The Concord Free Public Library's William Munroe Special Collections has acquired an extensive archive of rare books and manuscripts focusing on the distinguished Alcott family. This collection includes letters from Louisa May Alcott to publisher Thomas Niles about illustrations in the first edition of Little Women, an unpublished 1841 letter by Bronson Alcott referencing the Utopian community of Fruitlands, and the original manuscript for Louisa's gothic thriller A Long Fatal Love Chase, which was not published until 1995 when it became a New York Times bestseller.
The acquisition represents a significant expansion of the library's holdings related to the Transcendentalist movement and 19th-century American literature. Through the generosity of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and The Munroe Society, dedicated to preservation and advancement of Special Collections, the library acquired individual items and then a substantial Alcott Family Collection, leading to the recent donation of a major Alcott collection.
In fall 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is particularly strong in representing other members of the multitalented family, including several paintings and unpublished letters from the accomplished artist May Alcott.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 this collection led directly to a major gift: the Mather Alcott Collection.
While distinct in their ownership histories, both collections 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, stated that collecting is not just about finding rare items but also about whether the material speaks to and with other collections in holdings and tells a compelling story. She believes the recent Alcott acquisitions, including the Bicknell Alcott Family Collection and the significant gift of the Mather Alcott Collection, are exceptional additions that will provide a magnificent new window into the lives of the Alcotts through research and exhibition. The William Munroe Special Collections 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.
