Special Collections

The Maxwell Library Special Collections focuses on rare books and manuscript collections from numerous genres, including politics, education, literature, and organizations of many different types. The general rare book collection contains items dating back to the 1700s with an emphasis on education, and includes items on many other topics and areas. Some of the highlights from the Special Collections include:

• Conrad Aiken Collection Correspondence from Conrad Aiken and his family, photographs, reviews, interviews, inscribed books, books and articles about Conrad Aiken by other authors, and books and related material by other family members make up the collection from this author and poet. Aiken was Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress (now the U.S. Poet Laureate) from 1950-52, and won many literary awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 1930.
• Boston Theater Broadside Collection Broadsides from 21 performances at the Boston Theater in the spring of 1857.
• Dickens Collection Books written by Charles Dickens, with numerous first editions and augmented by books about Dickens and London during Dickens' lifetime make up this collection.
• Early Children’s Book Collection This collection ranges in types of books for children going back to the early 1800s. Societal, cultural, and educational views towards children can be studied through this collection of important children’s literature and genres.
• Encyclopédie Méthodique Collection The Maxwell Library holds 84 original volumes of this famous French encyclopedia, with nearly all volumes published between 1782 and 1792. The title, Encyclopédie méthodique par ordre des matières, translates to “Methodical Encyclopedia by Order of Subject Matter.” Originally published by Charles-Joseph Panckoucke, most of the library’s collection predates the French Revolution.
• Congressman Hastings Keith Collection Keith was a Massachusetts Congressman representing the Plymouth County and Cape Cod area from 1958-1972. Some of his initiatives included the Cape Cod National Seashore, environmental and political initiatives on oceanography, and decades of research and attempts at pension reform. The collection consists of correspondence, congressional reports and legislation, photographs, scrapbooks, research material, and material involving other politicians from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
• Hyannis State Normal School Records Published histories, administrative records, catalogs and circulars, and student records make up the collection of this early Massachusetts State Normal School going back to its founding in 1897.
• Irish Literature Collection
  • Seamus Heaney Collection The Irish Collection is made up signed books, correspondence, reviews, and photographs of over 40 Irish authors, poets, artists and playwrights from the twentieth century. Highlights include correspondence and signed items from the Nobel Prize winning Irish poet Seamus Heaney, the author Mary Lavin, and the author Edna O’Brien.
• Lincoln Collection Books and periodicals on a range of topics primarily dealing with Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War make up the collection.
• Lincoln Group of Boston Collection Material consists of meeting programs going back to 1938, presented papers of members and guests, correspondence, research, and publications on Abraham Lincoln.
• Local History Collection Emphasis on the Bridgewater area and surrounding towns, with publications dating from the 1800s, including material such as newspapers, maps, and town reports.
• Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Collection Minutes, correspondence, periodicals, publications, promotional ads, and other material from this group going back to 1935 make up the collection.
• Massachusetts Reading Association Collection Consists of annual conference material, administrative records, membership information, awards, and brochures and publications from the association.
• New England Theater Conference Collection The Maxwell Library holds the archive of the NETC. It includes administrative records, publications, membership and award information, photographs, and other materials going back to the organizations founding.
• Teddy Roosevelt Collection This collection of works of Roosevelt and books about him highlight the significance of this past American president.