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Special Collections 
In the South
East corner of Central library, between the second and third floors,
the John Wilson Special Collections room is a world unto itself and home to our Library’s
remarkable Special Collections. Here you can study the illuminated pages
of a 13th-century Bible edged in gold leaf, then see the same glorious
attention to detail in a contemporary fine-press volume by a Northwest
book artist. Take a magnifying glass to inspect the 2350 BC Babylonian
tablet no bigger than a postage stamp, then step back to admire the rare,
double-elephant folio of John James Audubon’s Birds of America.
The John Wilson Special Collections holds nearly 10,000 books, manuscripts, photographs
and other rare and historic print materials. Whether ancient or contemporary,
many of the materials are unique in the entire world, found only in
our Library. Others are so rare that they exist in a mere handful of
the nation’s most prestigious libraries.
Few other public libraries in the United States have such a collection,
and Multnomah County Library has made a commitment to curate and preserve
it, including employing a full-time Special Collections Librarian.
The Library Foundation is seeking private funds to match that commitment
with educational outreach and promotion–including exhibits in
the John Wilson Special Collections room and traveling presentations–to reach a broad,
public audience. Our vision is for everyone to be able to share in
this collection and be inspired by its power and beauty.
The five special collections
The History
of the Book/Book Arts Collection sets our Library apart with its incredible
range, including books printed
and bound just after
Gutenberg's era, books with elaborate bindings, an incredible "silk" book,
and contemporary fine press editions by Northwest artists. Our community
is fortunate to be able to experience and handle some of the finest examples
of book publishing -- a rarity for a public library's collection.
The extensive Children's Literature Collection captivates adults and
children alike with signed first editions by Maurice Sendak, Tasha Tudor,
Beverly Cleary and a wealth of other children's authors and illustrators.
Beatrix Potter's first illustrated book, A Happy Pair, is owned by our
Library and just a dozen other institutions worldwide.
The Literature Collection delights book lovers and scholars with the
largest collection in the Pacific Northwest of Charles Dickens' first
edition serial publications, a rare first edition of Samuel Johnson's
Dictionary of English Language (1755), and an impressive D.H. Lawrence
collection of first editions and handwritten correspondence.
The Natural History Collection draws people to its 1,300-volume Rose
Collection, 18th- and 19th-century fly fishing texts, and ornithological
titles, including the Library's single most valuable title, the rare,
four-volume, complete double-elephant folio of Audubon's Birds of America.
The Pacific Northwest Collection brings alive
local history with a almost every major text (dating back to the 17th
century) of overland and maritime
explorations of the region. Official papers and memorabilia from the
1905 Lewis & Clark Exposition, and rare historic photos, maps, and
architectural drawings round out the collection.
A brand new collection unveiled in August 2005
Spurred by a generous challenge gift from the Edwin Wilson Caswell family, a group of generous individuals came together to develop the largest publicly-held Native American Literature Collection in the Western United States. Barely a year old, this exciting collection includes fiction, poetry, short stories and drama by Native American writers. The Caswell family, long-time Library supporters and descendants of John Wilson, made it possible to build this fine collection in the John Wilson Room for Special Collections. Jim Carmin, Special Collections curator, shares his vision for this collection: “It will grow as we acquire all that is published in these genres by American and Canadian Indian authors.”
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