425 Library, MC-522
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The following are special collections owned by the UIUC Library system. They are mainly literature collections and have been chosen for their possible interest to students and faculty of modern languages and literatures. You can also view the list arranged by donor and subject.
Andersen, Hans Christian, 1805-1875.
Works. 73 volumes. The works of the Danish story writer were represented both in original
Danish and in English translation. Among them are valuable first editions. The collection has been
dispersed with some of the more notable volumes including signed editions are kept in the Rare Book
and Special Collections Library. Purchased, 1952.
Flom, George Tobias, 1871-1960, collector.
George T. Flom Library, 1931-1940. 2315 items. The collection was the personal
library of a former professor of Scandinavian languages and literatures at the University of
Illinois . It consisted largely of collections of Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian language,
literature, and culture, and Old Norse, Icelandic, and Faroese. Smaller, but still substantial
categories were philology and linguistics, history and mythology, and runological items. A
typewritten inventory of the collection is kept in the files of the University Librarian. Gift,
1941.
Fitz-Gerald, John Driscoll, 1873-1946, collector.
Library. 1257 volumes. The personal library of Professor Fitz-Gerald of Romance
languages and literatures (1909-29) was especially strong in French and Spanish literature, in
addition to materials of general interest. Gift, 1950/51.
Martin Collection.
4338 pieces. The collection consisted mainly of French language and literature. It
also included French history, especially works dealing with Franco-American relations. Gift,
1956.
Renaissance literature, 1475-1700.
2,000 volumes. The collection of Continental Renaissance material, printed chiefly
in Germany , Italy , and France , contained school books, editions of classical authors,
theological tracts, including a large collection of Luther's works, and Vulgate Bibles. Among the
volumes are a number which are very rare and several incunabula. The collection was made by a
bookseller. Purchase, 1955.
Heyne, Moriz, 1837-1906, collector.
Library. 5200 volumes. The Heyne library was particularly strong in lexicography; it
included several hundred dictionaries of German dialects. German literature from the sixteenth
through the eighteenth centuries was also represented, as was literature on the history of German
civilization. Heyne was a professor of German philology at the University of Gottingen and a
contributor to the German dictionary of the Grimm brothers. Purchase, 1909.
Karsten, Gustaf E., 1859-1908, collector.
Library. 800 items. Karsten was the head of the Department of Modern Languages
and Professor of German at the University of Illinois from 1906 to 1908. The Karsten library
consisted primarily of works on German philology and literature. Gift, 1908.
Mayer, Gerhard, collector.
2,000 volumes The Rainer Maria Rilke collection of Dr. Gerhard Mayer of Champaign ,
a retired Chicago-area tax consultant and long-standing member of the Caxton Club is quite
impressive. It contains special editions as well as translations of specific primary sources and
secondary criticism from many diverse countries and in numerous languages. Housed in the Rare Book
and Special Collections Library. See
Friendscript, fall, 1984, for an article on the purchase. Purchase, 1984.
Meier, John, 1866-1953, collector.
Meier collection, 1565-1913. ca. 500 volumes. The Meier collection was a portion of
the private library of a professor of German philology and folklore of the University of Freiburg,
Germany. It consisted of German literature, predominantly novels, drama, and poetry of the
Classical and Romantic periods. Many volumes were first editions. A typewritten list of the
contents of the collection is in the files of the University Librarian. Purchase, 1927.
Meyer, Heinrich, May 14, 1904- , collector.
Literature and science of Goethe's time. 889 titles. The Meyer collection was
intended to reflect intellectual influences of Goethe's time. Much scientific literature was
included, particularly chemistry and physics, medicine, botany, and geology; Goethe was a
contributor to the literature of these fields. The collection was the library of a professor at
Muhlenberg College , Pennsylvania . Purchase, 1953.
Rattermann, Heinrich Armin, 1832-1923, collector.
Rattermann Library, 1484-189_. 7,000 volumes. The collection was the personal
library of a German-born author and researcher on the contributions of Germans in America . The
library included all aspects of the development of German culture and the history of Germans in the
United States . The collection was strong in literature, especially poetry, biography, travel and
voyages, including maps and atlases, education, philology, religious sects, German-American
societies, and records of German settlements in various sections of the country. Partial manuscript
catalogs are located in the Rare Book Room. Purchase, 1915.
Guide to the Heinrich A. Rattermann collection of German-American manuscripts (017.143 IL6G)
Partial Mss. Catalogue of the Library of Mr. H. A. Rattermann (325.243 R18PINDEX)
Renaissance literature, 1475-1700.
