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About the Rare Book Room | Hours | Directions | Staff

ABOUT THE RARE BOOK ROOM

The Mortimer Rare Book Room at Smith College houses rare books and literary manuscripts. The collection includes works from all periods—cuneiform tablets to contemporary artists' books—in all subject areas, from ancient history to zoology. Located in Neilson Library, the Mortimer Rare Book Room is one of three departments in the libraries’ special collections, which also includes the Sophia Smith Collection and the College Archives.

The current reading room in Neilson Library opened in 1962, although the rare book collection was formed in the 1940s by removing fifteenth- and sixteenth-century books from the general circulating stacks. Dorothy King was the first curator, followed by Ruth Mortimer (1975-1994), Michèle Cloonan (1995-1996), and Martin Antonetti (appointed in 1997). Just before Ruth Mortimer's death in 1994 the Rare Book Room was renamed in her honor.

Thanks to the generosity of alumnae and friends, the Mortimer Rare Book Room has grown to approximately 40,000 volumes and has expanded beyond its original role as protector of early printed artifacts. In 1973, a bequest established the first fund specifically designated for the purchase of rare books; other sources, notably the William Salloch Rare Book Fund, have enriched the endowment for purchases. The curators actively add to the collections both by purchase and by gift, and welcome inquiries about potential donations. Find out more about the collection here.

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