(Rare Books & Manuscripts) This collection of approximately 700 volumes was assembled by Harry C. Bentley, founder of Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts. In assembling the collection, Bentley sought to gather a copy of the first edition of every book on accounting written by an American author between 1796 and 1900. Bentley donated the collection to the BPL in 1933.
The Harry C. Bentley Collection of Works on Bookkeeping documents the history of American business, business education, and the accounting practices used by American businesses -- small and large -- during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. Researchers working in other fields, but who are interested in better understanding early American ledgers, receipt books, and other accounting records, can find in this collection detailed descriptions of how such documents were created and used.
The shelf list for the Bentley Collection contains a comprehensive list of holdings.
