Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Hello all,

I am having a tough time. I want some advice.

I have well over 1,700 books. As you might expect, most of my books are specifically about Lincoln and the Civil War. I also have a good mix of other presidential biographies, especially since I pledged to buy at least one biography for every president who served. So far, I haven't filled that yet. Some haven't had a new biography written in decades! Plus, some presidents are of such interest to me (TR, Wilson, Jefferson, to name three) that I have several.

The one thing I don't have plenty of is space. We have yet to get the bookcases we bought a couple of years ago up and holding books (other than the Lincoln books in my office). We couldn't do it on vacation because of my back (which I will likely have to have surgery...yea), and I'm not sure how long it will take for that to finally happen. I know that I will have to get rid of some as they all won't fit, plus I have books I bought years ago and still haven't read. While you might think, "If you haven't read it in that time, you likely never will," and you would likely be right. Yet I love the look of a full library of books I could read if I chose to. And, as Desiderius Erasmus wrote, "When I get a little money I buy books, and if any is left I buy food and clothes."

I guess I'm asking for your opinion on 1)any suggestions on a painless way to cull; 2)any experiences you might have had that are similar to mine; and 3)any other opinions you might want to share. I have decided to get rid of some books if I have the audio version. I recently joined audible.com, and I would listen to many of the books I wouldn't read in hand. Of course, that means buying another version, but if one watches for specials, etc., it isn't too bad. Plus, see the quote from Erasmus above. Also, I will likely download some older versions of available presidential biographies, but I can't see getting rid of the ones I own.

I bought many books because I didn't have good access to a library at the time. Now, I have daily access to an exceptional library, so it isn't like I can't find any of the books I own. Yet, there is just something about seeing the books in my house and knowing they're mine. Of course, when the time comes that I join the choir invisible, it will likely leave Cheryl with a hellacious headache of what to do with them.

Thanks!

Best
Rob

I hope my wife doesn't read your post, and more importantly, doesn't read the responses.

You may regret this, but since you asked.

If you have more than one copy of a specific book, keep only your favorite or best copy. Let the other one go.

If it's a poor book that you really don't care for, you are not likely to ever read it again, but it has some good passages in it, let it go if the Internet Archives has a copy of it.

If you could only keep 1600 of your books, which ones would your dog want you to keep.

If it were me, I'd keep them all...even if it means storing some books in the corner of a closet, under a bed, etc. I am very old-fashioned in that I strongly prefer the book itself over reading a copy on the Internet, etc. In truth I really cannot see "a painless way to cull," so rather than doing something I would prefer doing nothing. That's just me.

I also have started to think about what to do with my books. Of three main areas of historical interests, Lincoln is preeminent. So, I have several hundred books about him and some historical materials of which I am a temporary custodian. My impression is that several hundred pounds of books is something that most people (or institutions) may not want unless they are rare, first editions. So, to quote Dorothy Parker, "I might as well live."

Thanks, gentlemen.

I should clarify something. I'm not talking about getting rid of any of my Lincoln books or books on the Civil War. I use them in my research as I do my books on Tarbell. The kind of books I am talking about include a biography of Norman Rockwell, whose art I deeply admire or John Steinbeck, whose biography I bought after reading Travels with Charley (which is an excellent book by the way).

What got this started was last night, I was trying to see if my presidential biographies would fit on top of my Lincoln books. Here is the result (they are not in order).


This only represents about one-third of my presidential biographies. For example, I have the complete set of Dumas Malone's six-volume biography of Thomas Jefferson, but I have yet to read it and likely never will. I checked, and some volumes are on Internet Archive, but some only have a one-hour borrowing period. If I really wanted to read it, I could get it from the local library, but that doesn't seem as easy as walking to my bookcase and taking it off the shelf.

Gene, since Patsy can't see, she wants me to get rid of them all so she won't keep bumping into them walking down the hall.

Roger, I thought about doing what you said, but my biggest issue with that is the only storage space that we have available is in our yard barn. I would have to get plastic bins where the lids lock tight, and then I would have to get relatively small sizes so they wouldn't be too heavy. That is still a definite possibility, and I have to admit I am leaning toward your viewpoint.

Thanks again, guys.

Best
Rob

I sympathize with you Rob.

I just completed a short notice move to a new residence. As it turns out, I have LOTS and LOTS of books (probably bumping up around 1800 non-fiction/history alone). Not sure I realized how many until I had to move them, box after box after box.

I then decided I had to cull the collection. I have not made much progress in that regard. I have managed to give 5 books away to friends and about 6 or 7 to one of my brothers. The problem has been that after pulling out some that I felt like I might be alright to get rid of (like you, no Lincoln, Civil War books will go) I started to page through them...and then found something interesting enough in each of them to keep! It will be an ongoing process to go through more books. I would like to give a good home to the ones I eventually part with (mostly fiction books and broad topic books I think).

I know it will be an ongoing process. Like you, I have more books than space. I will probably have to put some into storage somewhere. I have decided the best answer is to bring fewer books into the house for now.

Good luck as you work on your project!

Scott,

I feel for you! When Cheryl and I moved (the first and LAST time that will happen), I got rid of 17 boxes of books but still had around 85 (I lost count) boxes left. I know Cheryl wants the part of her sewing room with my books in it back, so I imagine storage will likely be the way to go, even temporarily.

Good luck!

Best
Rob

Rob -

I suspect this is an issue we ALL have.... I have two suggestions, both of which you have probably considered: (1) find a library which accepts donations (they either add the books to their shelves or they sell them); (2) find a museum that is trying to build a research library (and if a book does not fit their purpose, they can sell it in the bookshop. It is free money for them). #2 has worked quite well for the Surratt Society in building the library at the James O. Hall Research Center at the Surratt House Museum, and in building a library at the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum, both of which are intended to foster research and scholarship.

Good luck!

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for the suggestions. Our library here accepts books (I have donated before), and we also have a very nice Goodwill store, which is where my books went during our move. I'm slowly considering my various options. I can make space on one shelf where I store academic journals by getting rid of them since I have access to them another way (the only ones I wouldn't be able to toss would be the journals from when I was accepted to Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society.

I used to worry about what would happen to my books once I passed but decided that even if Cheryl decided to dump them at the curb, they got their use from me. I have already told her what I want to be done with them (although it's not in a will), and I think she will honor that.

Best
Rob