What is the Dornish Collection? How can I work with it?
Answer
About the Dornish Collection
The Dr. J. Robert and Alice R. Dornish Room houses a special collection of children’s books which are signed by the author and/or illustrator. Most are first editions, and some of the inscriptions feature drawings. The collection contains 1,303 items, including board books, picture books, chapter books, young adult novels, and movable toy books.
Dr. Dornish spent most of his career as a professor of children’s literature at Kutztown University, and his wife Alice was a member of the Northampton faculty. He spent his free time at publishing trade shows and library conferences, where he developed friendships with many authors and illustrators. The books Dr. Dornish gave to Northampton represent only a fraction of the 15,000 titles he spent a lifetime collecting.
What does the collection include?
The collection includes titles by J.K. Rowling, Maurice Sendak, Jane Yolen, Rosemary Wells, Eric Carle, and many others. You’ll also see these timeless classics:
- Caldecott winner Sylvester & the Magic Pebble
- Caldecott winner Olivia
- Caldecott winner No, David!
- Newbery winner Charlotte's Web
- Newbery winner Sarah, Plain & Tall.
How can I work with the collection?
Materials in the Dornish collection may not be checked out, but students, faculty, and staff are welcome to make an appointment to view them in the Dornish Room at the library.
Please note that while in the Dornish Room, food and beverages are not permitted, and book bags must be left outside the room in the library offices, due to the rare nature of the collection.
To arrange a visit, contact the library’s secretary, Karen Rose, at (610) 861-5358 or krose1@northampton.edu.
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