The University of Kansas Libraries
51st Annual Snyder Book Collecting Contest Reception
Barbara Backus McCorkle, a former librarian at the University of Kansas, was the keynote speaker at the 51st Annual Snyder Book Collecting Contest awards reception. McCorkle recently donated to the KU Libraries Department of Special Collections 125 geography texts, gazetteers and geographical dictionaries that she collected while compiling a carto-bibliography of the maps that such books contain. The gift doubled the Spencer Research Library’s holdings of geography books published in 18th-century Britain and North America. Her keynote address focused on starting and maintaining book collections.
“It is fitting that Barbara [spoke] at this event, as she embodies the ideal and spirit of the Snyder Book Collecting Contest,” said Richard Clement, director of special collections at KU Libraries. “She has spent most of her career seeking out and acquiring these significant 18th-century geography texts.”
Dean of Libraries, Lorraine Haricombe gave the opening address and introduced the winners, judges, and guest speaker.
The KU Libraries have sponsored the Snyder contest since 1957 with Oread Books in the Kansas Union joining as a co-sponsor in 1974. Since 2003 all judges for the contest have been previous Snyder contest winners.
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