The Maxwell Library Special Collections focus on rare books and manuscript collections from numerous genres, including politics, education, literature, and organizations of many different types. The rare and unique book collection includes books from the 1600s with an emphasis on education, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, local history and items on many other topics and areas.
Over 30 published pamphlets from the early to mid-1800s involving speeches, social issues, celebrations, correspondence, and eulogies by and about John Quincy Adams.
Correspondence, photographs, reviews, interviews, inscribed books, books and articles by and about author/poet Conrad Aiken.
Broadsides from 21 performances at the Boston Theatre from the spring of 1857.
Minutes and treasurer’s reports dating back to the group’s founding in the early 1900s.
Diaries of a Bridgewater Normal School student from the early 1890s.
Correspondence and art of artist Jack Coughlin.
Books (including first editions) written by Charles Dickens, original reviews of his works, and articles about Dickens published during his lifetime from periodicals found in Britain, France, and the United States.
Organizational records including documents on meetings, events, services, and more.
Eighty-four original volumes of this famous French encyclopedia, with nearly all volumes published between 1782 and 1792. Encyclopédie méthodique par ordre des matières (“Methodical Encyclopedia by Order of Subject Matter”) was originally published by Charles-Joseph Panckoucke.
Entire Church archive dating back to its founding in 1717. Includes administrative history, building and grounds history, minister and membership information.
Correspondence, reviews, and inscribed books by the Pulitzer Prize winning author.
Audio recording and other material pertaining to Frost’s visit to Bridgewater State College in 1959, as well as inscribed books by both Frost and his daughter Leslie.
Publications, manuscript drafts, and recordings of the local poet Faye George. Also correspondence between George and other poets such as U.S. Poet Laureate Daniel Hoffman, Richard Dey, and Robert Bly.
Correspondence and photographs from Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney and his wife Marie, as well as inscribed rare pamphlets and books.
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.
Correspondence, congressional reports and legislation, photographs, scrapbooks, research material, and more by and about Hastings Keith, a Massachusetts Congressman representing the Plymouth County and Cape Cod area from 1958-1972.
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.
Correspondence, photographs, student records, Japanese textbooks, and more from this 1877 Bridgewater Normal School graduate who brought the Normal School movement to Japan.
Collection from the Whitman, Massachusetts politician, containing material representing Kirby’s lengthy career dedicated to public service in the state House of Representatives and Senate.
Correspondence, photographs, and books by the Irish short story writer and novelist (born in East Walpole, MA) known for her writing on feminist issues.
Material consists of meeting programs going back to 1938, presented papers of members and guests, correspondence, research, and publications on Abraham Lincoln.
View the Collection Finding Aid
Sub-collections include:
Nearly 2,000 individual issues of Emanuel Haldeman-Julius’ controversial, but highly successful, Little Blue Book publication series that tackled a range of subjects and controversial issues of its day.
Minutes, correspondence, periodicals, publications, promotional ads, and other material dating from 1935.
Organization archive that includes programs, information on inductees, photographs, recordings, and more.
Annual conference material, administrative records, membership information, awards, and brochures and publications from the association.
Acclaimed Catholic historian and Bridgewater State history professor; includes information on her life and published works, and manuscript rough drafts.
Collection of miniature books, including numerous books published by Achille St. Onge in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Scrapbooks, photographs, and numerous types of documents pertaining to Moriarty’s long career as a physical education professor at both the Hyannis State Teacher’s College and Bridgewater State.
Organization archive that includes programs, hall of fame inductee information, and photographs; purpose of organization is to increase recognition and awareness of women in sport.
Archive of the NETC – includes administrative records, publications, membership and award information, photographs, and other materials going back to the organization's founding.
Correspondence, student records, and publications related to Robert Pellissier, the first Bridgewater Normal School graduate killed in World War I.
Pamphlets, ephemera, and other documents, mostly from the early years of this educational organization.
Photographs, correspondence, student records, and publications from this Bridgewater-born and Bridgewater State Normal School graduate author.
Photographs and documents pertaining to the East Bridgewater Unitarian Church and the many legal cases in which Rich was involved.
Correspondence, photographs, reviews, and inscribed books by this poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer associated with the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
World War II German memorabilia, military documents and awards, correspondence and photographs.
Correspondence, photographs, speeches, and publications from this rare book cataloger who ghost-wrote the important book, Early American Children’s Books, and was the bibliographer for the Thomas Jefferson Collection at the Library of Congress.
Correspondence, biographical information, research, and documents concerning the operation of the Bridgewater Normal School by its first principal.
Numerous types of documents from the Tillinghast family dating back to the mid-1700s from Rhode Island; includes genealogy research and resources.
The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center is an ongoing effort by the Library of Congress to preserve veterans’ personal accounts detailing their military wartime service and to increase public awareness of these historical events. Through the efforts of Dr. Louise Graham, these veterans’ military stories have been digitally recorded and submitted to the Library of Congress for present and future generations to view.
Monographs, pamphlets, periodicals and ephemera pertaining to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Also materials that represent the history of Abraham Lincoln in popular culture of the United States.
Includes works by Charles Dickens, works about Dickens, works that represent London during Dickens’ lifetime, and works that interpret the writing of Dickens. Many first editions of Dickens’ works in both serial and novel form.
Emphasizes Southeastern Massachusetts history – includes monographs, imprints, maps, city directories, and works by local authors.
Focuses on works representing the history of educational theory and practice, textbooks, and biographies about noted educators. Integral parts of the collection concern women’s physical education and the Normal School movement.
Children’s literature from the early nineteenth to the twentieth century: includes shape books, young adult books, picture books, periodicals, inscribed books, and literature on the study of children’s books.
Wide range of books, pamphlets, and periodicals. Includes pre-1800 items printed throughout the world; pre-1876 American imprints; some post-1900 materials, especially those relating to Massachusetts.
