.ODc.MTcyOA

                                                           August 20, 1942

Miss Barbara Cooney Waldoboro Maine

Dear Miss Cooney:

               Please accept our congratulations upon your

second book, THE KELLYHORNS, which we are glad to observe is receiving excellent notices.

              It is possible that you do not know of the

Maine Authot Collection, and may therefore be interested to learn of its aims. Some years ago a former State Librarian began to collect the works of Maine authors as an exhibit at the library; books written by people born here, living in the state, or writing about it or using it as a background. He also gathered all available biographical, photographic and critical data, and preserved correspondence with these authors.

           The authors themselves immediately became very

enthusiastic, and through the years have inscribed and presented over a thousand volumes. The collection continues to grow, and is now of substantial size and recognized value. It is the only place where all the works of all Maine authors are collected, and it is of course of permanent worth.

        We hope that you may want to inscribe and

present a copy of THE KING OF WRECK ISLAND and also THE KELLYHORNS, since both seem to have Maine settings. We understand that we are not privileged to claim you as a Maine-born author, but we feel that you and your work are closely related to the state.

       Our best wishes go to you for a happy:_ success for

the new book.

                                             Very truly yours
                                             MAINE STATE LIBRARY
                                             BY

hmj. SECRETARY Encl--1