ANDERSON — A rare collection of children’s books appraised at over $1 million is being dedicated at Anderson University Friday.

The gift from Dr. James and Elizabeth York is expected to not only draw scholars to the university, but has the potential to open the door to new degree programs.

Celebrating the importance of the collection, a full-day festival is planned featuring authors, illustrators, and a rare-book expert.

“It’s hard to put into words the significance of this kind of gift to a school and a library our size,” said Janet Brewer, library director. “It literally is the kind of collection that could put the library on the map for scholars in this particular discipline of children’s literature.”

Brewer also noted that this kind of information resources offers a glimmer of hope for a master’s degree program to be developed in children’s literature.

The collection numbers approximately 10,000 books, many of them first edition copies. Authors and illustrators from the 18th and 19th centuries are well represented. Even most personal hand-carried works can be found in the stacks.

“There is a little self-published book by Beatrix Potter and it was what she had published herself so she could take it around to publishers to get their interest,” said Brewer. “That’s just kind of cool – to look at it and say: ‘She touched this’. She held it in her hand and she touched it.’”

Rob Hittel, a Fort Lauderdale book appraiser and dealer since 1974, is also enthused by rare items in the collection. A copy of “Uncle Remus, his Songs and Sayings” actually belonged to Frederic Remington, the late-1800s painter, illustrator and sculptor.

“What’s exciting to me about that book is the mere fact that Remington held that book, looked at it, used it, got something from it – I get chills when I think about it,” he said.

Hittel will speak at one of the afternoon sessions as part of the daylong festival. After providing a beginner’s guide to collecting, using the York collection as an example, he will answer questions about the hobby from the audience.

“I love her collection – it’s incredible in its depth,” he said with admiration. “Once she got hold of an author or illustrator that she liked, she wanted everything by them. That’s not done so much anymore, but that’s the way collectors used to collect. She was complete in all the fields that she dealt with.”



Enjoying learning

The Yorks have been longtime benefactors for Anderson University, providing resources for construction of York Seminary Village for ministerial students.

Elizabeth York’s parents, Rev. Harry and Henrietta Harp, were active in the Church of God. Their children established the Harp Endowed Memorial Fund, which provides a grant to a graduating seminary student who has made the most outstanding accomplishment in congregational ministries.

Elizabeth York began collecting books, first concentrating on 18th and 19th illustrators before branching out into Mother Goose and ABC and pop-up books.

“I’ve watched her collect these books over the last ten years and I’ve never seen anyone have so much enjoyment from the learning process,” said James, her husband from the couple’s home in Florida.

“According to the book dealer, she has the best collection of a Robert Frost first edition that there is, but children’s books have been her passion. One thing she tried to do was read every one that she bought and collected.”

Although Elizabeth York only attended Anderson University for two years (1949-1951) and James never lived in Anderson, the school has clearly made an impact on their lives. Not only are they donating this collection of books along with a new library wing to store them, but they have also built housing for seminary students and a new recital hall in the past.

“We chose Anderson (University) because I have appreciated that Anderson (University) has not changed a lot over the 50 or so years that I have known it,” said James. “Some of the other colleges gave up their religious connection. There is a stability that Anderson has had and we appreciate it.”

But donating monetary goods is not an end of the philanthropy of the Yorks. Once retiring from a 32-year career as an orthopedic surgeon, he and his wife donated their time and talents on the missionary field at African hospitals. For six years they have returned to help those less fortunate.

“The receiver receives the gift but the giver receives a gift also,” he said. “I think this is not fully understood by many people. In giving, you yourself receive the satisfaction that you’ve been able to help other people instead of just greedily thinking of yourself. And this has been our whole life, giving of ourselves and our services and our abilities or our money.”

Other books include a 1902 first edition of “The Little White Bird” in which J.M. Barrie introduces the character Peter Pan, and “Little Fur Family,” a first edition from 1946 that has real fur as a book cover.

“We are so very excited and very grateful to have a patron such as Mrs. York and her husband, Dr. Jim York,” said Brewer. “They are just fantastic folk – I would say that even if they didn’t give us anything because they are just extraordinary people.”