Bancroft Library facts for kids
The Bancroft Library is a very important special library at the University of California, Berkeley. It holds a huge collection of historical materials, especially about the history of California and the western parts of North America. It's known as the biggest collection of its kind in the world! The library was named after its founder, Hubert Howe Bancroft, and has been a part of the university since 1905.
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How the Library Started
The Bancroft Library began in 1859, thanks to Hubert Howe Bancroft. He was a bookseller who first asked one of his workers, William H. Knight, to gather all books about the Pacific Coast. At first, Bancroft didn't plan to build a huge library. He just wanted a few books for his desk.
But as he looked, he found more and more interesting old books and pamphlets. He started buying them from stores in San Francisco, Sacramento, and even in New York and Boston. He thought he had collected a lot when he reached 1,000 books.
However, when he visited London and Paris, he saw how many more books were out there. He realized his collection was just beginning! So, he decided to travel all over Europe and the Americas to find more. He even bought entire libraries when he had the chance.
Bancroft's goal was to collect everything he could find about the history of western North America. This huge area stretched from Panama all the way to Alaska, including the Rocky Mountains and Mexico. He wanted his collection to be as complete as possible. He didn't care about the cost or how much time it took. By 1869, he had about 16,000 items.
He later moved his growing library to a special fireproof building on Valencia Street in San Francisco in 1881. He was worried about his precious books being destroyed by fire.
The State Buys the Library
For many years, Hubert Howe Bancroft wanted to sell his amazing collection. He asked for $250,000 for it. In 1887, there was a plan to have the State of California buy it, but the idea didn't pass.
Later, the University of Chicago thought about buying the library. But many people in California felt strongly that such an important collection should stay in their state.
Finally, in 1905, an expert named Reuben Gold Thwaites looked at the library. He said the collection was worth over $300,000. Soon after, on November 24, 1905, the University of California bought the Bancroft Library for $250,000. Hubert H. Bancroft himself donated $100,000 of that amount, showing how much he cared about his collection staying in California.
The university saw the Bancroft Library as a key part of building a great research library, much like the famous British Museum. It would help people study the history, culture, and geography of the Pacific Coast of America.
Later Years of the Library
The university chose Herbert Eugene Bolton to be the first director of the Bancroft Library. He led the library for 22 years. Under his guidance, the Bancroft Library became a top place for studying American history. For many years, the library focused mainly on the history of the American West, especially the areas where Mexico and the United States meet.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the library added even more important collections. It started keeping the university's own historical records and began recording oral histories (interviews with people about their memories).
In 1970, under a new director, James D. Hart, the library grew even more. It combined with the university's rare books department. This brought in many incredible items, such as:
- The Tebtunis Archive: A huge collection of ancient papyrus scrolls from Egypt.
- The papers of Mark Twain: Everything written by the famous author.
- Many old medieval manuscripts and rare printed books.
- Writings from famous California authors like Jack London, Ambrose Bierce, and writers from the Beat Generation in San Francisco.
From 2005 to 2008, the library building was completely renovated and made stronger to withstand earthquakes. It reopened in 2009 and continues to be a vital place for learning and research.
What the Library Holds and Offers
The Bancroft Library is one of the biggest special collections libraries in the United States. In 2019, it had:
- Over 600,000 books.
- About 55,000 feet of historical papers and manuscripts.
- Nearly 8 million photos, including old newspaper photo collections.
- More than 20,000 historical maps.
Anyone can visit the library to use its materials. However, some very valuable items are only for researchers who really need them. You can also find many of the library's collections online through its website and the Online Archive of California.
The library also has a special Bancroft Gallery where it shows different public exhibits. These exhibits can include art, photos, old documents, letters, and more from the library's vast collections. The library also publishes a newsletter called Bancroftiana.
Images for kids
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Theos C. Bernard - G. Eleanore Murray Collection and Archive bookplate provided by the California Digital Library
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See also
In Spanish: Bancroft Library para niños
