I am forwarding this message from the William Dean Howells email discussion list to the Twain list with permission from John Crichton. --Barb ---------- Forwarded message ---------- I am seeking information or leads that any members of the W.D. Howells Society might have regarding a library or educational institution which has a sufficient interest in WDH research that it would be interested in purchasing a large and important collection of books by and about Howells. The Brick Row Book Shop currently has a collection of over 350 books by Howells (first editions, variant editions and printings, English editions, proof copies, numerous inscribed books, including to other important literary figures - Clemens among them); 67 books and pamphlets about Howells; five manuscripts (including unpublished material); eleven letters (including an early unpublished letter to E.C. Stedman from Columbus, Ohio, seeking a job in journalism in NY); letters from other literary friends to Howells; photographs of Howells; and Howellsiana: i.e., ephemera, books inscribed to him, etc. The collection was privately assembled over the past 20 years in an attempt to build a Howells collection that would be comprehensive in material of bibliographical and textual importance; that would record the varied and rich publishing history of his works; that would reflect his numerous literary friends and associations; and that would document scholarship about Howells and his writings. There is a 40-page illustrated catalogue of the collection. We are aware of important and substantial collections at NY Public, Harvard and Virginia, among others, but are looking for a library where the duplication would not be as great as at some of the obvious locations. Any information one might have about a possible interested party for this collection will be greatly appreciated. You may direct your responses back to the Howells Society list or to me personally at: [log in to unmask] Thank you. John Crichton The Brick Row Book Shop 49 Geary Street, #235 San Francisco, Ca. 94108 ----------------------------------------------------------- John Crichton Ph: (415) 398-0414 [log in to unmask] Fax: (415) 398-0435 The Brick Row Book Shop 49 Geary Street, #235 http://www.brickrow.com/ San Francisco CA 94108 -----------------------------------------------------------