Concord Free Public Library Unveils Significant New Acquisitions for William Munroe Special Collections
William Munroe Special Collections of Concord Free Public Library, Massachusetts acquires rare Alcott books and manuscripts
CONCORD, MA, January 23, 2026 -- One of Concord, Massachusetts' great repositories for important literary material has recently acquired an archive of rare books and manuscripts. Concord Free Public Library's William Munroe Special Collections reports that the collection focuses on the distinguished Alcott family. It includes letters from Louisa May Alcott to publisher Thomas Niles about the illustrations in the first edition of Little Women; an unpublished letter from 1841 by Bronson Alcott in which he writes, "Eden is being planted in New England as fabled Paradise of yore"—a reference to the Utopian community of Fruitlands, which is also discussed in accompanying letters by Mrs. Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson; and the original manuscript for Louisa's gothic thriller, A Long Fatal Love Chase—not published until 1995 when it became a New York Times bestseller.
Through the generosity of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and The Munroe Society, dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Special Collections, the Library acquired individual items and then a substantial Alcott Family Collection, all leading to the recent donation of a major Alcott collection.
The Backstory: In the fall of 2024, Special Collections purchased a significant Alcott Family Collection, assembled over decades by Kent Bicknell, a long-time Alcott enthusiast, collector, and founder of Sant Bani School in central New Hampshire. This collection is particularly strong in representing other members of the multitalented family, including several paintings and unpublished letters from the accomplished artist May Alcott.
The acquisition of the Alcott Family Collection led directly to a major gift: the Mather Alcott Collection. While distinct in their ownership histories, the two collections are united by a single vision, as both were assembled through the efforts of Dr. Bicknell, who served as curator and advisor to the collection of Colorado entrepreneur Tim Mather. Over a thirty-year period, manuscripts, books, and artifacts were selected for their capacity to illuminate family relationships, intellectual development, and historical context. Mr. Mather, a long-time supporter of Sant Bani School, asked Dr. Bicknell to find a permanent home where the collection would "be treasured, enhance current holdings, stay together, and be available for all to access." Dr. Bicknell strongly recommended the library, noting that the "Alcott material would be coming back home." Mr. Mather agreed and donated his collection to the Concord Free Public Library's Special Collections in honor of Sant Bani as a school the Transcendentalists would have endorsed.
Anke Voss, curator of Special Collections, had this to say about their latest acquisition: "Collecting is not just about finding the rare item but also about whether the material speaks to and with the other collections in your holdings and tells a compelling story. I believe our recent Alcott acquisitions, including the Bicknell Alcott Family Collection and, especially, the significant gift of the Mather Alcott Collection, are an exceptional addition to Special Collections, which, through research and exhibition, will provide a magnificent new window into the lives of the Alcotts."
The William Munroe Special Collections of the Concord Free Public Library is especially grateful to the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and to Tim Mather for their extraordinary contributions to its holdings. The Concord Free Public Library looks forward to hosting Kent Bicknell and Alcott scholar Daniel Shealy for a program and exhibition of newly acquired Alcott material on March 28, 2026.
Contact Information:
Victor Gulotta
Gulotta Communications
725 Boston Post Road, #16
Sudbury, MA 01776
Tel: 617-306-9494
# # #
Through the generosity of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and The Munroe Society, dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Special Collections, the Library acquired individual items and then a substantial Alcott Family Collection, all leading to the recent donation of a major Alcott collection.
The Backstory: In the fall of 2024, Special Collections purchased a significant Alcott Family Collection, assembled over decades by Kent Bicknell, a long-time Alcott enthusiast, collector, and founder of Sant Bani School in central New Hampshire. This collection is particularly strong in representing other members of the multitalented family, including several paintings and unpublished letters from the accomplished artist May Alcott.
The acquisition of the Alcott Family Collection led directly to a major gift: the Mather Alcott Collection. While distinct in their ownership histories, the two collections are united by a single vision, as both were assembled through the efforts of Dr. Bicknell, who served as curator and advisor to the collection of Colorado entrepreneur Tim Mather. Over a thirty-year period, manuscripts, books, and artifacts were selected for their capacity to illuminate family relationships, intellectual development, and historical context. Mr. Mather, a long-time supporter of Sant Bani School, asked Dr. Bicknell to find a permanent home where the collection would "be treasured, enhance current holdings, stay together, and be available for all to access." Dr. Bicknell strongly recommended the library, noting that the "Alcott material would be coming back home." Mr. Mather agreed and donated his collection to the Concord Free Public Library's Special Collections in honor of Sant Bani as a school the Transcendentalists would have endorsed.
Anke Voss, curator of Special Collections, had this to say about their latest acquisition: "Collecting is not just about finding the rare item but also about whether the material speaks to and with the other collections in your holdings and tells a compelling story. I believe our recent Alcott acquisitions, including the Bicknell Alcott Family Collection and, especially, the significant gift of the Mather Alcott Collection, are an exceptional addition to Special Collections, which, through research and exhibition, will provide a magnificent new window into the lives of the Alcotts."
The William Munroe Special Collections of the Concord Free Public Library is especially grateful to the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and to Tim Mather for their extraordinary contributions to its holdings. The Concord Free Public Library looks forward to hosting Kent Bicknell and Alcott scholar Daniel Shealy for a program and exhibition of newly acquired Alcott material on March 28, 2026.
Contact Information:
Victor Gulotta
Gulotta Communications
725 Boston Post Road, #16
Sudbury, MA 01776
Tel: 617-306-9494
# # #
Contact Information
Victor GulottaGulotta Communications
Sudbury, MA
United States
Voice: 6173069494
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