Bowdoin's library system has acquired its one millionth volume thanks to a donation from Jane Webster Pearce. Pearce, an alumna of Wells College, and resident of Green Island, Mt. Desert, Maine, died in 2005, leaving to Bowdoin her collection of 20th century bindings and artist books. Arthur Rimbaud's book "Les Illuminations" of Pearce's collection is the one millionth volume.
Director of Special Collections and Archives Richard Lindemann explained that he and Pearce had met and exchanged letters, but it was not until reading her obituary that he discovered Pearce had decided to bequest her collection to the College.
"It was completely coincidental" that this bequest came at the same time that the library was looking for its one millionth volume, said Lindemann.
Although Pearce had no connection to Bowdoin, she "wanted to put her collection in a place where it would still be available to her family, but also in an institutional setting," Lindemann said.
Lindemann noted the personal connection he feels to Pearce's books.
"I had the opportunity to meet [Pearce] and establish a relationship with her," he said.
He also commented that these beautifully bound books are "simply spectacular?so compelling and so gorgeous."
While acquiring the one millionth volume was a milestone for the library, Lindemann did say that the library was less interested in the quantity of the volumes, and more concerned with the excellence of the collection.
"It's the quality of the collection that matters?we want it to meet the teaching and research interests of the College to make it appropriate for the College," said Lindemann.
Bowdoin Librarian Sherrie Bergman emphasized that the one millionth volume is part of an already impressive collection.
"What is notable is that this is an unusually deep research collection for an undergraduate institution," said Bergman.
The book "Les Illuminations" consists of many components, including a chemise, a slip-case, and hand-marbled paper. These many layers contribute to the overall artistry of the piece, and the poems, lithographs, and hand-crafted binding of the book represent the "different facets of the College curriculum," according to Lindemann.
Bergman agreed, stating that the collection "allows students to see how arts and humanities work together."
Bergman's one regret is that she did not have a chance to meet Pierce in person.
"Each [book] had a personal story...and it would have been wonderful to hear these stories," she said.
Pierce's collection is located on the second floor of the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library in the display cases. "Les Illuminations" sits among the five hundred-thousandth volume of the College, Hawthorne's novel "Fanshawe: A Tale," and with Samuel Deane's "The New England Farmer" and "Georgical Dictionary," one of which might have been the first volume of the Bowdoin library.
According to Lindemann, the collection has been very well-received.
"Everyone tells me how beautiful the collection is...people can really appreciate the objects themselves," said Lindemann.
The College anticipates more collections coming to the library, including Mark Melnicove's collection centered on contemporary writing in Maine. The library will also hold a reception for faculty and staff, and serve doughnuts and coffee for students during exam week to celebrate the one millionth volume.