University of Southern Maine

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Standish Resident Donates Rare Reformation Publications to USM

June 22, 2007

Albert A. Howard of Standish, who worked as a cataloger in the University of Southern Maine libraries for 35 years before retiring, donated his collection of rare books dating back to the 16th century to USM in 2004. The first part of his collection, which contained hundreds of books printed after 1900, came to USM in 2004, with the remainder of the collection bequeathed to the university upon Howard's death.

On June 7 of this year, Howard presented an additional 20, 16th-century, Reformation titles to USM in honor of President Richard L. Pattenaude's 16-year tenure as USM, and his appointment as University of Maine System Chancellor beginning July 1, 2007.
Howard says of this era that, "The Reformation was one of the earliest uses of printed materials on an international scale for public discussion of events of pan-European importance. Reformation publication gives a unique insight into the concerns of all classes of people and the literacy of the population of Europe at large with publications aimed at the most exalted and the most humble." These books are now part of The Albert A. Howard Book History Collection that will eventually number more than 1,200 rare books housed in the Mildred Brenner Glickman Special Collections Area on the sixth floor of USM's Glickman Family Library, Portland.

For more information about The Albert A. Howard Book History Collection, see http://www.usm.maine.edu/mcr/news/releases_03-04/howard.htm or call Susie Bock, head of Special Collections, at 780-4269.

Photo cap:
Albert A. Howard (l) speaks during a June 7 ceremony at USM's Glickman Family Library during which he presented 20, 16th-century, Reformation titles to USM in honor of President Richard L. Pattenaude's (r) 16-year tenure as president of USM, and Pattenaude's appointment as University of Maine System Chancellor.

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