The Reese Room
The Reese room is located on the second floor of Reese Library, on the Augusta University Summerville campus. The room houses the library's rare book collections, and was donated by Katherine Reese Pamplin when the library was built in 1977.
Designed to look like a 19th century private library, the Reese Room acts as a museum room, and features period furniture. As a result, the room has no workspaces for researchers.
Mary Katherine Reese Pamplin
Mary Katherine Reese Pamplin (1917-2008) was born the daughter of John Thomas Reese and Kate Coffin Robinson, and was raised on a farm in Edgefield County, SC. She graduated from North Augusta High School, and later from Winthrop University. She married Robert B. Pamplin Jr. in 1940 and moved to Portland, OR in 1954.
In 1977, Mary Katherine Reese Pamplin and Robert B. Pamplin Jr. donated much of the funding for the construction of Reese Library, and Mary Katherine stipulated that a memorial room be built and dedicated to her parents, the room now known as the Reese Room.
Materials in the Reese Room are available for research by appointment only, and are contingent upon the physical condition of the book being requested. If a fragile book is requested and a digitized copy is available, patrons will be directed to the digital copy.
Researchers interested in accessing the books in the Reese Room should contact the Special Collections Library Assistant to set up an appointment. Materials requested will be pulled in advance of the research visit, and may be used for research in the Special Collections Reading Room (room 314) in Reese Library.
The majority of the travel literature in the Reese Room rare book collection are comprised of travel books from the 18th-20th centuries. Our travel literature explores Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
Etiquette books rose in popularity during the Victorian era (roughly 1837-1901), and informed the reader of the best practices of the time regarding social expectations, manners, dress, and advice on how to handle various social situations. Many etiquette books were published during this period, revealing their wide popularity in both the United States and Great Britain.
As a genre, children's literature can be traced back to the late 1600s to early 1700s. While some children most likely consumed literature or print materials in some way prior to this period, children's literature's chronology is dependent both upon the concept of children and childhood as being distinct from adulthood, as well as the evolution of print culture, which began producing print materials written for and marketed to children during this period.The majority of the children's literature in the Reese Room was published during the 19th century, particularly during the Victorian era.
