And they passed that down to my sister, Martha Watson Sumners, and me. Fewer than 80 copies of Faulkner's little book of poetry are known, Verich said. A significant number of them were destroyed by fire in 1942, with only a fraction of the surviving copies, probably fewer than 20, retaining the fragile dust jacket designed to protect the book. She bought it at the former Davidson and Wardlaw's Stationery Store on the Oxford Square. Sumners said much of the credit for the donation goes to Dr. Charles Noyes, an Ole Miss faculty administrator emeritus and family friend.
Reprints are fine, but being able to pick up an original is a nice experience.
When she couldn't drive anymore, I would take her. This gift would have made her happy. Another reason for the gift is the family's longtime connection with the University. Sumner's grandfather, G.F. Furr, took classes on the Oxford campus and earned letters in football, baseball and track. In addition to himself and his parents, Sumner's daughters, Dr. Melinda Sumners Ray and Leslie Elizabeth Sumners, earned degrees at the University .