Ex Libris: Estelle Doheny

First in a series highlighting the book collectors whose subject expertise, passion, and resources have contributed to DePaul’s Special Collections

One of the earliest female book collectors in the United States, Estelle Doheny, purchased her first rare book in 1931 and continued buying books and manuscripts until her death in 1958.  She is the only woman collector who developed a library notable for both its scope and quality. 

Estelle Doheny (1875-1958) married the wealthy oil man and philanthropist Edward Doheny (1856-1935) in 1900.  Her great collection was for many years housed at the Vincentian Seminary of St. John’s in California.  She also gave parts of her collection to the Vincentian Seminary of St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville, Missouri as gifts and some of these came to DePaul University through a sale at Christie’s Auction House in New York.

In 2001, over 400 pieces of art in the form of rare books and objects d’art from St. Mary’s of the Barrens, were sold at Christie’s.  DePaul University bought seventeen books in this auction.  One of these books was an 18th century book of poetry.  

This work is significant because it is the first book of poetry written by a slave, published by her owner.  It is a first edition of Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, 1773, written by Phyllis Wheatley, who was brought as a slave from Senegal in 1761 to Boston. 

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  Many book collectors paste bookplates inside the front covers of their books, and the Latin words ex libris (meaning “from the library of”) are often used.