Now Available: The catalog for "Book Art; Art in Books; Books as Art," the art exhibition for Summer 2007, is now available for download (PDF file, 3.57 mb).

Bentley Rare Book Gallery

The Bentley Special Collections, named in honor of Fred and Sarah Bentley, brings together a world-class collection of 15,000 items that spans the history of the written word in the Western World. This collection provides undergraduate students the opportunity to study original works firsthand. The history of the collection is described in the Bentley Rare Book Gallery Brochure, available online in PDF format.

Recent additions to this collection includes a fourth folio Shakespeare dated 1685, and a first edition complete works of Chaucer dated 1542.

The Rare Book Gallery includes a number of private papers and resources such as:

• Secrist Papers
• Quadfasel Collection
• Kennesaw State University Oral History Project
• Charles Duke Collection
• Fore-edge Paintings

Note: As of June 14th, 2005, a number of local history collections have been relocated to University Archives, located in Library room 219. Collections moved include the Atkinson-Floyd Papers, Blair Papers, Cole Papers, Lawrence Papers, and the Yates Papers. Descriptions of the collections can be found on the Archives Georgia History Collections page. If you are interested in reviewing these collections, please contact or visit University Archives.

Location

The Rare Book Gallery, designed to replicate an eighteenth century library, is located on the lower level of the Horace W. Sturgis Library. To reach the gallery, enter the library and take the elevator to the lower level; the gallery is to the left of the art gallery.

Appointments

The Rare Book Gallery is open for research and is available to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 PM. The gallery can be booked for class lectures and group meetings by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 770-423-6535 or e-mail Rita Impey-Imes with your request. Please make appointments at least one week in advance. Confirmation of requested appointments is necessary to avoid scheduling conflicts.