Archives & Manuscripts in the Baldwin Library: Ruth Marie Baldwin
Ruth Marie Baldwin (1917-1990) devoted over
30 years of her life to the collecting of 19th and 20th century children's
books. Her collecting began in 1953 with forty 19th century chapbooks,
a birthday present from her parents. In 1977 she donated 35,000 19th
century children's books to the University of Florida Library and came
to the University as curator of the collection which was named in her honor.
In the following 13 years she added to the 19th century collection and
began collecting in the 20th century as well. By the time of her
death in January, 1990, she had amassed over 90,000 English language children's
books from America and Great Britain.
Brief description of Baldwin Papers:
- Personal Correspondence
- Extensive Correspondence with Book Dealers
- Photographs
- Diaries
- Texts of Speeches
- Notes for an Unpublished Autobiography
- Card file of Books Purchased
For a detailed description visit the finding aid to the Baldwin Papers in the University Archives.
For further information contact Rita Smith, Curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature. If you wish, you may register with the Department of Special Collections.
