March 8, 2012, Filed Under: Books + ManuscriptsUr-Knopf: An early Knopf book is reunited with larger Knopf library June 1915. Gene Stratton-Porter and Pollyanna held their dull sway over the American best-seller lists. A young publisher on the make, who had been fired by his house for planning to poach one of its authors, had just decided to go into business for himself. With seed money from his… read more
August 31, 2011, Filed Under: Research + TeachingIn Memoriam: William B. Todd (1919–2011) Not everyone remembers that Harry Ransom was a fisher of minds as well as of rare books and manuscripts. One of his early catches was William B. Todd, an up-and-coming young bibliographer at Harvard’s Houghton Library who had done his graduate work at the University of Chicago. Todd had served… read more
January 13, 2011, Filed Under: Books + ManuscriptsLocks of Ages: The Leigh Hunt hair collection Among the most popular “show and tell” items at the Ransom Center is the collection of famous people’s hair compiled by the Romantic poet and essayist Leigh Hunt. It features locks from 21 authors and statesmen, including John Milton, John Keats, and George Washington. Scattered about the collections are many… read more
