The Concord Free Public Library has announced substantial new acquisitions for its William Munroe Special Collections, focusing on the distinguished Alcott family. These collections include rare books, manuscripts, and letters that provide new insights into one of America's most important literary families. The acquisitions were made possible through the generosity of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and The Munroe Society, organizations dedicated to preserving and advancing Special Collections.
Among the notable items acquired are letters from Louisa May Alcott to publisher Thomas Niles discussing illustrations for the first edition of Little Women. The collection also includes an unpublished 1841 letter by Bronson Alcott referencing the Utopian community of Fruitlands, with accompanying letters by Mrs. Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Perhaps most significantly, the library has obtained the original manuscript for Louisa May Alcott's gothic thriller, A Long Fatal Love Chase, which wasn't published until 1995 when it became a New York Times bestseller.
The acquisition process began in fall 2024 when Special Collections purchased the Alcott Family Collection assembled over decades by Kent Bicknell, a long-time Alcott enthusiast, collector, and founder of Sant Bani School. 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is particularly strong in representing other members of the multitalented family, including several paintings and unpublished letters from the accomplished artist May Alcott. More information about the library's collections can be found at https://www.concordlibrary.org.
This initial acquisition 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 thirty years, 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 public access.
Anke Voss, curator of Special Collections, emphasized the significance of these acquisitions: "Collecting is not just about finding the rare item but also about whether the material speaks to and with the other collections in your holdings and tells a compelling story. I believe our recent Alcott acquisitions, including the Bicknell Alcott Family Collection and, especially, the significant gift of the Mather Alcott Collection, are an exceptional addition to Special Collections, which, through research and exhibition, will provide a magnificent new window into the lives of the Alcotts."
The William Munroe Special Collections is especially grateful to the Concord Free Public Library Corporation and to Tim Mather for their extraordinary contributions. The library plans to host Kent Bicknell and Alcott scholar Daniel Shealy for a program and exhibition of newly acquired Alcott material on March 28, 2026. These acquisitions represent a significant enhancement to one of New England's important literary repositories and will provide researchers and the public with unprecedented access to materials documenting the Alcott family's intellectual and creative legacy.
