Governor Harding’s books donated

By Elaine Graham Estes

2001

Books from the personal collection of William L. Harding, who served as governor from 1917 to 1921, were recently donated to Terrace Hill. The collection has been placed in the Governor’s Office on the second floor. Eight of the books bear inscriptions and bookplates that document the ownership and personality of Governor Harding.

The Burgess Bird Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess, is inscribed “To Barbara from Daddy, June 14, 1921. My little girl’s sixth birthday. Des Moines, Iowa.” The Spirit of Lafayette by James Mott Hallowell, Attorney General of Massachusetts, is inscribed “To our good friend, Gov. W. L. Harding, who aids us in our fight to win the war for National Safety and International Security. 1918.”

Governor Harding’s books represent a record of the literary interests of the times and the family’s value of books as a part of their lives. Books have historically been an important gift for special occasions and certainly represent the cultural background of the individuals who choose them.

Upon the governor’s death on December 17, 1934, his daughter, Barbara Harding, inherited her father’s library. At her death, her husband, Whit West, inherited her possessions. When he died, his widow, Elizabeth West, became the owner of Governor Harding’s books. She donated the collection to Terrace Hill.

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