Acorn

The addition of the first editions of Walt Whitman�s famous poem �Leaves of Grass� makes Drew University�s special collections department blossom.

Recently, Norman Tomlinson, an avid collector of first-edition books, supplied Drew University with his prized collection of Walt Whitman papers. The collection includes every first edition of Whitman�s lifelong work �Leaves of Grass,� a poem he edited and revised throughout his life.

�There is a distinctive story behind every gift,� Dean of Collections Andrew Scrimgeour said. Tomlinson began attending Drew events through his friendship with the Casperson family, Scrimgeour explained. �He began to take an interest in the library because we are a school that values good collections,� Scrimgeour said.

In addition to his donation of Whitman papers, Tomlinson donated his collection of first-edition works by Lord Byron.

�He�s a very well-rounded, well-read man who has taken pleasure in collecting first editions of books by his favorite authors,� Scrimgeour said.

�There comes a point when people who have special collections want to put their collections in the hands of an institution that will be able to take care of them. Unfortunately, some universities let them languish, often in the boxes they came in, or discourage undergraduates from using them,� he said.

Scrimgeour added that Drew actually encourages undergraduate students to utilize these materials, rather than reserving them for specialists and visiting scholars. This addition to Drew�s collection, he said, is extremely rare.

�When you look for a copy of �Leaves of Grass,� you find a couple of editions, but not every edition,� Scrimgeour said. �Drew is now one of those unique places where every edition is available. Drew has more special collections and archives than most universities of this size.�

The papers will be kept in vaults, in special, climate-controlled conditions. Students wishing to view them will have to ask a library employee to get the manuscripts for them and will then be able to read them in the Methodist reading room�a room supplied with extra security and climate control.

Scrimgeour emphasized the significance of having the manuscripts. �We would never, as much as we would like to, have all these manuscripts,� he said. �We wouldn�t be able to think about it with our budget. A great library is built by careful additions year by year, and by benefactors like the Tomlinsons and Caspersons.�

The importance of the editions is only amplified by the powerful influence Walt Whitman has had on American literature. �Whitman is considered the iconic American poet,� said English professor Merrill Skaggs, who sees this acquisition as the �greatest prize a Whitman scholar can imagine touching.�

However, the beauty of having these at Drew is that you don�t have to be a Whitman scholar�every undergraduate has access to these important works of literature. They provide a personal connection to Whitman,who, Skaggs believes, set the type for the first two editions of �Leaves of Grass.� Whitman felt as though he was �personally present in his poetry,� making a student�s encounter with such works almost an encounter with the famous poet himself. Whitman said of his poetry, �who touches this touches a man,� Skaggs said.

The effect these gifts can have on one�s study of literature is invaluable. �It is a real thrill that transforms one�s educational experience to see the original material on which the books are written,� Scrimgeour said.

This is a unique experience that Drew alone can offer. According to Skaggs, �Many universities will be weak with envy when they hear about it.�

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