THE STEINBECK COLLECTION SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
John Gross, former Steinbeck Library Director and Pauline Pearson, Steinbeck researcher, contributed much of their time and effort to develop the Collection. In the mid-1960s and early 1970s, John Gross devoted much of his time acquiring larger donations from various private collections and institutions.

In the early 1970s, Pauline Pearson contributed greatly to the Collection, conducting more than 200 oral history interviews of friends and family members relating to John Steinbeck. The interviews have been widely used and remain an integral part of the Steinbeck Collection.

The immense growth and preservation of this important Collection would not be possible without Mary Jean S. Gamble. Prior to its move to the Center on October 1 of this year Mary Gamble oversaw the Steinbeck Collection at the Salinas Public Library for the last fifteen years. In addition to assisting researchers, Mary oversaw donations, purchased artifacts, and devoted much time and energy preserving Collection items. Without Mary's perseverance and devotion, the Collection would not be regarded as one of the world's leading sources of primary and secondary material relating to the author.

Many Steinbeck Collection items are housed in the temperature/humidity controlled archival vault, however many collection items are currently on display in the Center's permanent exhibit hall and the Art of Writing Room.

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