Searching for William Wood's Book

New England's Prospect

For the past few months I've been working on a biography of William Wood, one of The Ten Men of Saugus, Sandwich's founding fathers. When I began this project, all I knew about William Wood was that he wrote a book. What kind of book was it? Immediately I set to searching, and what I found surprised me. William Wood's book is actually quite well-known in historical circles. It contains an important map, and historians often refer to it when they write about early New England. Although digital versions of William Wood’s New England's Prospect can be read online, I wanted to see and hold the real thing. Would it be possible to find? Yes, of course. Anything can be found on the internet, and quickly I discovered that a rare 1634 edition was available in several libraries not far from my home. After emailing a few librarians, I decided to visit Houghton Library, one of 67 libraries on Harvard University's campus. Why? Houghton Library is Harvard's primary repository for rare books and manuscripts, and since Harvard was founded in 1636, William Wood could easily have walked on its grounds.

So, on a sunny June day, I turned on Google Maps and drove to Cambridge with my husband, John. After parking, we walked past the Out of Town News stand, crossed Mass Ave, and strolled through Harvard’s arched gateway. Google Maps directed me along hallowed pathways to my destination, Houghton Library.

Out of Town News, Harvard Square

Houghton Library

Once inside, unfortunately, the guard in the main foyer denied us entrance. To find the book I wanted, he politely informed me, we’d have to go next door to Widener Library to get a special pass. Forty five minutes later, pass in hand, the same guard told us that backpacks weren't allowed into the library. Neither were purses or pens or any other personal possessions. Everything had to be stored in a locker. But thankfully, I was allowed to keep my cell phone with me so that I could snap a few photos. We entered the reading room through a locked door, and the librarian assigned us a table. I made my request, and finally, New England’s Prospect was delivered to me. 

New England's Prospect by William Wood

1634 New England's Prospect with fold-out map

This particular copy of New England’s Prospect was beautifully rebound in leather by Sangorski and Sutcliffe of London and donated to Houghton Library by its namesake and main benefactor, Arthur Amory Houghton, Jr., whose great-grandfather founded Corning Glass Works in 1851. In 1920, Arthur Houghton bought the book for $2,800. Considering inflation, that price today would be more than $35,000. Although it's not the Holy Grail of all books - the Gutenberg Bible holds that distinction - this 1634 text holds within its covers knowledge that was gleaned through one intrepid young man's sweat and sacrifice, indeed, it contains a sort of wine that fed and inspired the minds of many who lived centuries ago. That someone saw fit to skillfully bind this book in tooled leathers, place it in a beautifully designed, well-guarded repository, and ask those who touch it to treat it with respect is a reflection of our culture's values. This book's important; you can go and see it, too, but it's not for sale.