Robert B. Honeyman's Contribution to Lehigh's Darwin Collection
Thanks to the generosity of Robert B. Honeyman, a graduate of the class of 1920, Lehigh University holds one of the world's premier collections of Charles Darwin's works. Honeyman, who earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, became a passionate book collector shortly after graduating from Lehigh. His initial collecting focus was on first editions of American and English Literature, which he donated to the Lehigh Libraries.
Honeyman's interests soon shifted to the history of science. He sought and acquired significant works in scientific disciplines, concentrating for a time on the works of Charles Darwin. Honeyman did not simply acquire early editions; he collected important copies, including annotated proof copies corrected in the author's own hand. Several examples are exhibited on the first floor of Linderman Library.
Building upon the tradition established at Lehigh fifty years ago, we are pleased to exhibit highlights from the collections not seen for twenty-five years, as they may be enjoyed by new audiences.