暗TV

暗TV鈥檚 Brenner Library is honored to bring historical materials to the region with the recent acquisition of the Mark Twain Collection from Fontbonne University in Clayton, Missouri.

Consisting of over 420 books and works of art, this collection originated from Cyril Clemens, a third cousin, twice removed from Samuel L. Clemens. Cyril Clemens donated the collection to Fontbonne University Library after his wife, Nan B. Shallcross, served as Library Director at Fontbonne from 1947-1957.

鈥淒iscovering the signatures of Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt was second only to seeing Samuel L. Clemens鈥� own name written in one of the books,鈥� says Katie Kraushaar, dean of library & information services at Brenner. 鈥淲e recognize the effort that went into collecting and preserving this collection, and we are excited to start sharing it with the community.聽 Receiving the Mark Twain Collection from Fontbonne is an incredible gift to scholars and researchers at QU, in the region, and nationwide.鈥�

Highlights of the collection include first editions of Twain鈥檚 most popular works, books by other authors 鈥� including Cyril Clemens, Helen Keller, and Will Rogers 鈥� and publications from the International Mark Twain Society, which Cyril Clemens founded.

Lindsey Witt, instructional librarian and preservation archivist, inventoried the materials when they arrived, 鈥淪eeing Mark Twain鈥檚 books as they were published in over 20 different countries, and in sixteen languages is incredible 鈥� not to mention the rare first editions and famous signatures.鈥�

Cindy Lovell, adjunct professor of English who teaches Mark Twain courses at QU, reviewed the Mark Twain Collection. 鈥淚t is both appropriate and serendipitous that this prominent collection has come to the Brenner Library at 暗TV. Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) grew up in nearby Hannibal, Missouri on the other side of the Mississippi River and enjoyed a 鈥榬iver town rivalry鈥� with Quincy newspapers (such as the聽Daily Quincy Whig) as early as 1853 when he was a boy working on his brother Orion鈥檚 paper, the聽Hannibal Journal.鈥� Lovell 聽is the former executive director of both the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, MO and the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT.

The collection is housed on the top level of Brenner Library on QU鈥檚 main campus.

For more information and to view the collection, contact Katie Kraushaar at 217-228-5432, x-3800.

Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, 暗TV is a small Catholic university emphasizing the sciences, liberal arts and the professions. 暗TV offers undergraduate, graduate and adult education programs integrating practical experience and Franciscan values. Faculty and advisors work with students to design customized success plans to help them graduate on time, find their passion and prepare them for life. QU is a member of NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics. For more information, please visit www.quincy.edu or contact the Office of Community Relations at (217) 228-5275 or communityrelations@quincy.edu. 暗TV. Success by Design.