Moody Library is pleased to house the Robert Bradley Collection. It is unique in that it represents the interests of both the father and son, both of whom collected in different areas. The son collected Victorian literature while his father collected on Southern Civil War military strategy. The latter includes a number of rare and out-of-print volumes on the period, histories, and documentation on the armies, their battalions, and members. Some of this material is of value to genealogy as well as historical research. The second is a collection of volumes related to Victorian literature. Of
particular note is a collection of works by G. A Henty. There are also bound volumes of a Victorian period journal, including a serialized Dickens novel and P.G. Wodehouse. Additionally, there are some assorted volumes on Victorian and American literature, most first editions.
Our most interesting items include:
- A first edition of Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens.
- A Wilkie Collins book signed by him to his agent. He was the first author in the United States to have a literary agent.
- A first edition The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
- A signed edition of The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government by Jefferson Davis; however,
he did not sign his name, only “from a grateful author.” We have a 1929 letter from the Colonel to whom Davis gave the copy that says it was Davis who signed it. It has a lot of handwritten notations for a planned second
edition. The was used by several universities, both of whom attempted to keep it.
Using Items in Special Collections
- HCU Professors are encouraged to use the resources of the Bradley Collection as part of their class assignments. Please contact Dean Riley or Bonita Crider for further information.
- For those not affiliated with HCU, please review our Special Collections information page for further information.