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Collection Development: Special Collections |
The purpose of the library's Special Collections Department is to acquire and
make available materials related to Maine. The Department collects virtually all
available printed bibliographical, historical, and descriptive works on the
state as well as literary titles by Maine authors. The collections of published
items including books, pamphlets, state documents, and some non-print materials,
provide extensive coverage of Maine's cities, towns, counties, and her people
and institutions. These printed resources are complemented by a substantial body
of original source materials included in the Department's manuscript collection.
State of Maine Collection
Early Maine Imprints (Pre-1820)
The library has a number of early Maine imprints that are primarily
religious in nature. As there has been little use of these in the past, no
sermons are purchased. However, they are accepted as gifts. Other pre-1820
imprints of a non-religious nature are purchased as they are offered by
dealers.
Non-Fiction
The Special Collections Department acquires one copy of all books in
Maine-related subjects.
Fiction
In an effort to build a comprehensive collection, the definitions of Maine
authors and Maine books are drawn very broadly. Maine authors are defined
as:
1. Those born in the state no matter how long they may have lived here;
2. Those born elsewhere who lived some part of their life in the state;
3. Residents of other places who regularly summered in Maine.
The Department has developed a list of authors fitting these criteria. This
Maine author list is continually updated through examination of Maine
periodicals and national biographical works. Once new authors are
identified, their works are purchases retrospectively.
Fiction books with Maine settings or with story lines taking place entirely
or substantially within the state are also included in the collection.
Other Maine Printed Material
The following materials are also included in the library's Special
Collections:
• Books by Maine authors for children;
• Books printed in Maine but not related to Maine by subject or author
bought together to show the history of publishing within the state;
• Annual reports of businesses located in or having subsidiaries in Maine;
• Newspapers published in Maine in paper and/or microform;
• Periodicals with Maine imprint and subject;
• Maps related to Maine;
• Reports of school administrative districts;
• City record books.
Town reports? Pamphlets?
Maine State Documents
The Special Collections Department houses a comprehensive collection of
documents issued by the State of Maine. Documents are acquired through the
State documents depository system, and commercial vendors and as gifts.
Clinton L. Cole Maritime History Collection
This is the library's largest "named" collection. Clinton Cole donated the
original 600 volume maritime library in 1936. Originally it had a worldwide
scope but currently only books on seamanship, construction, and the North
Atlantic/New England area are purchased.
Rare Books
The books in this collection meet one of the following criteria:
1. Published in Western Hemisphere before 1830;
2. Published outside Western Hemisphere before 1800;
3. Editions published before 1900 limited to 200 copies or less;
4. Editions published after 1900 limited to 100 copies or less.
No books are routinely purchased in the rare book market. Books acquired
through donation or through purchase as part of a collection needing special
handling may be put into the Rare Book Collection.
Ezekial Holmes Collection
The Holmes library was the original University collection. These books are
integrated with other rare books.
The Ronald B. Levinson Collection
This 2,000 volume collection was a gift of Professor Emeritus and Mrs.
Ronald B. Levinson. It is a collection of Western European imprints in the
subject of philosophy. Most of the materials are now located the circulating
collection. No additions are anticipated.
The O’Brien Collection of American Negro History and Culture
This collection consists of 1,600 items. Most of the materials are in the
circulating collection, unless designated as rare books. No additions are anticipated.
The Dime Novels Collection
This collection was a gift of the Charles Burton Hamilton Estate. No
additions are anticipated.
Other Printed Collections
University Collection
The Department houses the University Archives. Included are non-current records
of historical, administrative, or legal value, publications of the
administration, academic departments, and faculty members.
Dissertations and Theses
Special Collections acquires one copy of each doctoral dissertation and masters
thesis written at the University of Maine. The department also purchases a film
or fiche copy of most dissertations written about Maine. Masters theses on
Maine-related subjects are acquired selectively.
Manuscript Collections
Acquiring, preserving, processing and making accessible collections of archival
records and personal papers is expensive and labor-intensive. Consequently,
active collecting of these materials is confined to areas that support
instruction and research in the academic disciplines at the University of Maine.
Subject areas actively collected, along with the disciplines they support, are
as follows:
Environmental History: includes record of
land-use by large land owners (e.g. railroads; utilities; and timber
companies); records of tourism; farming; fisheries; mining; and other
environment-centered industries; records of environmental organizations;
papers of political figures involved in environmental issues; and data from
environmental research at the University of Maine and other research
institutions in the state.
Supports the following disciplines: Anthropology; Business; Economics;
History; Historical Archaeology; Political Science; Ecology and
Environmental Science; Forest Resources and Forest Ecosystem Studies;
Geological Sciences; Maine Studies; Marine Biology; Marine Bio-Resources;
Wildlife Ecology; Oceanography; Climate Studies; Sustainable Agriculture;
Resource Economics and Policy; Pulp and Paper Technology; Parks; Recreation
and Tourism.
The Maine Art and Literary Scene: The
primary focus is on personal papers and
institutional records that provide broad documentation on the creative arts
in
Maine, rather than just on an individual author or artist.
Supports the following disciplines: English, History, Art and Art/History,
Maine Studies, Franco-American Studies, Modern Language and Classics,
Theater.
Gender Studies: includes personal papers
of women who are among the first of
their gender in a profession in Maine; records of professional organizations
in
female-dominated professions; selected papers (especially diaries) that
document
the lives of women and men who did not have a prominent role in the public
sphere; and records of male-only and female-only organizations.
Supports the following disciplines: Anthropology, History, English, Maine
Studies, Women’s Studies, Nursing.
Minority Cultures in Maine: includes
personal papers of community leaders,
records of community organizations, and records of businesses that were
owned
by and/or catered to minority communities and which provide significant
documentation of those communities.
Supports the following disciplines: Anthropology, History, Franco-
American Studies, Native American Studies, Black Studies, Maine Studies,
Religious Studies, Modern Languages and Classics.
History of Education in Maine: includes
selected personal papers of educators,
records of professional organizations, records of regional or district
school
administration, and the archives of the University of Maine.
Supports the following disciplines: Education, History, Maine Studies,
Political Science.
Politics in Maine: includes records of
political organizations, especially those
concerned with land-use or environmental issues, and the papers of political
figures who exemplify the political scene in Maine or whose papers provide
documentation for one of the five areas listed above (e.g., Papers of
William
Cohen and Harriet Henry). Generally, we will not collect political papers
that are
primarily about local politics.
Supports the following disciplines: History, Political Science, Maine
Studies.
Labor History in Maine: Includes papers
of labor leaders and organizers,
records of unions, and of professional organizations.
Supports the following disciplines: Labor Education, History, Maine
Studies, Business, Political Science.
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| Revised: 04/17/2009
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