The Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books: Toronto Public Library’s Research Collection of Juvenile Material
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21153/pecl2012vol22no1art1134Keywords:
the Osborne Collection, Toronto Public Library, children's literatureAbstract
'Viewing in my mind your vast and enterprising country, it is a great pleasure to feel that Toronto possesses a storehouse of rare and valuable children’s books which should enable students from all quarters of the globe to study in comfort the development and also the effects on young people of the books that have been written for them over the ages.' Edgar Osborne, letter to Harry Campbell, Chief Librarian of Toronto Public Library. April 22, 1964.
At the time he wrote this letter, Edgar Osborne (1890-1978) had just received a doctor of laws degree, honoris causa, from the University of Toronto, in recognition of his contribution to Canadian literary history and education through the gift of the collection subsequently named in his honour. The conferral had been the highlight of a colloquium, joined by guests from around the world, held to celebrate the donation, made fifteen years earlier. Osborne had cause to be satisfied, for already the original 2,000 items had increased by some thousands, through gifts and purchases; the Collection was properly housed and a subject expert, Judith St. John, had prepared a scholarly catalogue of its holdings.
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References
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