1900-01-11-New York Tribune-Miss Gould Gives Books

New York Tribune, 11 Jan 1900, p. 9, c. 2

Miss Gould Gives Books.

She Presents the Berrian Collection to the New-York Public Library

The trustees of the New-York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, met yesterday in the Astor Library Building in Lafayette Place.

It was announced that in 1899 50,000 volumes and 106,000 pamphlets, in round numbers, had been added to the library, being, it is said, the largest ever recorded for any one year. In December many valuable gifts were received, the most note worthy being from Miss Helen M. Gould. This was the Berrian collection of works relating to Mormonism. It Includes 450 volumes and 300 pamphlets, and fifty-two volumes of newspapers. With the gift came the following letter:

Dr. John S. Billings. Director New-York Public Library. No. 40 Lafayette Place, New-York City.

Dear Sir: it gives me pleasure to add the Berrian collection of books and pamphlets on Mormonism to the New-York Public Library, for I believe it will be very useful to students to have access to a collection that gives a clear idea of this peculiar form of error. The Mormon elders are proselyting in many sections of our country, and our people generally should become better informed on the subject of Mormonism in order to be on their guard against these "Latter Day Saints," as they style themselves.

Hoping that the books will prove useful, believe me, very truly.

HELEN MILLER GOULD.

December 21, 1899.

There are many books in this collection that are now rare. The whole forms a complete history of the Mormon Church from its origin to the present day, and both sides are represented. Besides books devoted wholly to some phase of the Mormon question, there are many that only touch it incidentally, and which are of general interest in connection with the history of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Utah. The collection is now being catalogued. In about ten days it will be opened for the use of the public at the Lenox Library Building.

Among other gifts received were twenty-one volumes on Russian and Oriental needlework, embroidery and lace making. These were given by Mrs. Henry Draper. Paul Leicester Ford gave a copy of Samuel Gale's "Essay on the Nature and Principles of Publick Credit, "published at St. Augustine in 1784. This is said to be the first book printed in Florida.

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