The Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and the Texas A&M University Libraries have acquired a first edition of George Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio (1844) honoring  the 95th birthday of Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey of Houston.  Funding for this acquisition was provided by the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library and the Sterling C. Evans Library Endowment. 

A graduate of the class of 1932 and founder of the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic,  Kelsey is a long-time benefactor of the Texas A&M Libraries, having established an endowment for Americana materials and donated his own extensive collection highlighting Texas and the western United States.  One of his previous gifts, McKenney and Hall's History of the Indian Tribes of North America (1836-1844), is an important companion piece to the Catlin volume.

“These books are key documents of Western Americana and together form a vital archive of images, thoughts, and attitudes relating to native Americans. The Catlin volume expresses our gratitude to Dr. Kelsey for his key role in building our rare collections,” explained Colleen Cook, dean of the Texas A&M University Libraries.  She announced the gift during a birthday celebration at the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston in October.

Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolio contains the results of his years of painting, living with, and traveling among the Great Plains Indians.  Featuring beautifully executed, hand-colored lithographs, it also represents a high spot of American art.  

The campus community and the public can view these two volumes on display in the first floor gallery of the Cushing Library through December.