Barlow, Samuel L.M. (1826-1889) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

This collection of Americana contains the first Latin edition of the Columbus Letter; the first edition of Richard Hakluyt’s Principal navigation…of the English Nation; Nicolas Bautista Monardes’ Joyfull newes out of the newfound world; Ann Bradstreet’s The tenth muse; George Mourt’s A relation…of the English Plantation; and rare works of the 15^th through the 16^th centuries in Dutch, French, and Spanish. It also includes a manuscript Copie of the Court booke of the Governor and Society of the Massachusetts Bay in New England dating from 1653 or earlier.

Barton, Thomas Pennant (1803-1869) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

Barton was a prominent and well-to-do Philadelphian, who began his book collecting in Paris where he served from 1833 to 1835 under the Ministry to France for President Jackson.

A literary collection particularly strong in English and Continental literature. The Shakespeariana material is the first in the United States to include four folios and some 45 early quarto editions. The collection also contains many translations and commentaries; Shakespeare’s 16^th and 17^th century sources; an extensive collection of portraits and illustrative material (some in proof form); many manuscripts, including the original subscription list for Boydell’s Shakespeare, with the autographs of George III and Queen Charlotte; correspondence of John Britton and Halliwell-Phillipps; many other Shakespeare autograph letters, and the notes of editors and commentators inserted in appropriate volumes; two manuscripts in the hand of David Garrick; and an early version of the music to Macbeth, now attributed to Richard Leveridge. The collection also contains volumes from the libraries of Barton’s father, naturalist Benjamin Smith Barton, and his father-in-law, Edward Livingston (a Congressman, Secretary of State, and Minister to France), sixteen volumes of DeBry’s Voyages; hundreds of pamphlets from the France of the Revolution; works on jurisprudence and criminal law; and American public documents and political pamphlets. Many of the volumes contain notes and memoranda of bibliographical value made by Barton.

Bassett, Sarah Ware (b.1872) Library (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

500 volumes collected by this Boston author of children’s books including her own works and those of her contemporaries and friends.

Beaulieu, Wilfred (1900-1979) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

Contains the papers of Wilfred Beaulieu, the founder of the Franco-American newspaper, Le Travailleur (1931-1979) including correspondence with writers and personalities in the U.S. and Canada such as Lionel Groulx, Remi Tremblay, Auguste Viatte, Ferdinand Gagnon, Felix Gatineau, Yvonne Lemaftre, and Corinne Rocheleau-Rouleau. There are more than 100 typescripts and manuscripts which were sent to Beaulieu for publication in Le Travailleur.

    See also: Franco-American Newspapers Collection Santerre, Richard Collection

Bennett, March G. Papers
    See: Brown, Larue

Benny, Jack (1894-1974) Letters and Clippings (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

141 items, 125 letters mostly written by Jack Benny to Frank Remley, the left-handed guitarist who played on the Benny radio shows. The letters are almost all comments on Ripley’s Believe It or Not! articles. Many of the clippings from Ripley’s are present with the letters. (Ms.3336)

Benois, Alexandre (1870-1960) Papers (Print Department, x2280; Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

The collection contains costume and stage designs, drawings, watercolors, portraits, correspondence, photographs, prints, post cards and clippings documenting the life and work of this stage and costume designer who was associated with Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.

Bentley, Harry C. (1877- ) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

Bentley was the founder of Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. The collection contains about 700 volumes on American accounting and bookkeeping by American authors before 1901.

Benton, Josiah (1843-1917) Collection of the Book of Common Prayer (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

Benton was president of the Boston Public Library Trustees. The collection contains 1,500 different editions of the prayer book, a set of primers (from 1526 to 1557), liturgical monuments of the Churches of England, Scotland, and the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, and other material illustrative of the development of the prayer book.

Blackall, Clarence (1857-1942) Collection (Fine Arts Department, x2275)

Sketchbooks of foreign travel and architectural details, as well as scrapbooks of articles by and about Clarence Blackall, Boston theater and commercial architect.

Bond, Edmunds E. (1871-1969) Collection (Print Department, x2280)

Bond was a commercial photographer in Orono and Rockland, Maine before joining the staff of the Boston Globe as a news photographer in 1904. Bond had a long and distinguished career with the Globe that lasted until his retirement in 1956. The collection is the remains of his personal photographic archive including negatives, lantern slides, and photographic prints. The photographs range from 1904 into the 1950’s.

