The Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection; A Catalog of the Gifts of Lessing J. Rosenwald to the Library of Congress, 1943 to 1975

The format is approximately 9.5 inches by 11.75 inches. xxi, [1], 517, [5] pages. The book is largely in two-column format. Inscribed by the editor on the title page. The inscription reads To Mr. John Mayfield in gratitude for his splendid essay for the Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress September 1979 James Hardin, editor. Decorative front cover. Endpaper map. Illustrations (some in color, some tipped-in). A Note on the Entries. Key to Abbreviations of Works Frequently Cited. Indexes to the Catalog (General Index; Printers, Publishers, Presses and Typographers; Artists, Calligraphers, and Engravers; Provenance, Associations Copies, and Presentation Copies; Binders and Bindings. This is a large, heavy book and if sent outside of the United States will require additional shipping costs. Throughout his tenure at the Library of Congress, Jim Hardin (1940-2020) was a highly respected and well-liked colleague who was known for his dedication, hard work, outstanding sense of organization, meticulous attention to detail, willingness to pitch in for the good of the Library, and wry sense of humor. John S. Mayfield earned his MA at Southern Methodist University. Following WWII, Mayfield worked with the War Assets Administration and the Department of Defense. It was the 1950s that Mayfield solidified his reputation as an avid book collector and bibliophile. He became the curator of the division of manuscripts and rare books at the Syracuse University Library. After his retirement, Mayfield held a position with Georgetown University Library Associates. Lessing Julius Rosenwald (February 10, 1891 June 24, 1979) was an American businessman, a collector of rare books and art and a philanthropist. Born in Chicago, Lessing J. Rosenwald was the eldest son of Julius Rosenwald, a clothier who became part-owner and was president of Sears, Roebuck and Company from 1908 to 1923, and chairman from 1923 to 1932. Lessing left Cornell University and went to work for Sears in 1911 as a shipping clerk, and in 1920, was given the responsibility of opening a catalog supply center for the growing mail-order company in Philadelphia. Succeeding his father, he was chairman of Sears from 1932 until 1939, when he dedicated himself full-time to collecting rare books and art, as well as managing the family charities, chiefly the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which made fellowship grants directly to hundreds of African-American artists, writers, researchers and intellectuals. In 1943, he pledged to donate his collections of rare books and art. After his death, 2,600 rare books, which trace the illustrated book through the last six centuries, and 5,000 reference books were given to the Library of Congress, which remains one of the most distinguished collections in the Rare Books and Special Collections division. Additionally, 27,000 prints and drawings were donated to the National Gallery of Art, both located in Washington, D.C. He was one of the founding donors of the National Gallery of Art when it opened in 1941. The "Giant Bible of Mainz" has been on permanent display in the great entrance hall of the Library of Congress since Rosenwald donated it in 1952, when it was 500 years old. Rosenwald held his collection at his private gallery, the Alverthorpe Gallery, within the Abington Art Center. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1947. He became director of the Bureau of Industrial Conservation in the War Production Board during World War II. Lessing J. Rosenwald's importance as a rare book collector and donor to the Library of Congress is featured in David Baldacci's novel, The Camel Club, London 2006, p. 164 ff. In 1971 he was honored with the Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting. The Rosenwald Collection is considered the premier collection of its kind in the United States. Lessing J. Rosenwald, formed the collection over a period of nearly 40 years. He gave the collection to the Library of Congress in a series of gifts, beginning i.…