Emanuel Haldeman-Julius : Pocket Series and the Little Blue Books

Resources for Collectors : Special Collections of Note

The Special Collections departments of many academic institutions have made a concerted effort to gather substantial collections of Little Blue Books and related materials. These collections serve a vital role in our community, allowing us greater opportunities for exploration and comparison than our personal collections can afford. Below we have compiled a list of some of the more substantial collections available. If you know of one we've overlooked please let us know!.

Leonard H. Axe Library

The E. Haldeman-Julius Collection at the Axe Library contains the private library of Emanuel and Marcet Haldeman-Julius, and supports a nearly complete collection of Little Blue Books and Big Blue Books. An inventory of correspondence, business records, newspapers and magazines is also available.

Indiana State University Library

The Debs Collection in the Indiana State University contains approximately 1500 Little Blue Books, as well as an assortment of Big Blue Books.

Northern Illinois University Libraries

The Rare Books & Special Collections Department of the Northern Illinois University Libraries has a substantial collection of People's Pocket Series, Ten Cent Pocket Series and Little Blue Books

Northwestern University Libraries

The Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections at Northwestern University has an vast offering of Little Blue Books.

Amherst College

The Haldeman-Julius "Little Blue Book" Collection 1919-1947 at Amherst College Archives and Special Collections is some 55 linear feet and sports over 3000 titles from various series, including Fillers.

Oviatt Library

Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge has a substantial collection of Little Blue Books (9 linear ft.) donated to them by Norman E. Tanis and Jack Botwin. Collection also includes books from E. Haldeman-Julius' personal library, a printing plate, and canceled business checks..

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

A commodious assortment of titles, including some interesting early editions. Many can be found in The Labadie Collection of anarchist and radical pamphlets.

University of Arkansas Libraries

Approximately 1900 Little Blue Books can be found in McIntosh Dime Novel Collection at University of Arkansas Libraries

Grand Valley State University

Their Little Blue Books Special Collection sports over 1000 booklets, plus an assortment of periodicals.

University of Kansas Libraries, Lawrence

The Kenneth Spencer Research Library contains almost 2000 Little Blue Books and miscellaneous pocket series. Their Henry J. Haldeman Collection also contains correspondence and biographic materials, as well as briefs from U.S. Court of Appeals related to HJH's obscenity trial.

The Cohen Center for Kansas History

The Haldeman-Julius Publications and Related Serials collection at The Cohen Center for Kansas History (Barton Community College) is both extensive and interesting.

Lilly Library

The Haldeman MSS., 1948-1960 collection includes business records from the Haldeman-Julius Company, and notable correspondence with Upton Beall Sinclair.

Kent State University

The Haldeman-Julius Publications, Little Blue Books, 1919-1948 special collection consists of over 1000 Little Blue Books totaling 8.5 cubic feet. Special Collections keeps scant hours, and materials are kept off-site so must be requested in advance.

San Diego State University

The Haldeman-Julius Little Blue Books Collection, 1915-1976 special collection consists of a diverse range of works totaling 2.5 linear feet, donated by Dr. Henry Janssen in October, 2001.

Bowling Green State University

As part of their Browne Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State University has a few hundred Little Blue Books in their holdings

University of Illinois at Chicago

The Haldeman-Julius Family Papers includes 23 linear feet of correspondence, diaries, legal and financial papers, and photographs as well as a variety Haldeman-Julius publications.

Center for Inquiry Libraries

The Hal Verb Collection of Little Blue Books was announced on November 18, 2008 and is said to include "almost every Little Blue Book ... only missing about 150 of the titles." Full inventory is not yet available, but is coming soon.