Mr. Ostry collected the material through a bookseller in England. The collection is a unique and comprehensive collection of the writings of Robert Owen and his son, Robert Dale Owen. The collection covers the beginnings of socialism and communal living which resulted from the effects on the labouring classes of the Industrial Revolution. The movement spread to the U.S. largely through the efforts of Robert Dale Owen and the founding of the Harmony, Oneida, and other social communities. The collection covers the period 1815-1900 in Great Britain and the United States.
All items are rare and primary source material.
The collection is not likely to expand further. The collection is catalogued in the PAC and can be accessed online. A detailed list is also available. The collection is located in the Ostry Room, Archives and Special Collections, Morisset Library. It is open to the public for consultation only.