Description:

Garfield James

The first Presidential memorial library, completed at the Lawnfield estate in Ohio by the widow of James Garfield four years after his assassination, houses almost 3,000 books that were used and treasured by the 20th president. Books were a scarce commodity to young James, who lost his father before the age of two, and was raised by his mother who struggled to maintain a humble existence. Both James Garfield and his wife Lucretia were voracious readers and amassed a large collection of books. Some twenty years ago, several dozen of his books were de-accessioned, and one of these books is described below:

Book signed “J.A. Garfield / Hiram 1857” in pencil on first blank flyleaf. “Elements of Geometry and Conic Sections” by Elias Loomis, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857. 226 pages, 5” x 7.5”. Waterstained and foxed pages, text completely legible. Cloth covers, repaired hinges, damaged spine, most of black label present with gilt lettering “Loomis’ / Geometry”. Slight separation of last section of pages from spine. Blank portion torn away at lower edge of first blank flyleaf. Garfield’s 2.5” x 1.5” bookplate “Inter Folia Fructus / Library of / James A. Garfield” affixed inside front cover. Fine condition. Placed in a custom-made dark brown cloth covered four-flap box housed in a matching custom-made dark brown cloth covered slipcase with black label on spine, gilt-lettered “Elements of / Geometry / Elias Loomis.” Gilt-lettered on lower portion of slipcase spine “James Garfield’s / Signed Copy / 1857”.

In 1851, after finishing his studies in at Geauga Seminary in Chester, Ohio, James A. Garfield entered the principal educational institution of the Campbellites, Hiram Eclectic Institute (later Western Reserve Eclectic, then Hiram College). He made his expenses by teaching in the English departments, and also gave instruction in the Latin and Greek. After three years, in the autumn of 1854, James A. Garfield entered the junior class at Williams College in Massachusetts and graduated with the highest honors in the Class of 1856; he was leaving for his 25th Class Reunion in 1881 when he was assassinated. After graduation, Garfield returned to teaching at Hiram. A year later, Garfield became president of Western Reserve Eclectic, serving from 1857-1861. After it attained collegiate rank in 1867, the school changed its name to Hiram College. While serving as president, Garfield taught Latin, Greek, higher mathematics, history, philosophy, English literature, and English rhetoric.

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