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

“Slight Inventions”: The Fiction of Clara Louise Burnham
The American author Clara Louise Burnham wrote 26 novels between the years 1881 and 1925.

“I was a verse-maker”: Mary Baker Eddy’s poems
Mary Baker Eddy’s love for poetry began when she was a young girl, and she continued writing and editing her poems throughout her life…
The History of Weddings and Funerals in Christian Science Churches
We have found no comments by Mary Baker Eddy in her writings regarding branch churches holding weddings or funerals in their edifices. There has never been a wedding held in The Mother Church; on rare occasions, there have been memorial services. For example, as...

The history of the Cross and Crown emblem
Here’s some fascinating background on a familiar design

A Tale from Cañon City
Among the decorative arts pieces on display in Mary Baker Eddy’s study at Pleasant View, her home in Concord, New Hampshire, was a large photographic print of the Royal Gorge, Colorado.

Little Mementos of the Past
The Library’s collections include objects Mary Baker Eddy gave to others, as well as many gifts she received herself.

An Ivory Pigeon for Eddy’s “Bright Bearer of Messages”
Of the many men and women who worked for Mary Baker Eddy, few were as devoted as Laura Sargent.

A Mustache Cup
Out of all the china/dishware found in the Library’s collections there is only a single example of a mustache cup.
Yale Automobile
We’ve already written about Mary Baker Eddy’s horses, and featured an exhibit about one of her carriages, leaving another transportation topic yet undiscussed: horseless carriages, or automobiles.

The White Student
Among the items that Mary Baker Eddy kept in her study, at Pleasant View and later at Chestnut Hill, was this bust of a child who appears to be thoughtfully contemplating a book.

Mary Baker Eddy’s Grandfather Clock
Read the history of a beautiful clock that struck the hours in Mary Baker Eddy’s home.

Abigail Baker Tilton Daguerreotype
Go behind the scenes of an image taken over 150 years ago.

“Diana or Christ?”
Explore the messages of an engraving that hung in Mary Baker Eddy’s home.

An especially memorable Communion Season
See what our collections reveal about Mary Baker Eddy’s address to a crowd of 12,000.

A Time for Singing at Chestnut Hill
Discover what music and song meant to Mary Baker Eddy.