Walter Harding Collection
Walter Harding, one of the 20th century's most prominent Thoreau scholars, was a member of SUNY Geneseo's English faculty from 1956 until his retirement in 1983.The Library’s Walter Harding Collection includes books, pamphlets, articles, chapters, book reviews, and transcripts of lectures written by Harding, plus books, booklets, and periodicals edited by him – most of which concern Thoreau and transcendentalism – and much that was written and published about Harding, including reviews of his works. Materials in this collection are housed mainly in the College Archives and the "X" Special Collection, as indicated in both GLOCAT and the Bibliography (links below). Researchers will also want to consult the holdings of the Thoreau Society’s Walter Harding Collection.
Walter Harding Collection Finding Aids
- Bibliography of Materials By and About Walter Harding
- Use GLOCAT for Items in the collection that have been cataloged separately.
Contact the Special Collections Librarian for more assistance in locating materials.
Accessing and using materials from this collection
Because this collection is shelved in closed stacks areas and most items are non-circulating, a librarian will retrieve requested materials for in-library use only. Items may be requested by contacting the Special Collections Librarian and must be used in the Library.
Walter Harding Collection materials in the classroom and research assignments
The value of the Harding Collection lies not only in the breadth and depth of the “Thoreauiana” it contains, but also in the picture it presents of Harding’s career as a scholar, instructor, and deeply involved member of the Geneseo faculty. His passion for and dedication to the study of Thoreau and Transcendental earned him international renown and respect, and increased prestige for the College.
