Kevin Mac Donnell on the History of Collecting Mark Twain

Sponsored by The Grolier Club

In connection with the public exhibition: A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor, from the collection of Susan Jaffe Tane, which runs in the ground-floor Exhibition Hall from January 15 – April 5, 2025, Kevin Mac Donnell will speak on the history of Mark Twain collecting, beginning in the 1880s down to the present day. He will highlight the major collectors, including two who communicated directly with Twain himself, and talk about how various books, letters, and manuscripts entered the market (or did not). He will also discuss how Twain collecting trends have evolved, and speculate on where Twain collecting might be headed.

This is a Virtual Lecture available on YouTube. Register to receive a link here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-lecture-kevin-mac-donnell-on-mark-twain-collecting-tickets-1259663430229?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

About the Exhibition

A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor examines the humorist Samuel Clemens, who crafted the great “Mark Twain” persona. Twain identified as a “first-class fool,” capturing his dual literary role as a simple, folksy author and speaker on the one hand, and an intelligent, cultured, and nuanced literary craftsman on the other. Twain worked carefully to construct his public persona, and his legacy continues to influence humorists to the present day. With more than 120 works drawn from the private collection of Susan Jaffe Tane, A First-Class Fool presents first and rare editions of Twain’s published works, including presentation copies, first periodical appearances, and uncommon variants; books from Twain’s library and other personal effects; autograph letters and manuscripts; photographs; and a wide variety of ephemera. Many of these items are displayed for the first time in this exhibition. An accompanying book, published by the Grolier Club, features scholarly essays edited by Kevin MacDonnell.