[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Joe- probably a little bit of both. Regarding both the Burdick and Spalding collections, there have been problems with theft, as well as damage to items that have been handled too many times. So the institutions have made it more difficult for the public to view them.

Then of course there is the fact that the clerks who have to show the collection are forced to do extra work above and beyond whatever other duties they have. So they are not thrilled.

Here's an anecdote: about five years ago I was researching the Spalding Collection and discovered that they possessed a Harry Wright season scorebook from 1893. I wrote an article about the scorebooks some years earlier for VCBC and was not aware of this one at that time. I asked to see it and brought it over to a reading table away from the front desk.

When I opened the volume I found tucked into the front cover some newspaper clippings, as well as an 1887 World Series scorecard! If you are not familiar with them they are not much bigger than a bookmark when folded in half, but quite valuable. In an auction one could easily sell for $7500, maybe more. And because they are so small they of course could be easily stolen. I went back to the front desk and pointed out how important a relic it was, how easily it could be stolen, and that the library should take extra precautions with it.

I don't think I ever saw a more disinterested look in my life. I was actually asking this librarian to do some extra work, and he simply didn't want to be bothered. For all I know, that scorecard may already be gone.