Our Rare Books, Our SMC: An Exhibit of Items Held at Saint Mary's College

Cheek, The Growth and Importance of Literature

Within the rare book room, I was instantly captivated by the literature section, including volumes written by Shakespeare and a range of other British writers. This initial fascination drew me to continue researching several of the books in the collection having to do with literature and English. I was introduced to exciting books, such as Syr Perceyvelle of Gales. I also continued my research into one of the greatest writers, Shakespeare (in my opinion), and spent lots of time looking at the volumes of his works that we had. I was instantly entranced. The Rare Book Room made a significant impact on me. I got to explore more of what I'm passionate about--literature. This deep dive into old literature excited me and made me more interested in English and how writing developed. This passion expanded into other topics, such as how books are made, the diversity of writing styles, and the evolution of printing through the years. Working within the Rare Book Room made me realize how far book-making and writing have come through the centuries. 
Working with our collection, however, was not without its challenges. While most items were correctly catalogued, I did encounter some difficulties with the numbering system. The room was a treasure trove of intriguing works, each deserving of in-depth research, but time was a constraint. The allure of the Rare Book Room was such that it was hard to tear myself away. Selecting just two books for this project was a daunting task, but I persevered and chose what I considered to be the most significant ones. 

From the extensive collection in the rare book room, I meticulously chose two books that I believed were vital to the history of literature and that held the most significance. These were Syr Perceyvelle of Gales and F. Theresa Chisholm's Shakespeare Volume (a facsimile of the famous First Folio). Each book possessed unique qualities that set it apart from the rest, making it a perfect representative of literature.
These two books stood out to me as soon as I saw them. Syr Perceyvelle of Gales has an interesting back story about how it came to be. I loved researching this magnificent and detailed book. It made me appreciate restoring history more than I had before. Secondly, I chose the famous First Folio because Shakespeare is a fantastic writer, and the lithography provides a direct reproduction of this famous, posthumous collection of his works. This book also revealed the history of Saint Mary’s, in that it was awarded to in memory of a professor who once taught here, making this book even more unique. 

I hope the viewer of this project sees the importance of the literature I chose. The two works I have chosen are unique in their own ways and contribute to the world of literature in different ways. One encapsulates an idealization of old manuscripts and medieval writing, and the other shows both the works of a legendary playwright and the modern innovations of printing that have helped to spread Shakespeare's amazing works to new audiences in the modern day. 

Laynie Cheek
English and Secondary Education Majors
Class of 2027

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