The Free Library's interest in historical children's books was established in 1947 with the gift by A.S.W. Rosenbach of his personal collection. Ranging in date from 1682 to 1836, the gift included 816 volumes and encompassed the full spectrum of books produced for children. Later gifts by others, in addition to a vigorous acquisitions policy, have augmented the collection to some 13,000 volumes and extended the chronological scope well into the second half of the 19th century, particularly to include children's books produced in the frontier settlements of the United States.