The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-27
is SPLENDID
COLLECTION.
Brown University Has Very
Fine Library Of Poetry.
COMPRISES 1000 VOLUMES.
Most Precious Part Of II Was Btqueaihsd 10
/ the College BY tAs uls Henry
3. Enthsny
COMPRISES 1000 VOLUMES.

literature, and especially those Interested
in metrlcal productions. were discussing
tho fact that this city had the finest col
lectlon of American poetry that was to
be found I'm the world.
The collection had existed for many
years previous TO that time, but II was
brought TO the attention OF the public
through its being bequeathed to Brown
University by Senator Henry II. Anthony.
one OF Rhode Islands most famous public
men
Since the time of the presentation TO
Brown I'm 1884 of this collection, number
ing over 5000 separate works, not many
volumes were added until recently. and
IL failed 10 attract the attention that II
received when Il first came into the pos
session OF the college: but within the
past month large additions have been
made with funds supplied through the
generosity OF a member of the corpora
tom and once more II Is worthy Of note
that the Harris collection is up to date.
and again takes it's place as the greatest
ot tile sort i'm existence.
Mr.. Koopmsn, the University librarian.
has been in attendance at the sale OF the
private library of the late Thomas j.
Mckee OF New York. and the latter was
possessed OF many volumes of American
poetry.
His collection. although inferior 10 the
Harris library In size and Importance,
was by far the nearest rival 10 IL that has
been put on the market for many years.
and through the funds supplied by Col
william Goddard. the chancellor OF the
university. Mr.. Koopman was able TO oo-
tain very large proportion OF books
needed to complete the Harris collection.
TIME WASTED WRITING VERSES.
william Cullen Bryant. the poet in the
court of some correspondence with Mr..
Harris, the founder OF the collection,
wrote concerning IL:
'Your work has amazed me by show
ing me what multltudes of persons on our
side OF the Atlantic nave wasted their
time IN writing verses In our language"
While Ii may be necessary to say few
harsh things about the earliest American
poetry, Is must be remembered that IL
is the most costly part OF the collection
Fer instance. an edition of poems by
Mrs. Anne Bradstreet cost Mr. Harris
the sum OF n25. Mrs. Bradstreet was the
earliest poet OF New England. and was
the wife OF Gov. Bradstreet. She came
over with her husband in 1890. and I'm
1850 published the first volume of her
poems, entitled THE Tenth Muse, Lately
Sprung Up In America" etc.
She treats almost entirely Of historical
subjects and natural history. She gained
much celebrity among her contemporaries.
and Cotton Mather declared that her
poems had afforded "a monument for her
memory beyond the stateliest marbles"
ORIGINAL AMERICAN POEMS.
90 tha ,,,oaarn A Apoericap ,,aats thaso
whose works have gained world wide
fame, the collection has an abundance.
and even among these. there are many
costly volumes.
Although II Is not complete in the first
editions of the best poets, yet IL has
many specimens which today are excess
siveiy scarce. and bring large prices.
Among them are first editions OF Long
fellows "E;vangeline," which have sold
for as high as s75: and of Whittier's 9
Legends of New England and Mol
Pitcher" copies of which were recently
auotioned of at $40 and 500 respectively,
at certain book sales.
with regard to that most interesting.
yet little known, feature of American
poetry--the song books-the collection Ia
extraordinarily complete.
College and fraternity song books. Ma
sonic aong books, song books OF temper
the rebellion, are 10 be found In the
greatest profusion. Those OF the Broad
side Ballads relating TO the revolution
airy period, are especially interesting.
In recent purchase OF additions 10 this
library. Mr.. koopman has made substan-
tial increase In the Poe collection. and he
has strengthened the Whitman collection
to such an extent that now II is probably
unriyaled I'm any university library In the
country. and possibly IN any library
whatever.
Some important Dunlap plays were se-
cured I'm New York, and also plays by
John Howard Paine, of both OF which
there were already very nearly complete
sets Many early American plays have
also been added
COLLECTION OF MAGAZINES.
Mr.. Koopman took advantage OF the
offer OF early American magazines at the
Mckee sale, and secured complete sets of
the American Museum. the best OF all
early literary magazines. and the south
ern Literary Messenger. particularly val
nabie on account of Poe's connection with
IL.
it contained the first appearance OF
many OF the works OF Lowell, Holmes,
Longfellow, Emerson, Poe, Whitman and
other leading American writer's.
The plan to gather together. 40 far &C
possible. the writings Of all the poets OF
the United States originated with Albert
Gordon Greene. one OF the most accom-
plished bibliophiles In the country, a ma
tive OF Providence.
lie graduated from Brown In 1890. en-
tered the law. was made 4 Judge OF the
municipal court, was one OF the founders
OF the Providence Athenaeum, and was
president OF the Rhode Island Historical
society for II years. lie soon took up his
hobby OF collecting American poetry. and
at the time OF his death In 1888 he had
over 1000 volumes.
These came into possession of Caleb
Fiske Harris. who made extensive sddi-
tons and gave his name Co the collec-
tion. He had formerly been I'm the com
mission business In New York. but re
moved TO Providence and retired. after
having amassed a considerable fortune.
Like Judge Greene. he had = great love
for books. and bought from every quarter.
whatever his eorrespondsnts IN this ooun-
try and England brought 70 his notice ss
worthy Of = place In the collection of
poetry.
Apparently no eNorbitant value was
any bar 10 the purchase Of coveted
hook.