A collection of original notes taken by early American writer Washington Irving have found a new home in the University's Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.
University Prof. Emeritus Vera Granlund and her husband Dr. John Granlund donated the manuscript notebook, which Irving compiled in preparation for his book "The Life and Voyage of Christopher Columbus," after rediscovering the volume in their collection of Irving papers.
The Granlunds inherited the manuscript from John Granlund's mother, the great-great granddaughter of Washington's brother Ebenezer. The Granlunds had previously lent the notebook to an Irving museum in Sleepy Hollow, located in Tarrytown, New York.
"My husband retired 12 years ago and I gave him 10 years to clean out his office," Vera Grandlund said. She added that, when she ended up cleaning his office, she uncovered the notebook, which had been misplaced from their collection.
The Granlunds decided to make the donation in memory of their son John Irving Granlund, who recently passed away.
Irving, who is most popularly known for his slim volume "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," published the four volume "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus" in 1828.
Michael Plunkett, the director of the special collections library, said the manuscript is a compilation of notes Irving took in preparation for his history.
The notebook contains "some notes [Irving] took at various locations, sometimes in English and sometimes in Spanish," Plunkett said.
Plunkett added that the notebook is not on display, but can be viewed at a visitor's leisure.
The special collections library also contains some early copies of the book that resulted from Irving's notes.
In addition to the notebook, the Granlunds also donated a bound genealogy of the Irving family as well as two letters, one from Ebenezer Irving to Washington, and one from Washington to his niece.
Plunkett said he is only aware of two other copies of the genealogy in the United States.
Vera Granlund said she was content with the manuscript's new location.
"We're very pleased," she said. "We think it has a good home now"
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