David J. Williams III of Richmond, Kentucky, collected science fiction, fantasy, and horror almost his entire life following an early interest in the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Morse Department of Special Collections acquired this outstanding collection in 2006.
Hundres of 20th century authors are represented in the collection, including: H. P. Lovecraft, Isaac Asimov, Robert E. Howard, Ursula K. LeGuin, Clark Ashton Smith, L. Sprague de Camp, Jack Vance, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Arthur C. Clark, and Harlan Ellison.
The collection numbers over 3,000 volumes of books and magazines--many of them signed or rare--dating from the early 20th century through 2001, when Williams passed away.
Among specific items of interest to scholars are two complete Lovecraft letters, one postcard, and a typescript page from the manuscript of The Shadow Over Innsmouth (1936), which was Lovecraft's only published work outside of periodicals during his lifetime. The collection also contains a complete Arkham House collection.
Academic Resources
- Bowling Green State University: Browne Collection
- Eastern New Mexico University: Williamson Collection
- Michigan State University
- Northern Illinois University
- Temple University: Paskow Collection
- University at Buffalo: Kelley Collection
- University of California, Riverside: Eaton Collection
- University of Delaware
- University of Kansas Special Collections
- University of Louisville: Burroughs Collection
- Virginia Tech: Heron Collection
Please do not contact Rare Books for book values or appraisals. Visit the RBMS Guide: Your Old Books.
Information presented for research or promotional purposes and may be reproduced without permission provided proper credit is given.
All illustrative images, unless otherwise stated, are the property of Morse Dept. of Special Collections and may not be used without prior written permission from the Rare Books Librarian.
Rare Books, Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Dept. of Special Collections, K-State Libraries
http://www.lib.k-state.edu