Rare Russian Literature Collection

The Miami University Libraries recently acquired an extraordinary collection of manuscripts, books, journals, artwork and photography from the estate of Catherine de Saint Rat. The items feature the history of the Soviet Union. Also included is children’s literature from around the globe.

Purchase of the material was supported by the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post Soviet Studies, the Miami University Art Museum, the department of German, Russian and East Asian languages and the College of Arts and Science.

De Saint-Rat was assistant curator of the Walter Havighurst Special Collections 1959-1984. Her work led to the expansion of the King Collection of Juvenile Literature. The libraries already home to numerous works obtained from and by de Saint-Rat’s late husband, former Miami professor Andre de Saint-Rat.

"This addition greatly enhances the de Saint-Rat Collection of Russian History, Literature and Art and the Edgar and Faith King Collection of Juvenile Literature already in the Walter Havighurst Special Collections," says Judith Sessions, dean and university librarian. "Thanks to the generous support of our donors, a priceless piece of history can now be preserved for future generations."

The acquisition also contains books published beyond Russia and materials published during the Russian Civil War and prior to World War II, materials scores of historians consider particularly rare. Under Joseph Stalin, numerous historical records were destroyed as a result of periodic purges during the 1930’s.

"The private collection of Andre de Saint-Rat rings to Miami one of the most significant collections of books about the Russian art world from the late 19th century to the advent of Stalin in the early 1930’s," says Karen Dawisha, director of the Havighurst Center. "Anyone doing work in the United States on this period could only benefit from consulting this collection, and it is a great achievement for the university to have acquired it. Also, it is a testament to the family’s determination to see the legacy of their father honored that they kept his collection intact."

Visual art materials in the collection include lithographs and engravings of famous Russian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among these are several limited editions, children’s books, Avant-Garde literature and early Soviet era posters, covering a periods from 1900-1945.