Collections
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Of particular interest for the NCLC are manuscript collections containing all aspects of book creation, such as book dummies, sketches and preliminary illustrations, dust jackets, manuscript drafts and revisions, correspondence, and research materials. Once processed, these materials created prior to the finished work inform researchers on the nature of the creative process from conception to completion. Finding aids are the documents used to describe manuscript collections and the materials that do not receive item level cataloguing. Access the finding aids in the NCLC arranged alphabetically by last name or corporate body here. You may also search all of the finding aids regardless of subject area for a particular search term by using the search box above. This tool, XTF, will search for your keyword(s) throughout all of the finding aids encoded in Encoded Archival Description , or EAD.
Finding aids that have not yet been encoded in EAD (Encoded Archival Description) are available in paper format in the repository. Collections that are unprocessed may not appear on the list and may have only a box inventory, list or other simple form giving basic information. For information on unprocessed collections, please contact the curator.
As of 2009, the NCLC consists of approximately 42,000 cataloged children’s books and serials, in addition to a small collection of ephemera (posters, greeting cards, calendars, etc.). Access to the cataloged books and serials is available via the catalog Homer. There are also several specialized groups of books that are considered part of the NCLC:
The Black Beauty Collection
This collection consists of approximately 450 discrete editions produced in Great Britain and the United States. It contains nearly every edition published from the late 1870’s to the mid-1980’s, and offers insight into the effects of the times on text and illustration. Anna Sewell died in 1878, too soon to know how universal her story would become. Full access is available via the University Libraries' catalog Homer.
The Phyllis Hirsch Boyson Collection
This collection, donated in memory of Mrs. Boyson by her husband Bert, contains over 6,300 children’s books and 125 artifacts. The strengths of the Boyson Collection are in late 19th century to mid-20th century works about Native Americans and African Americans. Literature for Jewish children centering on holidays and traditions is also represented. Access to the Boyson books is available via the University Libraries' catalog Homer.
The Billie M. Levy Collection of Illustrated Children's Literature
In 1983, Ms. Billie M. Levy placed on deposit 8,500 volumes from her private collection. A tireless and perspicacious collector, Ms. Levy was the first to convince such notables in the field as James Marshall to leave his materials to the University of Connecticut for research use. Access to the books in the Levy Collection is available through the University Libraries' catalog Homer.
The Libraries and Librarians Collection
This collection consists of more than 500 books for children (from pre-schoolers to young adults) that, through fact and fiction, inform them about the important role of librarians and libraries. Many of them are humorous in nature and not all of them present a flattering view of librarians. It is augmented in part by a smaller collection of children’s books about books and reading. It is the most comprehensive collection of its kind. Norman D. Stevens, Director of University Libraries Emeritus of the University of Connecticut, developed this collection as an outgrowth of his broader interest in the image of the librarian, on which he has written extensively, and, in particular, the depiction of librarians and libraries in popular culture. It was built over a period of approximately 15 years beginning at a time when it was not easy to identify or acquire many of the titles. Since it is now a strong representative collection, and since it is now much easier to identify and locate such titles, Dr. Stevens ceased actively adding to the collection at the end of 2010. Full access to the cataloged collection is available through the University Libraries' catalog Homer the University of Connecticut Libraries’ on-line catalog.
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