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The Historical Evolution of Yale University Library
1700, the residents of Connecticut reached an agreement to establish a college in the colony. Ten priests appointed to implement this resolution held their first meeting in the pastor's residence of branford parish. "Every member brought some books and donated them to the future college. They put these books on a big table and announced, "I donated these books to build a university in this colony." "Although historians tend to doubt the truth of this story, this anecdote from Dean klapp's Chronicle of Yale College (1766) at least shows that people attach importance to the decisive role played by libraries in the establishment of Yale College.

17 18, the newly-built college was relocated several times before it settled in a three-story building in New Haven. The library on the second floor represents Jeremiah's colony in London? Drummer's efforts won many donations, bringing the total number of books to 1000. Steele presented a set of magazines for rappers and audiences.

17 13, Newton donated his second edition of Optics and Principles. Etienne sent the Selected Works in ancient Greek and another book in ancient Greek. Astronomer Harry also sent his apollonius book. And Elihu, the most famous Connecticut from Britain? Donation from Yale. Yale is the governor of St. George's Fort in Madras. Among the books he showed, there is a medieval painting manuscript, which is a mirror to save mankind. It seems to have arrived in North America first. In addition to the usual theological works, the library also collects Chaucer, Spencer, Milton and Ben? Prose by Jonson and Bacon, Heidi Brass by Butler, Temple and Cowley.

From 65438 to 0733, Yale College received more than 900 books from the Bishop of Berkeley, which was "the best book collection in North America at one time".

1763, the library moved to the classical building shared with the college church. In the same year, from jared? Elliot got the first book 10. Like Harvard, Yale College was occupied by British troops during the War of Independence. The books in the library were hastily removed, which caused great losses.

Until 1843, the first independent library building was finally built after two relocations. This is an ingenious architectural design. Although the area is small, the whole layout is indeed modeled after the church of King's College, Cambridge University, with a towering spire.

1889 added a Roman-style hall, and 1905 added a Gothic hall. But all these spaces were quickly filled. Finally, the library building was used again. John? W? Stirling Memorial Library, built by Stirling's legacy, was replaced by it. The new library is huge, somewhat similar to the Gothic Cathedral in Albee, southern France. It looks like both a fortress and a cathedral. Although it is very eye-catching, it seems a bit uncoordinated on campus. This is in line with Yale University's tendency to decorate its campus with magnificent scenery.

After the decision to build the Stirling Library was made, chauncey, a professor of English literature at Yale University? Brewster? Tink, there is an alumni association. He reminded alumni that the new building is not the Yale University Library, but the real library refers to the books in the building, and his description of the latter is frustrating. "Harvard University ... is always among the best. Graduates of Yale University resent that Yale always comes second in the competition. But even the second one is better than the fifth or sixth one ... and our current funding has dropped to sixth. " People will always be surprised when reading this passage: forty years later, the fact that Yale University Library is the first-class library in the United States is beyond doubt.

However, in the19th century, people have not realized the important value of rare books collection for colleges and universities. The library is only open for a few hours every day, and the board of directors is unwilling to allocate funds for the library to buy books and maintain the facilities of the library building. In winter, the only heating equipment is the stove in the corridor.

1864 as a librarian, but Neil? When Gilman resigned to protest this neglect and anger, he was surprised to receive a warm congratulatory letter from President woolsey: "This place does not have the importance that enterprising people naturally pursue. If the situation of the school cannot be improved, there will be no more support for the library now and in the future. "

However, when Tinker gave a speech to the alumni, Yale University already had three important books, which may become the foundation of the library's future reputation.

19 1 1 year, Irving Ortiz donated to the collection of American literature, William Alfred speke donated to Goethe's collection, and Alexander Smith Cochrane donated books to the Elizabeth Club. Speke became the first administrator of Goethe's works. His interest in this poet began at the age of eight, when he attended an advanced class to discuss "Goethe on the Iron Rider?" Feng? Bereken Cochrane caused a sensation on campus when he announced that he would give books to the club. Professor Phelps was so shocked that he almost fell off his chair. Cochrane felt a little sorry for the lack of academic dialogue in the club at that time, which almost always revolved around the topic of sports competitions. His club really changed later. The club is located in a wedge-shaped house in the18th century, and the walls are covered with portraits and documents of Queen Elizabeth and James I. Every afternoon, the students of the club get together in tea time to discuss the literature of these two periods, and verify their works with four bound volumes of Shakespeare and twenty-four Shakespeare quartets from Hughes Library, as well as the first edition of Bacon Essays (1597) purchased from Quaritch Bookstore for ten thousand dollars. In order to protect these small and precious items, the club library has customized a thick and strong door, which often needs an athlete to open.

