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Foundations - Early Collections of Note
These photographs depict the building gaining its foundation, but the Union Library already had a significant amount of books and collections.
The first large collection of note was that of a monk named Leander van Ess of Marburg. The collection included 14,000 volumes, containing 37 manuscripts and 420 incanabula, a rich collection of material on the Reformation, Biblical literature, church history and theology. The Van Ess library cost the Seminary $5,070.08 in 1838.
The McAlpin Collection of British History and Theology was another well-known collection, and had regular additions. It was named in honor of David Hunter McAlpin, a generous Union director.
Foundations - Early Librarians
- Edward Robinson, 1840-1851
- Henry B. Smith, 1851-1877
- Charles Augustus Briggs, 1877-1883
- Charles Ripley Gillett, 1883-1908
- William Walker Rockwell, 1908-1913