Boyd Donates Collection On Military, Diplomatic History

Cataloging was completed last fall for 185 books about military and diplomatic history donated to the Old Dominion University Libraries by former history professor Carl Boyd.

The books, from Boyd’s personal collection, are the first of what will soon become the nearly 800-volume Carl Boyd Collection of the History of War.

Boyd, who joined the history faculty in 1975, retired in 2001 as an eminent scholar emeritus and Louis I. Jaffe Professor Emeritus of history.

“We are pleased that Dr. Boyd chose to donate his collection of military history. His collection will be a significant addition to the University Libraries and will be used by scholars and students now and in the future,” said Virginia S. O’Herron, university librarian.

While titles on World War II military history dominate, the collection spans the history of war from earliest times through the late 20th century. The books themselves were published from the 1880s through 2001 and include materials written in Japanese, German and English. Subjects range from the ruminations of diplomats and military men to military intelligence, espionage, submarine warfare and civil-military relations in modern Europe.

By the time of his retirement, Boyd was acknowledged by his peers as an expert in intelligence and strategic studies, naval and military history, and international relations.