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What's
New at the William Ready Division?
 What'sNew
Check out our news at the Library's News and Events page
Exhibits
Every three months a new exhibit is put on display at
our Reading Room in Mills Library.
French
Enlightenment: The Pierre Conlon Collection
Our most recent exhibition in Archives and Research Collections focuses
on the French Enlightenment, in particular a magnificent collection of
books acquired from Professor Pierre Conlon, a distinguished scholar at
McMaster University. In 1715, at the end of a very long reign, Louis XIV,
the Sun King, died. Rivaled only by England, the French empire was at
the height of its glory. Yet there were storm clouds on the horizon, marked
by financial disarray, a series of unpopular wars, political censorship,
and lack of accountability in government. In 1789, after the storming
of the Bastille, the ancien régime began to crumble. Revolution was in
the air, and the monarchy and the aristocracy were under grave threat.
In spite of the many problems encountered in French society during this
uncertain period between 1715 and 1789, France experienced a cultural
rebirth, founded on shared principles of rationalism, empiricism, the
importance of nature, and social justice. The inspiration for this renaissance
derived from the philosophes, a group of prodigious, intellectual writers
and thinkers, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Diderot. Our
exhibition on the French Enlightenment, ably organized and mounted by
Renu Barrett and documented virtually by Ateeka Khan, can be seen in our
foyer and reading room until the end of September 2008. The website also
has tributes to Professor Conlon from several colleagues (Kathy Ball,
Peggy Findlay, William Hanley, and Carl Spadoni). The University Library
will host a reception for Professor Conlon in early September. We invite
you to enjoy this wonderful exhibition.
(June 2008 - September 2008)
Upcoming Exhibit:
To be Announced
(October 2008 - December 2008)
Previous Exhibits can be viewed
here.
An Amusing Article
For something completely different an amusing article
by Patrick Byrne and Kate Mackearcher,
"Wanderings: The Mills Archives" Incite Magazine
10 (October 2007) is available for download.
Donations and Recent Acquisitions
We plan on updating the information in these two categories
of What's New on an annual basis. The most recent update was April 2007.
For updates on what is arriving during the year click on the link at the
top of this page.
Donations
G. Brender à Brandis fonds. Second accrual. An alumnus
of McMaster University, G. Brender à Brandis is an accomplished engraver
and the proprietor of the Brandstead Press. The accrual consists of exquisitely
crafted drawings and sketches, watercolour paintings, artist's proofs,
prints, and limited editions.
Douglas Gibson Books, Series Z: McClelland & Stewart
Ltd fonds. Sixth Accrual (accession 02-2006). The archives of the boutique
imprint of McClelland & Stewart with editorial files of Robertson Davies,
Jack Hodgins, Alice Munro, and many others. The crème de la crème of Canadian
publishing edited with style and panache by the inimitable Doug Gibson.
Marty Gervais fonds. Second accrual. Everyone in Windsor,
Ont. knows Marty Gervais on a first name basis. He's a journalist for
the Windsor Star, a satirist, poet, and publisher. This accrual
of his archives contains a compelling series of photographs related to
his book A Show of Hands: Boxing on the Border.
See
Pugilism in Photographs
Marjorie Harris fonds. The archives of a freelance editor,
journalist, and one of the foremost authorities on gardening. Marjorie
Harris graduated from McMaster University in 1959. See
How Does Your Garden Grown: Marjorie Harris Returns to McMaster
John B. Lee fonds. The archives of one of Canada's most
prolific, talented poets. In 2005 he was named Poet Laureate of Brantford
in perpetuity. See
It Began with the Beatles: The Poetry of John B. Lee
Brian McFarlane fonds. Third accrual. Primarily manuscripts
of his hockey books and works for young readers, including those in the
Mitchell Brothers series. Brian McFarlane is perhaps best known as a commentator
on Hockey Night in Canada. He made similar broadcasts on NHL games for
the major American networks CBS and NBC.
Leslie McFarlane fonds. Third, fourth, and fifth accruals.
The archives of a journalist, playwright, film director, and novelist.
The ghost writer (Franklin W. Dixon) of 21 books in the Hardy Boys series
and many other adventure books for juvenile readers commissioned by the
Stratemeyer syndicate. This donation made by his children, Norah Perez
and Brian McFarlane, includes the diaries written by their father. When
McMaster University broke the story of this donation, the University Library
was flooded with inquiries from the press and the educated public.
See the
McMaster Daily News "Library Acquires First Editions of Hard Boys
Books" and also
here .
Claire Mowat fonds. Sixth accrual. Farley Mowat fonds.
Fifteenth Accrual. More wonderful archives from Farley Mowat, one of Canada's
greatest story tellers, accompanied by interesting material from Claire
Mowat, an insightful author in her own right. These archives contain drafts
of Bay of Spirits: A Love Story, Farley's evocative memoir.
In the last year we have received many other donations
of archives, including those of Paul Ladouceur (pertaining to the Canadian
Union of Students, the International University Exchange Fund, and other
international student political groups) and Cyril Greenland (correspondence
with writers) and a memorable but disturbing letter written by Dian Fossey
acquired from Alan Mulholland. From the estate of Arnold Edinborough we
received several very good books, including a copy of John Speke's Journal
of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile (1893). Rabbi Bernard Baskin
has continued to donate many excellent rare books to the University Library.
His most recent donation includes a collection of 40 antiquarian books
from 1556 to 1956, including Ioannis Piccardi's De prisca celtopaedia
libri cinque (1556) and Lettres cabalistiques, correspondance philosophique,
historique, et critique (4 vols.,1737 and 1738). We are grateful to
all our donors!!
Recent Acquisitions
Allan Dafoe collection. A series of black-and-white photographs,
some quite comical, of the famous Canadian doctor who became a celebrity
for his role as the attending physician for the Dionne quints
Franklin W. Dixon (i.e. Leslie McFarlane). The Tower
Treasure and The Secret of the Caves, first editions in jacket
of nos. 1 and 7 of the Hardy Boys series. Also several other books ghost
written by McFarlane under the pen name of Carolyn Keene and two Hardy
Boys board games.
John Masefield collection. Letters to Kathleen Harper,
a photograph, and a typed manuscript and an abridged manuscript entitled
"On the Occasion of Her Majesty's Visit to Canada, 1959". See
A Monarchist's Poetical Treasure Trove
Bertrand Russell archives. Many wonderful, interesting
items have been acquired! They include carte-de-visite photographs of
the Amberleys, several photos of Russell himself especially two striking
ones taken by Gaby of Montreal, a sketch by Oscar Berger, books and letters
owned by Lady Ottoline Morrell, a bronze medal of Russell in Portuguese,
a caricature by Ronald Searle, and several letters written by Russell
himself to several people including Sammy Davis Jr. More interesting Russell
archival material is in the offing....
Franz Liszt and his circle. Several letters, a carte de
visite photograph and caricature of the master pianist and composer. We
are grateful to Dr. Alan Walker for his generosity in building this collection.
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