New York native Jesse Meyers announced last week he will be donating his collection of 700 books by or about James Joyce to Fordham University’s William D. Walsh Family Library. Meyers started collecting the books after reading “Ulysses,” and his collection now holds a variety of Joyce-related items, including coins, soaps and leaflets.
Meyers has been published several times in Fordham University’s Joyce Studies Annual Journal, gathering essays by both experienced scholars and rising academics on Joyce’s works. Fordham’s Journal is one of only two collegiate periodicals on Joyce published in the United States. It has been active at Fordham since 2001, following a location transfer from the University of Texas.
“As a professor in the English department, I can say that this collection will serve students and teachers in the English department in all sorts of ways,” said Christopher GoGwilt, professor in the English department and managing editor for the journal. “There are a few of us who teach Joyce regularly in courses and for those courses the addition of these books, and videos and other materials, will surely be enriching.”
Meyers’ extensive career was centered around his profession as a publications marketing executive until his retirement in 1994. His first exposure to Joyce’s works came when he attended a lecture on “Ulysses,” — one of Joyce’s most renowned works.
“My wife took me to a lecture about a book that Joyce had written called ‘Ulysses,’ and within five minutes, I was incredibly interested in the book, in Joyce and then following up on it,” Meyers said in an interview with Madison Musco for GreenwichTime.
Meyers has also taught “Ulysses” at the New York Irish Consulate and New York University’s School of Continuing Education. Meyers notes he has read the publication north of 15 times.
GoGwilt appreciates how this donation will enrich his classroom and even those where Joyce’s works are taught less frequently.
“There are many more of us who teach Joyce occasionally and there will be a rich treasure trove to explore for them and their students,” said GoGwilt.
GoGwilt also noted how students who appreciate a challenging read can especially take advantage of this new collection outside of the classroom.
“There are students who turn to Joyce on their own and I fully expect they may be the ones to make the most of this collection,” he said. “I should also say, as current managing editor of the Fordham-based journal Joyce Studies Annual, that this collection will be of interest to students and faculty – everyone really – well beyond the English department.”
Considering these books are both written by Joyce and scholars who studied them, students have an opportunity to read both Joyce’s own firsthand accounts and secondhand accounts of his life and work.
“In this world of digital reading, it’s extremely valuable to have such a large collection of physical books that can serve students over and over with a stability the digital collections can’t offer,” said GoGwilt.
Linda LoSchiavo, director of libraries at Fordham, noted Meyers’ collection brings a significant addition to the Walsh Library.
“The recent gift from Joyce scholar, Jesse Meyers, adds a significant dimension to the already sizable James Joyce collection in the Fordham University library,” said LoSchiavo.
Most of these items will be on display and be readily available. “Students, faculty and staff will have access to this collection once it is completely vetted and cataloged,” said LoSchiavo. However, some of the donated goods are fragile and will be kept in the special collections, where they can be viewed by making an appointment with the Walsh Library staff.
LoSchaivo noted that it would take time to make the collection accessible to the Fordham community.
“Given the size of this gift and the limited staff available in the library, it will take a great deal of time to process the entire collection, so we’re asking the Fordham community for their patience as we move forward with making everything available,” LoSchiavo said.
While the vast majority of the donation consists of written works, some videography has also been included, such as CDs and DVDs. Meyers has built up his collection over many years.
“Mr. Meyers is a tireless collector and a scholarly sleuth, whose insatiable curiosity for all things literary, and some urging from his wife, led him to discover the words and world of Joyce,” said LoSchiavo. “We are very lucky to be the beneficiaries of this passion and energy.”
