CREATOR: William K. Bixby (1857-1931); St. Louis businessman and philanthropist who collected rare books and manuscripts.
SCOPE: The collection is composed of sixty-two inscribed and annotated works (see spreadsheet) donated to the St. Louis Mercantile Library by William K. Bixby. These can be found in the Merlin library catalog. These books constitute presentation copies with annotations of manuscripts subsequently published by the omnivourous collection. The collection also includes a type-written manuscript bound in lion skin describing Bixby's adventure on an African safari. The work contains many images of animals, people, and the cultures of the areas he visited.
EXTENT: Sixty-two printed works and one original manuscript.
ACCESS: Due to rarity and condition, access to this collection is limited. Please contact the staff in advance of your visit to coordinate access to these materials for research purposes.
When available, This collection is for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material in Special Collection M-141 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition. For collections marked limited access, researchers are advised to contact the library at least three business days in advance of their visit to submit a request to view the physical material.
Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building.
In observance of security procedures, certain services may not be available shortly before the daily closing time.
Preferred Citation: When citing the material from this collection, the preferred citation is: From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
