A Room of Ideas, Curiosity, and Care
As a librarian, it’s no surprise that one of my favorite spaces in the Residence is the library. Bathed in natural light and offering a magnificent view of the Cascade Mountains, it invites both contemplation and discovery. The partner desk where Mr. and Mrs. Bloedel once worked side by side still anchors the room, while shelves filled with volumes on Northwest flora and fauna, regional history, and the logging industry create an atmosphere that feels both scholarly and personal.
Today, this library forms part of the experience at Bloedel Reserve—a destination for relaxation, reflection, and quiet inspiration.
The current collection was developed by the Arbor Fund and originally served as a reference and research library during the Reserve’s early years. It remains a treasure trove of informative and unique titles.*
But what many visitors don’t realize is that, during the Bloedels’ time in the Residence, these shelves once held a legendary private collection of rare books—carefully curated by Mr. Bloedel himself.
An avid reader and lifelong learner, Prentice Bloedel assembled an extraordinary personal library. In 1996, this remarkable collection was auctioned through Pacific Book Auction Galleries in San Francisco, with proceeds benefiting the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
A Legendary Collection
The story of that library is beautifully told through the eyes of George H. Tweney, an engineer at Boeing and an avid book collector himself. First introduced to Prentice in 1980, Tweney was invited to appraise the collection—already famous among Pacific Northwest bibliophiles.
In the preface to the auction catalog, Tweney describes arriving at the Bloedel home and being ushered into a grand library overlooking Puget Sound, its shelves stretching to the ceiling. What followed was the beginning of both a professional collaboration and a lasting friendship.
Over several weeks, Tweney carefully documented the collection and marveled at its breadth: books on the fur trade, American history, early exploration, Pacific voyages, science, technology, and landscape design. The library reflected the wide scope of Prentice Bloedel’s interests—and his deep respect for knowledge.
Discovered among the historical materials at the Reserve, are meticulous notes kept by Prentice Bloedel about books he was considering for purchase as well as information on care and treatment of rare books and correspondence with dealers here and abroad.
When the Bloedels moved to the city in the 1980s, many volumes were shared with local libraries and historical societies, while the rest traveled with them to their new home, where custom shelving awaited. Mr. Bloedel continued tending and expanding his collection right up until his passing.
A Reader First
Among the treasures listed in the auction catalog were Darwin’s The Origin of Species, The Three Voyages of Captain Cook, and Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolios—along with early illustrated treatises on machines and technology.
Kevin Long, Prentice’s personal secretary, helped catalog and care for these works and later wrote about the experience in the Book Club of Washington Quarterly: “Never before have I carried such a sweet burden,” he reflected.
Last March, whilst in the Reserve presenting to the Book Club of Washington, I had a most delightful serendipitous encounter with none other than Kevin Long. This is a photo of Mr. Long standing with his article under the portrait of Prentice Bloedel.
Kevin’s brother Jeffrey Long was a close friend of Bloedel’s daughter Virigina Wright and when Prentice Bloedel was looking for a new assistant, an introduction was made between Prentice and Kevin. Kevin recalls Prentice Bloedel asking him: What are the last three books you have read? He answered: the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, essays by naturalist Wednell Berry and the biography of Lakota War Chief Crazy Horse. He recalls that there was a bit of time before Mr. Bloedel said, “I believe we have found our man.”
Long shared that Prentice didn’t consider himself a collector so much as a reader. Even as his vision declined, he spent hours each day reading with the help of a magnifying device. Rare or not, these books were meant to be used. Long recalls gently reminding Prentice to remove paper clips from his prized copy of the first edition of Darwin. Together, they also spent many hours translating Travels in the Interior of North America by Prince Maximilian of Wied, working side by side with a German dictionary.
Cover copy of the Auction Catalog
The auction of the library realized $491,360 in November 1996, with Darwin’s Origin selling for $19,550. The Maximilian Travels were ultimately bequeathed to the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.
A Legacy That Lives On
Prentice Bloedel’s legacy extends far beyond the landscape of the Reserve. Through his thoughtful stewardship of books and ideas, he helped preserve scholarship, support medical research, and demonstrate what it means to live with curiosity and generosity.
Today, when we sit in the library overlooking the Cascades—surrounded by volumes that echo his passions—we are reminded that this is more than a room of books. It is a living tribute to a remarkable individual who believed in learning, sharing, and building something lasting.
And in that quiet space, with light on the water and pages waiting to be turned, his spirit still feels very much present.
–Written by Volunteer Jane Carlin
Footnote: The current library collection was cataloged in 2010 and a record of the titles are available via an online catalog on the website LibraryThing. Under the direction of Cindy Harrison, former Bainbridge Island Library Branch Manager, UW graduate student in Librarianship Lael Voeller, and many volunteers, they created the online listing of books.
Sources:
Kevin Long, “Notes on a Collector and Friend.” The Quarterly of the Book Club of Washington, Spring 1997.
Personal correspondence with Kevin Long, February 2026
The Library of Prentice Bloedel: Fine Western American and Rare Books, Pacific Book Auction Galleries, 1996