2,000 volumes. The collection of Continental Renaissance material, printed chiefly
in Germany, Italy, and France, contained school books, editions of classical authors, theological
tracts, including a large collection of Luther's works, and Vulgate Bibles. Among the volumes are a
number which are very rare and several incunabula. The collection was made by a bookseller.
Purchase, 1955.
Rilke, Rainer Maria, 1875-1926.
Letters, 1905-21. 109 letters. The manuscript letters were all written by Rilke,
the German poet, to Karl and Elizabeth Van Der Heydt. Housed in the Rare Book Room. Purchase, 1950.
See also
Mayer, Gerhard.
Gröber, Gustav, 1844-1911, collector.
Library of Romance Language and Literature. 6367 pieces. Gustav Gröber was a
world-recognized romance scholar and a Professor of Romance Philology at the University of
Strasbourg. His collection's greatest strength was Provencal and Italian literatures and
linguistics; however, all Romance languages and dialects were well-represented, and many volumes of
classical, English, and Germanic works were included. In addition to the book material, there was a
large collection of dissertations and other studies in pamphlet form, representing nearly every
brochure on Romance topics published in Germany during the period of 1880-1910. Purchase, 1912.
Finding aid for the Gröber collection
Herrick, Marvin Theodore, 1899-1966, collector.
Marvin T. Herrick Italian Renaissance Drama Collection. ca. 470 titles. Marvin
Herrick was a long-time member of the faculty of the University of Illinois in English and a
specialist in drama. The collection was one which he selected for the University Library, and it
was named for him at his death. It consisted primarily of sixteenth century plays written in
Italian. Purchase.
Italian plays, 1500-1700, in the University of Illinois Library (016.85 H43I)
Renaissance literature, 1475-1700.
2,000 volumes. The collection of Continental Renaissance material, printed chiefly
in Germany , Italy , and France , contained school books, editions of classical authors,
theological tracts, including a large collection of Luther's works, and Vulgate Bibles. Among the
volumes are a number which are very rare and several incunabula. The collection was made by a
bookseller. Purchase, 1955.
B'nai B'rith library of Jewish literature, 1733-1930.
250 volumes. From 1917 until 1930, District No. 6 of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith
made annual contributions to the University Library to establish a general collection of Judaica.
Although the collection includes some older items, most of the books are early twentieth century
English language works. The collection is dispersed. Unpublished list of contents of the collection
is kept in the office of the University Librarian. Gift, 1917-1930.
Flom, George Tobias, 1871-1960, collector.
George T. Flom Library, 1931-1940. 2315 items. The collection was the personal library of a
former professor of Scandinavian languages and literatures at the University of Illinois . It
consisted largely of collections of Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian language, literature, and
culture, and Old Norse, Icelandic, and Faroese. Smaller, but still substantial categories were
philology and linguistics, history and mythology, and runological items. A typewritten inventory of
the collection is kept in the files of the University Librarian. Gift, 1941.
Larsen, Henning, 1889-1971, collector.
Henning Larsen Scandinavian Collection. 257 volumes. The Larsen Scandinavian collection
consisted mainly of the works of Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, nineteenth
century collectors and publishers of Norwegian folktales and legends. In addition, there were
twenty-five Ibsen plays, of which twenty-one are first editions. Larsen was a Vice President,
Provost, and Professor of English at the University of Illinois . Housed in the Rare Book Room.
Purchase, 1966.
Larsen, Henning, 1889-1971, collector.
Library. 2,000 volumes. Henning Larsen's private library consisted largely of books
on Norwegian folktales and other literature. Gift, 1970.
Fitz-Gerald, John Driscoll, 1873-1946, collector.
Library. 1257 volumes. The personal library of Professor Fitz-Gerald of Romance
languages and literatures (1909-29) was especially strong in French and Spanish literature, in
addition to materials of general interest. Gift, 1950/51.
Flom, George Tobias, 1871-1960, collector.
George T. Flom Library, 1931-1940. 2315 items. The collection was the personal library of a
former professor of Scandinavian languages and literatures at the University of Illinois . It
consisted largely of collections of Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian language, literature, and
culture, and Old Norse, Icelandic, and Faroese. Smaller, but still substantial categories were
philology and linguistics, history and mythology, and runological items. A typewritten inventory of
the collection is kept in the files of the University Librarian. Gift, 1941.
University LibraryFor comments on this page contact: Bruce Swann
Last modified by: Alison Bolla on 7/23/09