Calvin Morgan McClung historical collection — Edition Insights

Scope and Structure of the Collection

The collection encompasses books, pamphlets, manuscripts, pictures, maps, and newspapers. The table of contents lists sections: Books and Pamphlets (pages 1–162), Knoxville Books and Pamphlets (163–167), Autographs and other Manuscripts (168–180), Pictures (181–183), Maps (184–189), and Newspapers (190). The catalog entries themselves reveal a wide range of subjects: from James Adair's History of the American Indians (1775) to Francis Parkman's California and Oregon Trail (1849) and Thomas Nelson Page's Robert E. Lee, man and soldier (1911). Genealogical works on families like the Marshalls, Paxtons, and Pages appear alongside military narratives, such as Robert Patterson's Narrative of the campaign in the valley of the Shenandoah, in 1861.

Annotations and Provenance Clues

The compilers note that McClung's "marginal annotations, the clippings and letters" are found "in almost every volume of his library." This suggests the catalog not only lists items but also hints at a working collection, where McClung actively engaged with the texts. For instance, the entry for Thomas Nelson Page's In memoriam. Mrs. Susan Roy Carter is described as "Typewritten, 1902. 10 p."—a fragile, possibly unique item. The presence of such ephemera, alongside published works, indicates a collector who valued primary sources and personal records. The catalog itself, compiled by trained librarians (Luttrell from Wisconsin Library School, Rothrock from New York State Library School), reflects a professional approach to organizing these materials.

Regional Focus and Historical Layers

The collection's emphasis on Tennessee and the South is evident in entries like John Mason Peck's Gazetteer of Illinois (1837) and Guide for emigrants (1831), which document westward expansion. Works on Cherokee Indians (Thomas Valentine Parker, 1907) and frontier forts (Pennsylvania Indian Forts Commission, 1896) show attention to Native American and colonial history. The inclusion of Recollections of Grover Cleveland (1909) and Twenty years of the republic (1906) broadens the scope to national politics. Notably, the catalog lists items from 1775 to 1913, spanning over a century of publication, and includes both scholarly monographs and personal narratives, creating a layered portrait of the region's past.

Readers using this catalog should note that it is a finding aid, not a full bibliography: entries vary in detail, and some lack publication places or dates. The compilers' gratitude to Dr. George F. Mellen for "helpful suggestions" underscores the collaborative nature of the work. For researchers, the catalog offers a gateway to McClung's personal library, with its marginalia and clippings providing additional context beyond the listed titles.

There’s something tender about old catalogs—the way a single listed pamphlet can hold an entire forgotten life. I felt that same hush reading through Luttrell’s careful entries, and again, oddly, while turning the pages of Quotes and Images from Celebrated Crimes. Both feel like lantern light in a quiet archive, reminding me that every dusty shelf keeps its own secrets. Maybe that’s enough. Quotes and Images from Celebrated Crimes — Reading Companion simply sits beside them, unhurried.