Records on Robert B. Honeyman Gifts
To Lehigh University Library (1928-1978)
Held by Special Collections, Linderman Library
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015
Call No.: SC MS 116
4 boxes; 1.6 linear feet
Abstract:
Records on Robert B. Honeyman Gifts to Lehigh University Library (1928-1978) contain items relating to Honeyman’s collection of rare books and manuscripts and his gift of part of that collection to his alma mater Lehigh University. These records include correspondence, primarily with Lehigh librarians Howard Seavoy Leach and James D. Mack, inventory and appraisal lists, and receipts for purchases from international antiquarian book dealers.
Robert B. Honeyman (1897-1987) was graduated from Lehigh University in 1920 as a metallurgical engineer and began collecting rare books soon after his graduation. In 1955, Honeyman and his wife Marian Stewart Honeyman gave Lehigh University an extensive collection of American and British literature thereby establishing the Honeyman Collection. Howard Seavoy Leach (1887-1948) was Head Librarian at Lehigh University from 1924 to 1948 and caretaker of Honeyman’s first gifts of individual rare books in the 1920s and 1930s. James D. Mack (1916-2001) assumed the role of Head Librarian and curator of the collection in 1948. He facilitated the acquisition of the Honeyman Collection and many subsequent gifts.
Contact Information:
Special Collections
Linderman Library
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
Phone: 610-758 4506
Fax: 610-758 6091
URL: http://www.lehigh.edu/library/speccoll/specialcoll.html
Processed by
Heather L. Burychka
Repository
Lehigh University, Linderman Library, Special Collections
Creator
Leach, Howard Seavoy (1887-1948)
Mack, James D. (1916-2001)
Title
Records on Robert B. Honeyman Gifts to Lehigh University Library (1928-1978)
Restrictions to Access
This collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Records on Robert B. Honeyman Gifts to Lehigh University Library (1928-1978), SC MS 116, Special Collections, Linderman Library, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Copyright Notice
Please inquire about copyright information.
Biographical Note
Robert B. Honeyman (1897-1987) was graduated from Lehigh University in 1920 as a metallurgical engineer and began collecting rare books soon after his graduation. In 1955, Honeyman and his wife Marian Stewart Honeyman gave Lehigh University an extensive collection of American and British literature establishing the Honeyman Collection. Howard Seavoy Leach (1887-1948) was Head Librarian at Lehigh University from 1924-1948 and caretaker of Honeyman’s first gifts of individual rare books in the 1920s and 1930s. James D. Mack (1916-2001) assumed the role of Head Librarian and curator of the collection in 1948. He facilitated the acquisition of the Honeyman Collection and many subsequent gifts.
Scope and Content Note
Records on Robert B. Honeyman Gifts to Lehigh University Library (1928-1978) contain items relating to Honeyman’s collection of rare books and manuscripts and his gift of part of that collection to his alma mater Lehigh University. These records include correspondence, primarily with Lehigh librarians Howard Seavoy Leach and James D. Mack, inventory and appraisal lists, and receipts for purchases from international antiquarian book dealers.
Organization of the Content
This collection is organized into four principal series. The first series contains correspondence related to Robert B. Honeyman’s gifts of rare books and manuscripts to Lehigh University from 1928-1978. The second series includes invoices and correspondence related to Honeyman’s purchases of rare books and manuscripts from international antiquarian book dealers. The third series contains inventory and appraisal lists of Lehigh University library holdings, including gifts from Honeyman. The fourth series contains library correspondence about of rare books and other fine art items.
Online Catalog Terms
Honeyman, Robert B.
Mack, James Decker, 1916-
Leach, Howard Seavoy, 1887-
Lehigh University -- History
Lehigh University -- Library
Rare books
Rare book insurance
Antiquarian book trade
Related Material
Charles Russ Richards. [Correspondence]. A collection of letters written mostly between the president of Lehigh University, Charles Russ Richards, and the librarian, Howard Seavoy Leach, on all aspects of library business (1924-1935) SC MS 009
Mack, James Decker. The LehighUniversity Library 1877-1977. [Bethlehem, Pa.: Lehigh University] 1976.
