Walter Welch
“Your letter came informing me of some books I sent the Tufts College Library. It is a very great pleasure for me to be able to do this and I hope to send more in the future.” - Walter F. Welch, Jr. A ‘28, writing on January 12, 1953.
Over the next two decades, Welch sent 10 medieval manuscripts, dozens of early printed books, manuscript fragments, fine bindings, and much more to support Tufts students & faculty in the study of art, literature, languages, and history. To mark the 30th anniversary of his graduation, he gave a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, from a damaged copy, bound with an essay to commemorate the printer. The Welch gifts are the beginning and core of the #tischrarebooks collection @tuftsuniversity.
1. Leaf from a French Book of Hours, 15th century
2. MS 9, Book of Hours, Netherlands, 15th century
3. Walter F. Welch, Jr., Tufts yearbook photo, 1928
4. Welch’s bookplate in a 16th century copy of Cicero
5. Leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, about 1450-1455
6. Miniature in MS 2, Book of Hours, France, 15th century
7. Signature of preeminent Shakespearean actress Ellen Terry, an earlier owner of MS 7, Gospel sequences for Holy Week, Italy, 15th century
8. Decorated initial in MS 7