Boston Architecture Reference File (Fine Arts Department, x2275)

The file is a card index of references to written descriptions, critiques, histories, illustrations, renderings, and plans of Boston buildings and their architects Most references are to published sources, although they may refer to original photographs, architectural drawings, and other unpublished materials held in the collections of the Boston Public Library and other libraries.

Boston Art Archives/New England Art Information File (Fine Arts Department, x2275)

The file was started as a vertical file of ephemera on Boston artists. Over the years it has expanded in coverage of New England artists, as well as contemporary artists across the country who are not adequately covered in reference sources. Types of materials included in this file are: exhibition announcements, calendars of events, gallery/organization newsletters, press releases, reviews of exhibitions, checklists and small exhibition catalogs, obituaries, illustrations, gallery histories, bibliographies on artists, and miscellaneous biographical information. This index also references citations to American artists found in published sources.

Boston Authors Club Library (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

A collection containing 2,000 titles by most of the 20^th century authors residing in the Boston metropolitan area as well as ephemeral material relating to the Club from its founding in 1900. The Club is still active, continuing to contribute books by its members.

Boston Browning Society Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

The collection contains monographs by and about Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning with photographs, manuscripts, first editions, and many biographical and critical works. The collection includes the Browning sketchbook, containing 29 caricatures and drawings by Robert Browning, and almost 200 by his father, proof sheets of Sordello, with corrections in the poet’s own hand, a copy of Bells and Pomegranates, and copies of some of Elizabeth Browning’s poetry in her own hand. The Society’s early records, a lock of Robert Browning’s hair, and a jewel box once belonging to Elizabeth Browning are included as well.

Boston City Club Collection (Special Collections, x4236)

Contains Boston City Club records, correspondence, plans, fund records, bylaws and miscellaneous reports.

Boston City Records (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432; Research Library Stacks, x2244)

This material includes tax assessor’s records from 1789, Paul Revere’s tax bills, City Clerk files starting in 1629 and early manuscript records of Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, and West Roxbury. Records before 1822 are accessed through Rare Books; records after 1822 are accessed through the Book Delivery Desk of the Research Library Stacks. The records cover the period 1896-1967 with street listings available up to 1942.

Boston Election Department Scrapbooks, 1907-1916, 1927-1948 (Microtext Department, x2018)

Newspaper clippings documenting the Department’s activities. On call number: JS617.A3.

Boston Garden Collection (Special Collections, x4236)

Contains photographs, programs (for sports events, rodeos, ice shows), and miscellaneous material from Boston Garden events.

    See also: Boston Tradition in Sports

Boston Herald -Traveler Photo Morgue (Print Department, x2280)

Over 500,000 photographs by staff and contributing photographers, including the major wire services, covering the years from c.1906 to 1972. The archive has sections organized both biographically and by subject and covers local, national and international subjects.

    See also: Boston Tradition in Sports

Boston Latin School Archives (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

The Latin School, founded in 1635, is the oldest educational institution in continuous existence in the United States. There are 5,000 items including correspondence, records, documents, reports and photographs from the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The printed material consists of works published by and for the School: yearbooks, invitations, programs, student publications, periodical articles, works by classical authors, Latin and Greek grammars, and materials donated by the Boston Latin School Alumni.

Boston Pictorial Archive (Print Department, x2280)

A collection of photographs, lithographs, engravings and other media of Boston subjects including buildings, street scenes, parks and events from the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th centuries. The bulk of the collection spans the years from 1860 to 1930.

Boston Picture File (Fine Arts Department, x2275)

The file contains photographs and clippings describing Boston buildings, parks, monuments, streets, etc. Material in this file has been indexed in the Boston Architecture Reference File. A postcard collection of about 1,500 items depicting Boston buildings is also part of this pictorial archive.

Boston Police Strike Documents of 1919 (Special Collections, x4236)

Includes many letters from city residents to the Police Commissioner, and Francis Russell’s manuscript for A City in Terror: 1919, the Boston Police Strike (New York: Viking Press, 1975). This historic event prompted Governor Calvin Coolidge to call in the state troops to police the streets of Boston.