Honeyman, Robert B. Vertical file on his donations to Lehigh University Library, 1963. SC LVF H772
Mack, James D. Vertical file that contains biographical information and documents related on his career as the Director of Lehigh University Library, board directors of the International Association of Technological University Libraries (IATUL) and member of the Grolier Club. SC LVF M153
Detailed Description of Collection
Box 1: Correspondence, Photos, and Press Announcements
This series contains correspondence about Robert B. Honeyman’s gifts to Lehigh University from 1928-1978. It includes letters, shipping records, appraisal lists and insurance documents.
Folder 1.01 Correspondence (1928-1931)
Folder 1.02 Correspondence (1933; 1936; 1938; 1941-1942)
Folder 1.03 Correspondence (1946-1948; 1950-1953)
Folder 1.04 Correspondence (1954-1955)
Folder 1.05 Correspondence (1956)
Folder 1.06 Correspondence (1957)
Folder 1.07 Correspondence (1958)
Folder 1.08 Correspondence (1959)
Folder 1.09 Correspondence (1960-1961)
Folder 1.10 Correspondence (1962-1963)
Folder 1.11 Correspondence (1964-1965)
Folder 1.12 Correspondence (1966-1967)
Folder 1.13 Correspondence (1968)
Folder 1.14 Correspondence (1969)
Folder 1.15 Correspondence (1970)
Folder 1.16 Correspondence (1971)
Folder 1.17 Correspondence (1972)
Folder 1.18 Correspondence (1973)
Folder 1.19 Correspondence (1974)
Folder 1.20 Correspondence (1975)
Folder 1.21 Correspondence (1976-1978)
Folder 1.22 Photographs of Robert B. Honeyman, Marian S. Honeyman, James D. Mack in England (1962); Photographs in Hawaii (1971, 1973)
Folder 1.23 Press Announcements related to Honeyman’s gifts to Lehigh University and to Lehigh University affairs (1931-1968)
Box 2 – Robert B. Honeyman’s Honorary Degree and Rare Book Purchases
This series contains correspondence, speech transcripts and news clippings related to Robert B. Honeyman’s receipt of an honorary degree at Lehigh University in 1959. The series also contains invoices, bills and correspondence related to Honeyman’s purchase of the rare books from 1925-1939 that he later gave to Lehigh University as the Honeyman Collection in 1955. These documents were filed alphabetically by the name of the antiquarian book dealer and that order is replicated here.
Folder 2.01 Robert B. Honeyman Honorary Degree
Folder 2.02 Invoices and Correspondence - A
Folder 2.03 Invoices and Correspondence – B (1 of 3)
Folder 2.04 Invoices and Correspondence – B (2 of 3)
Folder 2.05 Invoices and Correspondence – B (3 of 3)
Folder 2.06 Invoices and Correspondence - C
Folder 2.07 Invoices and Correspondence – D
Folder 2.08 Invoices and Correspondence – E, G
Folder 2.09 Invoices and Correspondence – H, I, K, L
Folder 2.10 Invoices and Correspondence – M
Folder 2.11 Invoices and Correspondence – N, P, Q, R
Folder 2.12 Invoices and Correspondence – S, T
Folder 2.13 Invoices and Correspondence – U, W
Box 3 – Inventory and Appraisal Lists
This series contains inventory and appraisal lists, memos and insurance correspondence related to the rare book and manuscript collection in Lehigh University’s library.
Folder 3.01 Correspondence, memos, inventory lists (1955-1973)
Folder 3.02 Inventory and appraisal lists (1955)
Folder 3.03 Inventory and appraisal lists
Folder 3.04 Inventory and appraisal lists
Folder 3.05 Inventory and appraisal lists
Box 4 – Correspondence
This series contains correspondence related to the fine arts insurance of all collections held by Lehigh University. Included among the insured are the rare books and manuscripts given or loaned to the university by Robert B. Honeyman. Some correspondence deals specifically with the insurance of these items. The series also contains a small amount of miscellaneous correspondence between Honeyman and James D. Mack.
Folder 4.01 Correspondence (1949-1955)
Folder 4.02 Correspondence (1956-1959)
Folder 4.03 Correspondence (1960-1968)
Folder 4.04 Correspondence (1969-1978)
Folder 4.05 Correspondence regarding insurance of rare books on loan (1958-1961)
Folder 4.06 Correspondence regarding insurance of rare books on loan (1962-1965)
Folder 4.07 Miscellaneous correspondence of Honeyman and Mack
Folder 4.08 Miscellaneous correspondence of Honeyman and Mack
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