Linda Hall Library Announces Acquisition of the Richard de Neufville Surveying Collection

Linda Hall Library is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the remarkable Richard de Neufville Surveying Collection. This extensive collection, meticulously assembled by Dr. Richard de Neufville, Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers an unparalleled journey through the history of surveying. This collection traces the historical development of the art and use of surveying, the science of accurately determining the positions of points on Earth’s surface and the distances and angles between them, through its mathematical foundations, its instruments, and its applications in land, military, and mining surveying. The books cover the 15^th to the 20^th century in England, France, Germany, the United States, Italy, and beyond.

Dr. de Neufville, an engineer and system designer with over 50 years on the faculty at MIT and three engineering degrees from the institution, developed a keen interest in the history of surveying early in his career. His initial training in the field sparked a curiosity that led him to collect these significant volumes during his extensive international travels, including visits to England, France, and Portugal. His research and teaching have focused on flexibility in system development and design, a perspective that informed his appreciation for the evolving methodologies of surveying.

Minds Meet at the Antiquarian Book Fair

The acquisition began with an introduction at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair in November 2023. Events like these are vital for connecting collections with institutions that can ensure their preservation and accessibility. It was there that a bookseller introduced Jason Dean, representing the Linda Hall Library, to Dr. de Neufville. The two discussed how Dr. de Neufville’s collection, with its strong connections to geometry, geodesy, trigonometry, physics, and engineering, would be a natural fit within the Library’s existing holdings.

Following this initial meeting, the process of assessing the collection began. Dr. de Neufville generously provided a list of over 350 books that aligned with the Library’s collecting scope. A subsequent review by Jason and Finch Collins, Assistant Curator of Rare Books, revealed the remarkable depth of Dr. de Neufville’s collection: Linda Hall Library held copies of fewer than 50 of these works.

Dr. de Neufville further solidified the partnership during a visit to the Library in late 2024. The Library’s commitment to digitization, the size and scope of its collections, and the expertise in rare book cataloging resonated with Dr. de Neufville and his vision for the future of this collection.

The acquisition moved forward with Collins traveling to Cambridge, MA, to carefully pack over 300 rare books and hundreds of valuable catalogs from rare book dealers – resources crucial for tracing the history and provenance of individual volumes. Since the collection arrived at the Library in June 2025, the Library’s curatorial staff have been diligently working behind the scenes, organizing and cataloging the new arrivals, with the Library’s Digital Initiatives Unit (DIU) preparing to digitize the collection as it is processed.

How to Explore the Richard de Neufville Surveying Collection

We invite you to explore this extraordinary collection and delve into the fascinating history of surveying:

• Visit the Library: Request an appointment in the History of Science Reading Room to experience these rare books firsthand.
• Apply for a Research Fellowship: Linda Hall Library fellowships provide scholars of exceptional promise with financial support to explore the Library’s collections. In addition, current and former fellows may request free scans of Library materials. The next fellowship application cycle will open in October 2025.
• Access the collection online: A selection of materials from the collection has been digitized and is already available online, including:
  • Robert Recorde’s The Whetstone of Witte (1557), which features the first use of the equal sign in print.
  • Richard Benese’s This boke sheweth the maner of measurynge of all maner of lande (1537), the first English textbook on geometrical land measurement and surveying.
  • A second edition of Galileo Galilei’s Le operazione del compass (1606), which features the first published image of Galileo’s proportional compass.

The acquisition of the Richard de Neufville Surveying Collection marks a significant addition to Linda Hall Library’s distinguished history of science holdings. This unparalleled resource, with its many unique volumes, solidifies our role as a vital destination for researchers and scholars worldwide. We are honored to preserve and make these materials available for the study of surveying history and look forward to sharing more of the collection with you, both in person and online through our digital collections.