The first notable achievement of Tinker's appeal for alumni to donate books was an Johannes Gutenberg Bible in Melk Abbey on the Danube. The donor is one of the most generous donors of Yale University, Edward? Mrs. S. harkness. Dr. Rosenbach bought the book for her at an auction in new york, and besides the commission, he paid $365,438+0,000. 2 1 year later, another monument in the history of printing, that is, the well-preserved Gulf Edition Hymn (1640) printed for the first time in North America, was also sold in the auction market. Rosenbach bought this book for Yale University at a world record price of $65,438+05,10,000, and his own commission was as high as $90,000. But this time his behavior was not forgiven. Mrs harkness promised to pay $30,000 in this transaction, but she angrily withdrew her promise. After arduous negotiations, when the book finally entered the library of Yale University, the Rosenbach brothers had to donate $45,900 out of their own pockets.

Besides donors, Tinker himself and James have made the greatest contribution to the development of Yale University Library. Babu. As a beloved teacher, Tinker's passion for English literature has influenced more than one generation of collectors. Babu is the librarian of 1945- 1965 Yale University. Both of them specialize in18th century British studies, so it is no accident that the collection of books in this field has become the strength of Yale University Library. /kloc-the collection of British newspapers in the 0 th and 8 th centuries has been very strong, and William? Beckford's best collection of works, which is Babu's interest. As a senior politician in the library, Wilmas? Lewis recreated the scene of Strawberry Hill in his mansion in Connecticut. He hid three thousand letters. Horace? Walpole's letters and two-fifths of the books in the former walpole Library will be donated to the Yale University Library.

Mr Lewis once wrote a humorous book, The Progress of Collectors (constable Publishing House), introducing his collection. But even he himself admits that the collection is not as good as the Maladehaibao literature collection. In the early 1920s, after the publication of Young Bao Si Weil, Tinker put an advertisement in the Irish newspaper for a letter from Bao Si Weil. He received two replies. An anonymous person wrote: "Go to Malaheidelberg." Another scribbled signature reported, "Boswell's last agent and auchinleck's boss was Humble of Malaheidelberg, Dublin? James. Talbot. He recently imported Po Siwei's writing desk, which is full of stationery and has not been catalogued. " Tinker gave these clues to Ralph Isham graduated from Yale University and was a British colonel. Isham made full use of his patience, charm and ingenious diplomatic means, not only bought the letters in Boswell's desk from Talbot, but also bought the documents later found in the attic, the old cricket box, the outhouse and six other storage places, such as Fett Kane House in Scotland. Most of these documents finally entered the library of Yale University at 1949. They include unpublished diaries of Bao Si Weil, his manuscripts of Chronicle of Corsica and Travel Diary of hebrides, some manuscripts of Johnson's biography, and letters from Goldsmith, Burke, Chad Tannous, Burns and Voltaire.

Other collections can only be briefly mentioned here: a papyrus manuscript of Genesis, which is said to be the remnants of the earliest medieval manuscript and the earliest Christian Bible manuscript. About collections in the western United States, including one of the best Texas collections. A collection of printed books and manuscripts about outdoor sports. A collection of ornithology, of which two cornerstones are audubon's four-volume American Birds (1831-kloc-0/834) and a map of Lund, Wei Zhang, which some experts think is the earliest map in the United States. In the basement of the library, rows of old whisky boxes contain James? Most of Osborne's striking English literary manuscripts come from 17 and18th century. Charlie. Dickens' pet raven looked down at Richard? Colonel Jin Beier's aviation portfolio, and Thomas? Paine and Dickens himself. The Yale University Library of History and Medicine in another building can only be compared with the Will Kang Bei Library of History and Medicine in London. Paul. Mr Mellon also announced that he would donate all his color illustrated books, 13 printed books of caxton and Blake's works, including a unique book with color inserts, to the Yale University Library.

The rapid growth of books requires more shelf space. Thirty years after the establishment of Sterling Library, its collection facilities are saturated. At this time, Benec's three brothers volunteered to donate money to build a new building as a rare book library. These three brothers are naturally Yale graduates and collectors-Frederick? Benec collects works about the American West, Edwin? Benec collects Robert? Louis? Stevenson's works, and Walter? Benec collects James? Barry by skidmore, Gordon by owings and Merrill Lynch? The Beinecke Library designed by Bourne Schaft was officially opened in April 1964.