Mason Library Receives Donation of Edward Gorey Collection

From Rodney Obien, Mason Library: The Mason Library received a donation of Edward Gorey material from Mr. Robert Hubbard of Walpole, New Hampshire. The collection consists of more than 60 rare and unique items, including books, magazines, and broadsides.

Edward St. John Gorey was born February 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his “gothic” style illustrations in black and white and his numerous children’s books, although he did publish adult books as well. Gorey attended Harvard University and graduated in 1950. He published works under his own name and also under many playful pseudonyms. Some of his most famous works are The Doubtful Guest (1957) and The Guilded Bat (1966). Gorey died April 15, 2000, in Massachusetts at the age of 75.

The gift - to be named the Hubbard-Gorey Collection - will be housed in the Mason Library’s new special collections and archives facility (due to be completed in the 2010 spring semester). “The Hubbard-Gorey Collection makes a fantastic addition to our special collections, which already includes the Children’s Literature Manuscript Collection,” said Library Dean Irene Herold. “We are honored to have been entrusted with this collection from Mr. Hubbard, who attended Harvard University during some of the same years as Gorey and told me stories about what a colorful character Gorey was.”

For more information about the Hubbard-Gorey Collection, contact Rodney Obien, archivist, Mason Library Special Collections & Archives (8-2717).