History of Reading News. Vol.XX No.2 (1997:Spring)

When H. Alan Robinson arrived at Hofstra University in the fall of 1967 from the University of Chicago, he thought it might be interesting and useful to establish a historical collection of readers and professional methods books at Hofstra. He felt that since Hofstra had just instituted a doctoral program in reading, the collection could be a basic tool for seminars and dissertations in addition to serving the larger professional community.

Having no budget available for materials, he put out a call to the reading community naming the prospective collection after his mentor, Nila Banton Smith, who was the noted historian in the reading field. Educators across the United States responded with a number of early 20th-century readers and professional books. In order to purchase earlier readers and books, it became obvious that much more money would be needed. Robinson appealed to the Nassau (Long Island, New York) Reading Council for funds; the council agreed to award a $500 grant for the purpose of buying 19th- and, possibly, 18th-century materials. The Hofstra Library also agreed to help with limited funds.

Aside from using the bibliographical materials in Nila B. Smith's American Reading Instruction as a source for finding appropriate materials, Robinson visited the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts, to view its collection. He was most fortunate to arrive at a time when their Librarian, Marcus McCorison, was weeding out duplicates in the Society's collection and offered Robinson the opportunity of purchasing materials for $1.00 a piece. Robinson was awarded travel funds by Hofstra and he, with doctoral candidate Vincent Faraone, spent several days at the Society selecting and packing materials. It was, indeed, a boon!

So, this is how the Nila Banton Smith collection began, with her blessings.

Editors' Note: One of the most cherished myths about Hofstra University's Nila Banton Smith Collection is that it was initially composed of the books that Nila Banton Smith herself used for her classic history, American Reading Instruction, with a Prologue by Leonard Courtney, FSC and an epilogue by H. Alan Robinson (Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 1986), first published by the IRA in 1965. We are grateful to H. Alan Robinson for setting us straight.