    See also: Peters, Andrew J. Collection

Boston Postcard Collection (Print Department, x2280)

Postcards donated by collector William Crane and others containing images of Boston architecture and advertisements of Boston businesses.

    See also: Postcard Collections

Boston Public Library. Special Events Collection. Celebration Series.

Grand Army Encampment. [Waltham, MA: Graphic Microfilm of New England, n.d.] (Microtext Department, x2018) A microfilm collection of newspapers, pamphlets, and other miscellaneous material. On call number: E462.1.A19G7.

Boston Public Library. Special Events Collection. Disaster Series. [Waltham, MA: Graphic Microfilm of New England, n.d.] (Microtext Department, x2018)

Newspaper clippings and whole issues which covered the disasters.

• Boston Fire. Call Number: F73.5.B74414
• Chicago Fire. Call Number: F548.42.C4
• Fire Scraps. Call Number: TH9448.F54
• Parker Hurricane Collection. Call Number: F9.P37
• Portland Maine Great Fire. Call Number: F29.P9P95
• San Francisco Earthquake. Call Number: F869.S3825

Boston Public Library. Special Events Collection. Historical Series. Civil War Papers. [Waltham, MA: Graphic Microfilm of New England, n.d.] (Microtext Department, x2018)

Newspapers and clippings documenting the events:

• Civil War Clippings. Call Number: E461.C58
• Emancipation Proclamation, January-June 1863. Call Number: E453.E4
• Secession Documents. Call Number: E458.1.S43

Boston Public Library. Special Events Collection. Presidential Assassination Series. [Waltham, MA: Graphic Microfilm of New England, n.d.] (Microtext Department, x2018)

• Garfield Papers. Call Number: E687.9.G37
• Kennedy Papers, volumes 1-141. Call Number: E842.9.J2
• Lincoln Papers. Call Number: E457.5.L69
• McKinley Papers. Call Number: E711.9.M33

Boston Public Library Architectural Drawings (Fine Arts Department, x2275)

The Library’s drawings related to its own buildings include plans for the 1850’s building and the 1880’s competition for the building in Copley Square. The primary collection for the drawings of the McKim, Mead, and White-designed building (1888-1895) is found at the New York Historical Society, New York City.

Boston Public Library in Newspaper Clippings, 1895-1934 (Microtext Department, x2018)

Call Number: Z733.B75B75.

Boston Redevelopment Authority (Special Collections, x4236)

City Planning Board material from 1903-1966.

Boston School Committee Archives (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

The collection consists of the original documents and related papers of the Committee from 1792 through 1870.

Boston Symphony Orchestra Program Scrapbooks (Music Department, x2285)

These scrapbooks, which are part of the Allen A. Brown Music Collection, represent a compilation of reviews, essays, feature articles on individual musicians--performers, composers as well as those affiliated with the Orchestra--from its inception in 1881 to 1960. The scrapbooks complement the actual programs located in the music research collection. The Boston Orchestra Programs are fairly complete from 1881 to date. In 1993, the Library collaborated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a preservation microfilming project, partially funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, to microfilm the Library’s Boston Symphony Orchestra scrapbooks and those of the Boston Symphony Orchestra dating from 1889 to 1973. Positive microfilm of both sets are located at both insitutions.

Boston Theatre Archives (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

A history of the performing arts in Boston from the 1850’s to the early 20^th century. Programs, playbills, clippings, reviews, photographs, production materials, play typescripts, correspondence, and tickets are some of the formats represented in this Collection. Theaters covered include: the Boston Theatre, Federal Theatre, Washington Gardens Amphitheater, Gaiety Theatre, Windsor Theatre, and Hooley’s Theatre.

Boston Tradition in Sports
    See: Boston Garden Collection Boston Herald- Traveler Photo Morgue De Mar, Clarence (1888-1958) Collection Foster’s Encyclopedia of Games Golf Scrapbook Collection Hedlund, Oscar ( 1909-1973) Collection Hirshberg, Al Collection History of the Boston Base Ball Club Jack Johnson: In the Ring and Out Kaese, Harold (1909-1975) Collection Kelley, John A. (1907- ) Collection Lewis, George Edward "Duffy" (1888-1979) Collection McGreevey, Michael T. "Nuf Ced"Collection Malaney, Jack Collection Mokray, William George "Bill" (1907-1974) Collection New England Base Ballist Rickard, George Lewis "Tex" (1871-1929) Collection Silverman, Sam (1913-1977) Collection Wood, Joe "Smoky Joe" (1889-1985) Collection

