The following story made me think long and hard about the result of our years of careful collecting. It is understandable that museums and libraries may seek to rid themselves of books they do not have space or resources to care for. To me, however, it seems a shame that the collector (about whom we know very little) will have his collection sold in such a way. It is important to consider what will eventually become of your own collections. Speaking with family members, friends and even an attorney may give you a great deal pf peace in this area. Legal documents drawn up that specify what is to become of your collection is a very good idea. I will try to find an attorney or expert to interview about this subject in the near future. Be sure to look for more information about this on this site. The following is the story that brought all of these issues to my mind:

Museum to sell huge book collection from Ohio donor

Special to the News-Argus Published: Monday, May 3, 2010 9:52 AM MDT

The Central Montana Historical Society is getting set to stage one of the most unusual sales in its history. The Lewistown museum plans to sell a huge western history book collection from an Ohio donor.

Shirley Barrick, Society president, said the sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, in the back (work room) of the Museum. The entrance to the room is on Prospect Avenue across the street from the Town Pump gas station. It will be first-come, first-served for the 600-plus books which will be on sale, she said. “The books are from the collection of the late Marvin L. McKinley, Ashland, Ohio, who died on Oct. 30, 2009, and who left an estate worth about $2.5 million,” said Barrick.

McKinley’s will left donations to several individuals and to the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation and National Trust for Historic Preservation,among other beneficiaries. His assets, according to his will, a copy of which was sent to Barrick, included 60 acres worth $240,000, a new $330,000 home and a rental home worth $80,000. Barrick added she never was told what he did for a living. “He loved to travel in the West and presumably he had been through Lewistown more than once. He apparently visited the museum and he very much liked this area. He wanted his Western Americana book collection to remain in the West,” Barrick said.

The Ohio donor’s will stipulated that his book collection was to go to the Montana Historical Society and if they were unable to accept the books, they were to go to the Central Montana Historical Museum. The state historical society took only two books, Barrick said.

“Although the list we received said we would get 604 books, we actually got 623 books. Not all of those are for sale, however, because the museum has kept a few books,” said Barrick.

The attorneys for McKinley’s estate estimated the value of the books at $19,000, but after a local appraiser priced all the books, their total value is $23,645, Barrick said. Last November, the Central Montana Historical Society received a letter saying it may get the book collection, Barrick said. Then, in a letter dated Jan. 6, Barrick was informed that the Montana Historical Society wanted only two books and the rest would be coming to Lewistown. The local historical society’s board approved acceptance of the books at

its February meeting. The books, weighing 1,230 pounds, were shipped in 15
boxes and arrived on April 8. Since that time, a crew of volunteers, composed of local historical society board members, has been sorting, recording, pricing, cleaning and displaying the books for sale.

“The attorney for the man’s estate said that once we received the books they are ours to do what we want with them, so we’re selling them,” said Barrick.

Barrick wanted potential buyers to know that most of these books are rare or collectible and, thus, will not be like the bargain books sold at other local book sales. While many of these books will sell from $5 to $100, prices of others will go up to $650. Several of the books are priced at $200 or more.

“This is a very fine collection of books,” Barrick said. “Nearly all are hardbound, most have their original dust jackets and most are first editions. Many are signed by the authors.”

Subjects include Custer, the fur trade, mining and ghost towns, settlement, railroads, western states including Montana, cowboys and cattlemen, art and photography, Indians, outlaws and lawmen, gunfighters and others.

The most valuable book in the collection is “Wyoming Pioneer Ranches,” published at Laramie in 1955, signed by two of the three authors. This rare book is priced at $650. Another valuable book is J. Evetts Haley’s “Life on the Texas Cattle Range,” published in Austin in 1952. It is hardbound in slipcase. A note is pasted in which is written and dated by Haley. This first edition is priced at $500. Selling for $200 each are William Elsey Connelley’s “Quantrill and the Border Wars,” 1910, signed by the author, and “James Bridger 1804-1881,” by J. Cecil Alter, published in 1925, and signed by the author and numbered. The book is bound in red leather covers.

McKinley obviously had an interest in hunting and fishing. Among books in
the collection are John Mortimer Murphy’s “Sporting Adventures of the Far
West,” 1879; “The Story of American Hunting and Firearms,” by the editors
of Outdoor Life, published in 1959; a first trade edition of Elmer Keith’s “Hell I Was There!” and Martin Rywell’s “The Gun That Shaped America’s Destiny,” 1957.

“For us to be chosen to receive this collection is an honor,” said Barrick. “It is simply outstanding that he chose us considering all the museums there are in Montana. Because the museum receives no tax money and we are completely self-supporting, this gift has been a god-send.

“The museum has received larger financial donations in the past but so far as I am aware this is the largest donation of tangible items in the history of the museum,” Barrick said.

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