Collections : [Business, Literary, and Local History Manuscripts]

Sir Thomas Smith served in official positions during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. This collection contains the manuscript entitled, "A Discourse for the Common Welthe of England," which was one of five known early manuscripts of a political treatise completed in 1549 in response to socio-economic problems in Tudor England at the time and first published in 1581.

This collection contains manuscripts of two children's books by Maud and Miska Petersham. The Petershams were a Caldecott Medal winning married couple who wrote and illustrated children's books together, primiarly between the late 1920s and mid-1950s.

The Jennie D. Lindquist papers document the professional life of Lindquist, an editor, author, lecturer, and librarian. The collection is cheifly composed of copies of personal correspondances, printed materials, transcripts from her radio program, and an advanced publisher's copy of her book.

This collection contains manuscripts and a journal written by the Spanish novelist Gonzalo Torrente Balleste.

The William Kennedy Papers document nearly a half century of research, writing, and publishing efforts of the internationally recognized, Pulitzer Prize winning author, playwright, essayist, journalist, script writer, professor, and champion of the arts. The collection consists of records related to all of Kennedy's fiction and nonfiction books through 2002, including his "Albany Cycle" of novels, film scripts, essays, and newspaper articles from the Albany . In addition, there is correspondence with other significant authors of American literature, biographical materials, and records documenting a trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with President Bill Clinton.