19th-century writer's legacy is now in USCA's possession

Sir Walter Scott of Scotland was a prolific and popular writer during the first third of the 19th century, and, thanks to an unlikely set of circumstances, a collection of 28 of the author's series from the 1800s - totaling about 100 books - have been donated to USC Aiken.

The books will be called the "Edward J. Kinzer, M.D. Collection," named for the Johnstown, Colo., physician who donated them during an informal ceremony that included USCA administrators and members of the St. Andrews Society of Aiken.

In the early 1950s, Kinzer became friends with Dr. Ken and Joan Owens when both men were young doctors stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash. Their relationship continued over the decades, even after the couple moved across the country to Aiken.

"When he (Kinzer) visited here once, we had planned to have a St. Andrews Society meting and invited him to go," said Joan Owens. "He was quite impressed, and that's when he offered his books."

Other St. Andrews members who participated in the ceremony were Dick Dewar, Gordon Lewis and George Grinton, as well as the Owens' grandson, Ken Baxter Owens.

USCA Chancellor Dr. Tom Hallman expressed his pleasure to come into possession of the books, but there is one caveat.

"We've been excited about this since our first conversation, but we don't have the facilities to maintain these treasures over time," he said. "We're thrilled that we're able to work out an agreement with the (University of South Carolina's) Thomas Cooper Library. But the fact that the books can come back on occasion doesn't remove them permanently from this area. It's a great opportunity all the way around."

Kinzer is an avid book collector but has been especially devoted to Scott's work. While in San Francisco in the 1960s, he located a rare book dealer who had found the Scott books in various castles and brought them back to America.

"They really are of historical significance," Kinzer said. "Sir Walter was the most Scottish of all Scottish people and ranks as a leader in prose English. He was the father of the historical novel and was a prodigious writer. He has preserved the culture through his prose and ballads of Scotland."

Kinzer still has an acclaimed seven-volume biography of Scott, written by Scott's son-in-law, John Gibson Lockhart.

"They contain handwritten notes of Scott," Kinzer said. "I will turn the books over in due time, but I'm not ready to part with them yet."

The St. Andrews Society of Aiken was established in 2000 as a way to maintain traditions and heritage for Americans of Scottish ancestry. The organization's members also are pleased by Kinzer's gift.

"It was just a wonderful opportunity to preserve Scottish culture," Dewar said.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.