A new display, “The Golden Age: A Look Into The Bult Children’s Literature Collection” can be found at Hekman Library, 2nd floor. The display focuses on a rare collection of children’s literature, gathered over many years, by bibliophiles Conrad and Delores (Dee) Bult. Conrad Bult graduated from Calvin in 1957 as a history major, returning in 1965 as a reference librarian at Hekman Library; Dee worked in the Calvin financial aid office for more than 20 years. Conrad died in 2020 and is survived by Dee. 

The Bults began to collect rare children’s books in the 1970s, and the collection has ~5,500 books, as well as children's games, toys, dolls, dishes and postcards. The books date from as early as 1633 and as recent as 2013 with the majority from the 1900s. 

The collection was purchased for Calvin by Robert and Shelly Hudson; it resides in Heritage Hall (Calvin archives). In the windows not pictured you can view children’s Bibles through the ages and three fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. 

This display was created by high school junior Eva Jeltema, who worked with and studied the collection for two weeks.