Robert Burns Collection

Photograph

In 1961, Leslie P. Gray donated a large collection of the works of Robert Burns to Special Collections on behalf of his parents, the late Harry Gray and Lelah B. Gray. The collection was purchased from Professor G. Ross Roy of the University of Montreal, who curated an exhibit of 113 of the books in Noble L. Getchell Library during its grand opening. Professor Roy wrote an annotated guide to the exhibit.

The Robert Burns Collection has continued to grow, and now contains over 400 books. According to former University Librarian David W. Heron in his preface to the exhibit guide, the collection (at that time) represented "as good resources for the critical study of Burns and his works as are available in any library in the United States." The collection includes rare editions of important works, such as the Edinburgh edition of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect," the "Skinking edition," published in 1787.

Photograph

Robert Burns was a superstar in his own time, and a cult figure in later times. His legend is kept alive through "Burns Suppers" held around the world on or around his birthday, January 25th. His short but interesting life (1759-1796) has inspired a number of biographical works that are represented in the collection.

Dr. Thomas Meyers, a local Burns enthusiast, models Scottish attire for the 2008 calendar "Men in Kilts" in a photo shoot in the Burns collection stacks in Special Collections. Photograph by David Howe.