write to alumni known and unknown to me as time goes on to solicit their interest. Any alumnus, or the interested friend of an alumnus or of the college, may join this group "Friends of Baker Library at Dartmouth College," which, as I have said before, shall exist for the sole purpose of enriching our library.

A great many authors are willing to donate a manuscript to a recognized institutional library. (Sir Sidney Cockerell of the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge University, England, has done wonders along this line.) Many collectors, if approached by a responsible and official or- ganization working for the sole benefit of an educational institution, are glad to leave part of their collection as a legacy, if they do not wish to part with it now, as Mr. Keating has so generously done in his Conrad collecion for Yale. It would be the responsibility of this new organization, loosely constructed but welded together by a love for books and for our College library, to solicit such gifts.

Many alumni and friends of the College have been generous in the past in their gifts to our library but it is felt that more books, manuscripts, and valuable historical Material will be received if an organization exists whose reason for existence and purose is to seek such gifts, rather than wait and hope for them. Yale had only to ask for the Conrad collection and it was theirs. We hardly expect to receive a Gutenberg Bible at once, though it is not inconceivable that we shall get one some day. We do hope, however, to acquire manuscripts, association copies, complete collections of one author, and so on. Personally I should like the library to receive such material by modern authors, as well as of the past.

Such material will be kept separately, and will be available at all times for the use of all proper persons concerned.

LOANED BY KENNETH ROBERTS

Kenneth Roberts has loaned us the manuscript and source books for his novel Rabble in Arms. Students are finding it most valuable as a study in the evolution of historical novel writing. Mr. Booth Tarkington has promised Mr. Rugg one of his manuscripts.

We have no intention of making anycampaign for money now or later. We are seeking literary and historical material, and are simply standing on record as realizing the need for such material in our library, and we expect such gifts only from those who can afford them, and who may have such books and manuscripts, and would like to see them have a permanent place in the archives of Baker Library, or from those who are in a position to seek such gifts from authors, collectors, or individuals who may be willing to donate a manuscript, book, association copy, and so on, to our collections.

There must be hundreds of alumni who would be glad to associate themselves with this group. I know many personally who I'm sure will be. I should like to hear from those interested, and perhaps at Commencement this year we might get together informally and make the general idea a reality through some such organization as I have roughly sketched, with each member trying to increase the worth and usefulness of Baker Library. Meanwhile some of you will be hearing from me by letter. Will you support and become an active participator in "Friends of Baker Library at Dartmouth College"? There will be no pressure whatever, but be assured of a warm welcome, if you care to associate yourselves with us.

PROFESSORS WEST AND MECKLIN, ON HANOVER HOLIDAY PROGRAM IN JUNE

PROFESSORS WEST AND MECKLIN, ON HANOVER HOLIDAY PROGRAM IN JUNE