Boston 200 Archives (Print Department, x2280; Special Collections, x4236)

The Archives of the Boston 200 Commission containing correspondence, financial reports, oral histories, programs, photographs, reports, and press releases covering all aspects of the planning for the Bicentennial celebration in Boston. The Print Department has some Boston 200 material including photographs and slides

Bowditch, Nathaniel (1773-1838) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

An astronomer and the first American theoretician to master mathematics beyond elementary calculus, Bowditch wrote The New American Frontier. The collection includes 3,000 volumes on mathematics, astronomy and navigation from his personal library. Other material includes early editions of Galileo, Newton, and LaPlace, numerous treatises on comets and sundials, long runs of scientific periodicals, and Bowditch’s personal manuscripts. The Papers of Nathaniel Bowditch in the Boston Public Library: Guide to the Microfilm Edition. Edited by James W. Montgomery and Laura V. Monti. Boston Public Library, 1983.

Brew, J.O. Streetcar and Railroad Collection (Print Department, x2280)

Books, journals, pamphlets, timetables, photographs and more than 13,000 postcards of streetcar and rail transportation.

    See also: Postcard Collections

Broadsides Collection (Print Department, x2280; Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

In the Print Department are 136 broadsides advertising 19^th century theater productions which include the venue, date, time, cast members, and production titles. The collection includes broadsides for the Boston Athenaeum’s January and February 1863 productions featuring John Wilkes Booth as Othello and other characters. The 2,000 plus American historical and political broadsides (18^th and 19^th century) in Rare Books cover Boston theatre, the anti-slavery movement, fugitive slave law, and Boston imprints.

Brown, Allen A. (1835-1916) Music Collection (Music Department, x2285)

An amateur musician and avid collector, Mr. Brown donated his collection to the Boston Public Library in 1894. Clearly delineated in the terms of his gift was the fact that it was to be a non-circulating, research collection. At the time of the gift, there were approximately 6,900 volumes. By the time of his death, the collection had grown to around 16,000 volumes. The collection is particularly strong in music of the turn of the century. One of its particular strengths is in 19^th century opera, both published and manuscript scores-several of these are performance manuscripts. Part songs, chamber music, orchestral music and oratorios only represent part of the collection. It also contains pamphlets, musical polemics, biographies, monographs, and serials dating from all periods of music. A regular concert-goer, Brown amassed collections of concert programs from the Boston area and from the places he visited while on business. For certain performing groups such as the Handel & Haydn Society he approached friends and acquaintances for their files to make his more complete. Among his collection are also autographed scores dedicated to him by Boston composers whom he encouraged. Today the collection continues to grow and now contains over 40,000 volumes.

Brown, Allen A. (1835-1916) Theatre Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

A wealth of material related to drama including works related to burlesque, circus, vaudeville, modern dance, ballet, Yiddish theater, Shakespeare, and opera donated to the Library in 1909. The monographs, now numbering about 7,000 volumes in the collection are described in an annotated catalog. There are 165 scrapbooks which contain serial and newspaper clippings. Among the strong points of the Brown Collection are the 18^th and 19^th century dramatic periodicals, both English and American; the near complete files of playbills for 19^th century Boston theaters; and a collection of 20 unique broadside programs printed before 1801.

Brown, LaRue (1883-1969) Collection (Special Collections, x4236)

Contains comprehensive documentation of the organizational history of the Massachusetts Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action from its founding in 1946 to 1972. It includes papers, letters, directories, memoranda, reports, and scrapbooks. Also included are the March Bennett Papers covering political topics from about 1890-1937 in correspondence and political ephemera.

Browning Collection
    See: Boston Browning Society Collection

Bulfinch, Charles (1763-1844) Architectural Collection (Fine Arts Department, x2275; Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

The collections contain specifications and original drawings, including five original drawings showing the 1805 enlargement of Faneuil Hall, legal documents with the architect’s signature, and manuscripts in Bulfinch’s hand.

Byrne, Donn (1889-1928) Collection (Rare Books & Manuscripts, x4432)

Letters and documents relating to his literary and personal life.