.ODc.MTcyOA

Lugust 20, 1942

Miss Barbara Cooney Waldoboro Maine Dear Miss Cooney: Please accept our congratulations upon your second book, THE K~LLYHORNS, which we are glad to observe is receiving excellent notices. It is possible that you do not know of the Maine Aut·~or Collection, and may therefore be interested to learn of its aims. So~e years ago a former State Li ~--rarian began to collect the works of Mai.ne authors as an exhibit at the lP·rary; 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 d&ta, and preserved corresp~ndence with these authors. The authors themselves i~mediately 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 th&t 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 settinrs. We 1.mderstand 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 LIBP.Ii.RY BY

hmj

Encl--1

SECRETARY

