Synopses & Reviews
Published in association with the Bibliographical Society of America and the National First Ladies’ Library
Although many early U.S. presidents were avid readers and book collectors—George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, to name a few—they usually brought their own books to the White House and removed them at the end of their terms. It was not until 1850 that Millard and Abigail Fillmore established the first official White House collection. This catalogue of the library that they assembled not only reveals much about their own preoccupations and interests and those of the age they lived in, but also provides insight into American library history, reading history, and book trade and distribution networks.
Aside from the editor, the contributors are William Allman, Elizabeth Thacker-Estrada, and Sean Wilentz. For more information about the National First Ladies Libraries visit http://www.firstladies.org.
Synopsis
Published in association with the Bibliographical Society of America and the National First Ladies’ Library
Although many early U.S. presidents were avid readers and book collectors—George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, to name a few—they usually brought their own books to the White House and removed them at the end of their terms. It was not until 1850 that Millard and Abigail Fillmore established the first official White House collection. This catalogue of the library that they assembled not only reveals much about their own preoccupations and interests and those of the age they lived in, but also provides insight into American library history, reading history, and book trade and distribution networks.
Aside from the editor, the contributors are William Allman, Elizabeth Thacker-Estrada, and Sean Wilentz. For more information about the National First Ladies Libraries visit http://www.firstladies.org.
About the Author
Catherine M. Parisian is Assistant Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Table of Contents
Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
Mary Regula
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Millard Fillmore and His Library
Sean Wilentz
The White House Collection: The Mind of the Common Man
Catherine M. Parisian
Abigail Powers Fillmore: First Lady of the Library
Elizabeth Lorelei Thacker-Estrada
Creating a Room for the Collection
William G. Allman
Millard Fillmore and His Booksellers
Catherine M. Parisian
Bibliographical Methods
Catherine M. Parisian
Catalogue of the First White House Library
Catherine M. Parisian
Appendix A: A List of the Books Purchased for the First White House Library in 1850
Appendix B: A Subject Index of Books in the First White House Library Catalogue
Appendix C: Edward Everett’s Recommendations for the First White House Library
Selected Works Cited
General Index