Baldwin Library

The Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature one of the largest collections of children’s books in the world, with more than 120,000 books and periodicals published in the United States and Great Britain from the mid-1600s to present day. The Library also has small holdings manuscript collections, original artwork, and assorted ephemera such as board games, puzzles, and toys.

The Collection

The Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature in the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections is known for comparative editions of children's books, marginalia and inscriptions, nonfiction from the 20th century, Little Golden Books, religious tracts, and illustrated editions from the Golden Age of Children's Literature. Scholars worldwide use the Baldwin Library for research in morality tales and religious tracts, conduct of life, gender roles, comparative editions/book history, and toy and movable books.

Baldwin Digital Collections

The University of Florida’s Digital Collections provide scholars with access to over 6,000 rare and unique titles from the print collection.

Bechtel Fellowship

The Baldwin Library also runs the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship in conjunction with the Association of Library Services to Children in the American Library Association, and the Louise Seaman Bechtel Visiting Professorship travel grant program for visiting researchers.