Special Collections/University Archives
The new Special Collections/University Archives area of the Lenn and Dixie Hannon Library opened in 2004 and features a spacious climate-controlled, secure storage with a fire suppression system, compact shelving, map cases, and other storage units for housing old, rare, and fragile items and materials with local historical significance.
Some of the unique manuscript collections in Special Collections include the Peter Britt Photograph Collection, the Helen Redbird-Smith Collection, and the Douglas Martin Collection. Regional materials are an important part of Special Collections and include materials relating to southern Oregon and northern California. The Margery Bailey Renaissance Collection (described below) contains some of Hannon Library’s most valuable Shakespeare books, including Shakespeare’s 2nd and 4th folios. Additionally, we have the growing collection of Northwest poetry that makes up the Adrienne Lee Ferte Memorial Collection. The University Archives, which had been in storage in another part of the campus for many years, were also moved into the new area.
Special Collections is only open limited hours, about ten hours per week, and by arrangement. Special Collections items may be used only under supervision. Some Special Collection materials are duplicates of items available in the general circulating collection; the catalog record will indicate this. Patrons should contact the Hannon Library Reference Desk (541-552-6442) to inquire about Special Collections/University Archives hours and/or to make arrangements to use materials.
The Margery Bailey Renaissance Collection
Dr. Margery Bailey (1891-1963) was a long-time professor of English at Stanford University. She established the Institute of Renaissance Studies in conjunction with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the early 1950's and was its director until her death. She willed her personal collection of books, including nearly 200 volumes published prior to 1750, to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Among these early books was Holinshed's Chronicles (1587), an important source for Shakespeare's history plays. Later, the books were transferred to Southern Oregon College and merged with the extensive Shakespeare collection that had been built up during the tenure of Angus Bowmer, drama professor at the College, founder and director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and a student of Dr. Bailey's.
Today, the Bailey Collection comprises over 7000 volumes on William Shakespeare and his writings. While the original collection covered the entire Renaissance, in recent years it has focused on works by and about Shakespeare. Included are Shakespeare's plays in numerous editions and languages, as well criticism and commentary, biographies, and bibliographical studies. The collection also contains production histories of the plays, technical aspects such as sets, costuming and props, and much of the literature generated by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. In this category is a nearly complete run of the promptbooks from Shakespeare productions, programs and other promotional literature, novels and histories inspired by the Festival. The Bailey Collection is located on the second floor of the library, adjacent to the Special Collections/University Archives. Most items can be checked out.
Rare Books in the Bailey Collection
The older and more valuable Bailey Collection books are kept in the Library's secure Special Collections/University Archives area. The most notable items are Shakespeare's Second Folio of 1632 and the Fourth Folio of 1685, two of only four original Shakespeare folios held in Pacific Northwest libraries. The collection also includes other early editions of Shakespeare's works, and the collected folio editions of Benjamin Jonson and Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, playwrights of Shakespeare's era.
The rare books of the Bailey Collection may only be used in the Special Collections area, under supervision. We have facsimile editions of most rare Bailey books in the circulating Bailey collection that we encourage patrons to use if possible. Patrons should contact the Hannon Library Reference Desk (541-552-6442) to inquire about seeing these rare books.
Last updated 12/05/05
Direct inquiries about this page to Kate Cleland-Sipfle, clelandk@sou.edu.