We’re one shelf into cataloguing the Native Hawaiian history section of W.S. Merwin’s library. Yesterday, tucked inside the pages of the Kumulipo, we found traces of William’s early days in Hawai‘i, when he immersed himself in learning about the history and language of Hawai‘i. He took notes in the margins, and, never one to waste, on recycled letters–this one from the Library of Congress.
In these early months of stewarding the Merwins’ house, we are making discoveries that surprise and delight us. As we go, we’ll share some of these finds with you in a new series called “Storied Objects.” To view other posts in the “Storied Objects” series, click here.