This non-circulating collection consists mainly of first editions of famous English and American literary works published in the late-19th and early-20th century. The collection represents the passionate and lifelong collecting interest of Dayton lawyer Victor Jacobs and his wife Irene. A subset of books on miscellaneous subjects, bequeathed by Mr. Jacobs, were added to the collection out of respect for the donor. Among these items are many book auction catalogs.

The Victor and Irene Jacobs Collection contains 20 works by the Dayton native, Paul Laurence Dunbar. Web sites of interest for Dunbar researchers can be found at Ohio Memory: An Online Scrapbook of Ohio History and The Dayton Metro Library.

The Victor and Irene Jacobs Collection may be consulted by appointment. Please contact by email Nicoletta Hary, Ph.D., Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections, or at 937-229-4262 (tel.) or 937-229-4590 (fax).