The Books of Isaac Norris at Dickinson College

Isaac Norris bookplate

An article appearing in the Pennsylvania Gazette in October 1784 reported various announcements from Carlisle regarding Dickinson College, formally chartered a year earlier. Among them: "We have the pleasure to inform the public, that a foundation has already been laid for a library in our college. His Excellency the President of the state has presented the college with the principal part of the library of the late Isaac Norris, Esq; consisting of about 1500 volumes, upon the most important subjects." This 'foundation' remains largely intact to this day, the so-named Norris Collection forming the centerpiece of a rare book library in the College's Archives and Special Collections.

Project Creator: 
Michele Tourney, Class of 1998
Date of Launch: 
2004