The John G. White Collection, Cleveland Public Library

Abstract

The John G. White Collection of Folk-lore, Oriental and Mediaeval Literature, and Archaeology, now owned by the Cleveland Public Library, comprises 30,000 volumes and pamphlets. with additions at the rate of 2000 or 3000 annually, and is available for loan to those interested, whether residents of Cleveland or not. The material is now in order, and a librarian in charge. The Oriental literature collection is one of the most extensive in the country, the Indic languages, Arabic, and Persian being particularly notable. Hebrew is not abundant, nor are there native editions of Chinese and Japanese texts; but in the major Semitic languages, in Western editions of Chinese and Japanese works, and in the other chief Asiatic tongues -the amount of material is very large. Periodicals are an important feature. Much in other portions of the collection will also be of interest. Folk-lore is to be found here as strongly represented as almost anywhere in the country. Fables, proverbs, and gypsy lore are notable features, while there are several thousand ballads. For catalogues of manuscripts in European and Oriental libraries, the White collection ranks among the first three or four of the United States. Egyptology, Assyriology, archaeology (especially Oriental, that of India deserving particular remark), and Oriental history, witchcraft, voyages and travels, and ethnology are all strong features, especially Egyptology. Mediaeval literature is also a highly important feature. Besides the collections of standard publishing societies, most of the individual authors of the period are to be found in nearly all editions. The critical material on hand is chiefly on the literary side, purely linguistic treatises and the philological journals not falling, as a rule, within the scope of the collection. But for Old French, Old and Middle High German, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, Middle Dutch, etc., and mediaeval romances and legends, the material is very large. Lastly, over 140 different languages are represented, besides many dialects. While no printed lists are in existence, any desired book can be found readily, and loans will be gladly made. Applications should be made if possible through the library of the institution with which the applicant is connected; those not in a position