Concord: Climate for Freedom (association copy); Henry David Thoreau: Chronology (association copy)

Concord, MA: Concord Antiquarian Society, 1967. First edition. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Two books: The first Wheeler's Concord: Climate for Freedom. An association copy, inscribed at the top of the first blank in a blue pen: "To Leonard Kleinfeld, my generous host in Nassau and an envied bibliophile, Ruth R Wheeler." Blue cloth with map endpapers and illustrations and photographs in black and white throughout. Although this book takes a sweeping look at Concord's history, the last 45-page chapter is devoted to "the American Renaissance" led by Thoreau, Emerson, and others.  

Together with Kleinfield's Henry David Thoreau: Chronology.  Forest Hills, Long Island, 1950; presumably self-published. A limited edition of 1000 copies, an oblong quarto in green wraps. Inscribed on the title page: "March 30, 1951, To Joan Griscom--'Rather than fame, than fortune, than honor--give me truth.' Thoreau. Sincerely, Leonard F. Kleinfeld." Uncommon signed. It consists of a handsome and quite useful year-by-year table chronology of Thoreau's life (1817-1862) alongside other events in the world, US, and in literature. At rear is also a list of Thoreau's published works and of essays and biographies on Thoreau. 

Kleinfeld was for a few years the president of the Thoreau Society. His biography on the Thoreau Society's site reads in full: "Leonard F. Kleinfeld was the eighteenth president of the Thoreau Society. Born in Manhattan, he first came to Thoreau by reading Walden and Cape Cod in his late teens. Walden became his 'bedside bible,' and he vowed to never lead a life of quiet desperation. A trip to Walden Pond in 1919 made him a Thoreauvian for life. He studied at New York University but was known for being self-schooled and hard-working. Finding work as an importer-exporter, Kleinfeld was able to travel around the world and to start Thoreau groups in such countries as France, England, Japan, and Argentina. He visited the Channel Islands in order to complete a Thoreau genealogy. He was notable for his large Thoreau library and collection of Thoreauviana, which included stones from the Walden house and boards from the Texas house." 

Ruth Wheeler was a devoted historian of Concord (and she lived for a time at Thoreau's birthplace), and her papers are held at the Concord Free Library. 

Griscom was a Professor of Women's Studies at William Paterson University and lived in Lexington.  

Wheeler's Concord is good to very good on account of a white stain to lower edge of front board and wear through the cloth on the bottom of the lower corners; light foxing to top of text block. In a very good jacket (North Bridge pictured on the back panel) with general wear, some browning to spine and some fraying at top of spine, and a couple short tears.

Kleinfeld's chronology is very good with sporadic staining to front wrap and one scuff at right edge, and with toning to pages. 

A nice association and unique pairing between Thoreau/Concord scholars.