Date of Award

1968

Degree Name

M.A. in English

Abstract

This thesis is a catalog of that portion of the library of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), now preserved in the Dunbar State House, 219 North Summit Street, Dayton, Ohio. Research has established that several volumes are missing, thereby reducing the collection of books, periodicals and pamphlets to the present 468 volumes of 450 titles.

A letter, dated March 12, 1906, in the Dunbar MSS, in Columbus, indicates that after Dunbar's death, a Mrs. James removed a bookcase. Since the letter does not stipulate that books were not taken, and the legal code does permit the removal of the books contained in the case, we may conjecture that books were removed at that time. To date, the case and its contents have not been located. Missing too, is a bookcase containing Dunbar's own works. Only two books remain from this collection, which should number twenty-one. I have divided the catalog divisions into five sections: fiction, non-fiction, acquisitions after 1906, materials from the Ohio Historical Society and manuscripts.

All of the books in the Dunbar House will be treated bibliographically according to the styles of both the Library of Congress and Turabian and where a discrepancy arises, I have modified them in the interest of "conciseness, clarity and convenience."

The books are arranged into categories within the classifications and are listed according to standard bibliographical usage. Ordinarily full titles are given except in the case of extremely long titles. In the case of pseudonymous or anonymous works, names are supplied where possible.

If a book is an autographed, presentation, gift, association, inscribed or annotated copy, it is so noted. Holograph inscriptions in second hand copies are also listed. I have quoted inscriptions in full adding any other observation or cross reference that will further explain the citation. Books printed in limited editions will be so noted. If an edition is described in Blanck, the entry number will be given.

Should a title page of a soft bound book not indicate the series, but the spine or cover so do, I have noted this as if it appeared on the title page. Cross references between entries are provided in the main body of the bibliography, as are references to reprints of Dunbar's poems. An indication is made of missing parts; extreme mutilation, and unopened leaves.

Twelve appendices follow the bibliography. Each is arranged according to the specific information considered of prime importance, and a given book may appear in more than one appendix.

Distribution tables and indexes complete the thesis.

Rights Statement

Copyright © 1968, author

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