Staff

Mission
The mission of Special Collections of the Wallace E. Mason Library is to provide access to, and environmentally safe storage for, unique research, historical, and/or primary source materials and collections in support of the mission and curricula of Keene State College.

Access
Though non-circulating, Special Collections materials may be used during the hours of 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm or by appointment. Patrons should go directly the Archives & Special Collections room located in the west wing of Mason Library.

Collection Development
The primary responsibility for identifying and for proposing the acquisition of Special Collections resources lies with the Special Collections Librarian and the Dean of Mason Library. Generally, the selection is dependent on the special nature of the materials, including but not limited to:

• Documentary records of the College
• Materials relating to New Hampshire history and other areas of collection interest
• Manuscripts, photographs, audio/visual materials, and ephemera documenting local history and culture
• Published works by Keene State College faculty and staff
• Theses relevant to the college or local community
• Materials in support of research that contribute to College curricula
• Products of research derived as a result of use of materials in Special Collections
• Rare, unusual, signed, or otherwise valuable books that fulfill any of the above conditions

Donation Policy

• Donations

Special Collections welcomes donations of collections and individual items. Donations are often invaluable sources for primary research and for helping to strengthen the Collection's holdings. Special Collections also welcomes and appreciates financial contributions to defray the cost of processing materials.

• Conditions of Acceptance

Materials submitted for consideration must be accompanied by a Deed of Gift. Materials become the property of the College upon receipt. The library retains the right to determine the disposition of the materials. Materials deemed not suitable for inclusion in Special Collections may be deaccessioned, considered for inclusion in the general collections, offered to a more appropriate institution, or other appropriate action.

• Tax Deductions

United States tax law forbids a non-profit institution from appraising donated materials. The responsibility for establishing the fair market value of the donated item for a deduction for income tax lies entirely with the donor. Donors may be referred to Internal Revenue Service Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property.

Description of Collections

The Preston Collection of New Hampshire History
The Special Collections of the Mason Library began with the Harry B. Preston Collection of New Hampshire history, authors, and imprints, named for a professor whose courses included New Hampshire history and literature. Part of that collection concerned the history of this institution, through its years as Keene Normal School, Keene Teachers College, and Keene State College. Published materials (catalogs, viewbooks, yearbooks, etc.) are part of the Preston Collection. Other materials may be added to Special Collections because they are signed, have an association with a certain person or group, are a first or rare edition of the work, or are in a condition that warrants limited handling. Materials in this collection are represented in the library catalog.

• Digital Archive of Keene Normal School, 1906-1920
  This online collection will include the text of reports of Superintendent of Public Instruction Henry C. Morrison, expressing the need for a normal school in southern New Hampshire and then reporting on its progress over a decade; the opening ceremonies, presided over by Principal Jeremiah M. Rhodes; the laws and contracts which made the school a reality; and other printed materials and ceremonies.

Orang Asli Archive
The KSC Orang Asli Archive is a repository for unpublished documents, films, tapes and other recordings relevant to Orang Asli peoples and cultures. The Orang Asli are the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia and comprise approximately 17 to 20 groups.

Adolphe B. Pouliot Journal
Between 1850 and 1930 over 900,000 Franco-Canadians crossed over the border to work (and settle) in the United States; some estimates run as high as 1,500,000. The Lowell Mills attracted many such workers. Franco-American classics such as Camille-Lessard Bissonnette's Canuck and Adélard Lambert's Innocente Victime use Lowell as a setting. The Adolphe B. Pouliot Journal, written in Lowell, chronicles one Franco-Canadian's experiences as an immigrant to the United States. This e-publication is a collaborative effort by Dr. Margaret Langford of the Modern Languages department who wrote the prologue to the journal, Keene State College student Catherine Mazzola who transcribed the journal in French from the original, and Mason Library archivist Tom Doyle who edited and conducted background research on Adolphe Pouliot.