Erie County Announces Formation of Rare Books Commission

October 7, 2009

Erie County Executive Chris Collins today announced the formation of the Rare Books Commission.  The Commission will investigate how to best showcase rare treasures held at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and around Western New York, as a significant component of cultural tourism in Erie County.  Victor Rice will chair the committee, and members include Collins, UB President John Simpson, ECC President Jack Quinn, Michele Lee, Library Board of Trustees members Anne Leary and Wayne Wisbaum and Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Director Bridget Quinn-Carey.  

The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library holds a number of historic pieces in its Rare Book Room.  The collection includes the hand written manuscript of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, William Shakespeare’s First Folio-published only seven years after his death, Thomas Jefferson’s annotated copy of The Federalist, a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible and Illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages among more than 5,000 literary and historic manuscripts and letters.

“We have a wealth of incredibly rare treasures right here in Western New York that we should be sharing with the world,” said Erie County Executive Chris Collins.  “I think these historic materials will attract visitors from far and wide.  It’s time to market this collection to enhance our tourism industry in Erie County.  I’d like to thank everyone on this Commission for agreeing to work on this important effort.”

Rare Books Commission Chairman Victor Rice said, “As Chairman of the Library Foundation, I’m very happy to promote this initiative.  This is great opportunity to enhance the visibility of the special collections that exist in Buffalo.”

“We at UB applaud this effort to make better known the literary treasures that are part of the Rare Book Room of the Buffalo and Erie County Library,” said UB President John Simpson.  “Promoting these precious holdings to a wider public will enlarge our cultural heritage and bring more visitors and attention to our region.”

ECC President Jack Quinn said, “This collection here in Erie County and Western New York is a rare and very valuable treasure.  I applaud County Executive Collins’ efforts to recognize and highlight this literary gem and I look forward to working with this distinguished group of commissioners.  This kind of notoriety only enhances our educational efforts at Erie Community College.”

“The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library sincerely appreciates the County Executive’s efforts to focus attention on the literary, cultural and historical treasures located at the Library, and throughout our community,” said Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Director Bridget Quinn-Carey.  “I look forward to working with the Commission to develop a plan for the preservation, collection, exhibition and promotion of these rare materials.”

The Library currently creates three exhibits per year in the Rare Book Room in addition to displays in the Mark Twain Room.  Staff has started to digitize materials to post on the Western New York Legacy website.  For more information, visit http://www.buffalolib.org/.

Americana Exchange applauds Erie County Rare Books Commission.