George Kolbe writes:

Charles Edward Barber, chief engraver of the United States from 1879 until 1917, was anextraordinary artist, and in a half century career at the United States Mint that began during theadministration of President Andrew Johnson, and ended while Woodrow Wilson was president, heprobably designed, and engraved, more coins and medals than any other person in the employ of theUnited States, before or since.

Minting facilities around the world began to produce his designs in 1869, the year he wasapprenticed to his father, William Barber, then chief engraver of the United States at the PhiladelphiaMint. Almost a century later, some of his designs were still being coined, a tribute to his talent as adesigner, engraver and artist.

If this were all that Charles Barber had accomplished, he would have been considered anextraordinary, prolific artist and a talented designer. But he was also a chronicler of his life and times, aninveterate saver of correspondence received and copies of letters sent by him. And, he was also acollector who saved examples of the coins that he created, and the patterns that he designed -- togetherwith examples of the work of others.

In November, 1991, the Library and Museum of the American Numismatic Associationreceived an extraordinary gift from Harvey, Norman and Lawrence Stack: copies of the personal papersof Charles Barber, covering his term as sixth chief engraver of the United States Mint at Philadelphia.The originals were deposited at the Smithsonian Institution, but a complete set of the papers (which areabout three inches thick) was presented to the ANA Library with the caveat that they could not bewritten about by scholars, or others, for a period of three years, to give the Smithsonian Institution timeto examine this important find.

Organized by category, the papers cover coinage of the United States and many foreigncountries, medallic works by the artist, and his extraordinary collection of numismatic pattern pieces,which was one of the finest ever assembled. They are now available for use in the ANA library, andcopies may be loaned to interested members.

Barber's papers include handwritten correspondence, typescripts, and many design sketches forvarious coins. This article briefly summarizes some of the interesting finds in the personal papers ofCharles Barber, and points out areas