616,570 Volumes

THE BOOK COLLECTIONS of Dartmouth College now total more than 600,000 volumes, it was announced recently by Prof. Norman K. Arnold in the Library report for 1945-46. During the past year Dartmouth libraries acquired 19,146 new books, raising the total number of volumes catalogued or fully prepared for use to 616,570. This figure does not include class duplicates or other material not yet ready for use. Fifteen years ago the Library possessed approximately 300,000 volumes and its rate of growth continues to pose a real space problem.

The 1945-46 acquisitions were distributed as follows: Dartmouth College library, 16,855 volumes; Tuck School library, 1836 volumes; Thayer School library, 455 volumes. Of the total, 15,132 were purchased and 4,014 were received as gifts.

An outstanding purchase was the Speculum Aureum Decern Praeceptorum Dei written by Henricus de Herpf and printed in Mainz in 1474 by Peter Schoeffer, who was a partner of Gutenberg. It is a product of the first printing press and bears the earliest known printer's device, in red, at the foot of its colophon. The beautiful Durandus type was used by the printer. The Dartmouth Library has only half a dozen books of earlier imprint.

Gifts of note included the Genevieve Taggard Collection, a practically complete record of the creative activities of the contemporary poet. It comprises many manuscripts and association items, 63 books, and 150 magazines and pamphlets. The donor of the Taggard Collection prefers anonymity.

Rowland Myers '28 has given the Library nearly 1500 items published in Germany during, or just before, World War II. Many of these are from Nazi regional headquarters. William P. Winch of Windsor, Vt., has given 1,053 volumes comprising recent literature, biography and history. From the estate of Edwin A. Bay ley '85 the Library has received thirty framed and 18 unframed engravings and eight paintings, all of Daniel Webster, together with many daguerreotypes, miniatures, photographs and other memorabilia. From Stephen Chase '96, at his 50th reunion, came 53 medals which he won as an undergraduate. William J. Schaldach has given the Library 28 of his original signed etchings.

Through the Friends of the Dartmouth Library, headed by Thomas W. Streeter '04, president, and Prof. Herbert F. West '22, secretary, the Library received from George Matthew Adams a notable collection of the works of Stephen Crane; from Eric T. Ball 'lB a collection of 36 first editions of W. H. Hudson and ten first editions of Howard Fast; from Mr. Streeter a painting of Rufus Choate; and from Professor West a collection of 27 first editions of Richard Curie.