From the Collections
Stories and behind-the-scenes information on the rich holdings of our Library archives.

“…objects more beautiful”: The Mary Baker Eddy Memorial in Mount Auburn Cemetery
This month’s Object of the Month is a bit unusual—our object is not part of The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s collections. But it is nonetheless one that many visitors to the Boston area with interest in Eddy’s history have seen: The Mary Baker Eddy Memorial at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Buyer Beware: Mary Baker Eddy and “The Book of the Presidents”
Mary Baker Eddy’s celebrity made her a target for many solicitations. The Book of the Presidents is one interesting example of this. Hundreds of documents in the Library’s collections tell us about the negotiations and discussions; it’s a story with many twists and turns.

Maps of Belknap and Merrimack Counties, New Hampshire
Though her church was established in Boston, Massachusetts, Mary Baker Eddy lived the majority of her life in New Hampshire. Thus it seems fitting that The Mary Baker Eddy Library has in its collection nineteenth century maps of two Granite State counties, Belknap and Merrimack.

“My New Book”: The centennial of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany
In the summer of 1906, Mary Baker Eddy began thinking about a revision to her book Pulpit and Press.

“The Most Beautiful Thing I Ever Saw in My Life”
On February 15, 1895, one month after the Original Edifice of The Mother Church was completed, Mary Baker Eddy was presented with this beautiful gold scroll…

Diplôme d’ honneur and Officier d’Académie Pin
Eddy was given a Diploma of Honor on October 23, 1907 by the International Books and Paper Exposition in Paris, France.

Snubs the Dog in The Christian Science Monitor
The history of cartoons in newspapers spans back to the nineteenth century. Since that time, they have been both political and comical.

“A Very Elaborate Affair”: Mary Baker Eddy and “Bohemia”
One of the most ornate volumes in The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s collection of books owned by Eddy is Bohemia…

The Massachusetts Metaphysical College, Boston
The Massachusetts Metaphysical College was chartered in 1881. According to the articles of agreement the College…

Mary Baker Eddy’s study and desk at Pleasant View
Mary Baker Eddy moved to Pleasant View in Concord, New Hampshire, in June 1892, with plans to lead a quieter, less busy life…

Inscriptions in Mary Baker Eddy’s books
Find out how a message on a flyleaf can give new insight to the researcher.

From the Collections: Treatment for the Glover letter
Read how a badly damaged document was given new life.

Building “Mrs. Eddy’s gift” to Concord, New Hampshire
Read how a church took shape to nurture the city she called home.

Joshua Bailey, United States Internal Revenue Collector
This student of Mary Baker Eddy achieved good despite his checkered past.

Hymns that Mary Baker Eddy “particularly loved”
Learn why several selections meant so much to her.