Miniature Book Society Newsletter, Number 57, January 2003 Page: 2
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On November 23, 2002, the
MBS lost one of its founding mem-
bers, Mary Helen Dawson. A
major, if often unseen, force in the
miniature book world, Mary
Helen was a partner to her hus-
band Glen in their bookshop, as
well as in life. She was a dedicat-
ed Conclave attendee and host,
and for her work with miniature
books she was a co-winner of the
Glasgow Cup in 1992. The
Southern Sierran ran an article
about her passing in the January
2003 issue, and the below tribute is
from long-time friend Msr. Francis
J. Weber.
Mary Helen Dawson,
A Memoir
Mary Helen Dawson paid me
the ultimate compliment many
years ago when she said I was her
" favorite Catholic". That distinc-
tion, in the years before ecu-
menism, was one I greatly cher-
ished.
With all the fanfare associated
with Glen's recent ninetieth birth-
day during these past few months,
we may be inclined to overlook
the fact that Mary Helen was also
a person of some significance in
the book world. For over thirty
years, she presided over the minia-
ture book department of Dawson's
Book Shop. And, in that capacity,
she dealt with hundreds of collec-
tors in all corners of the world. No
catalogue ever came forth from
North Larchmont Boulevard with-
out her nihil obstat.
She was in at ground zero on
all the happenings in the field. A
charter member of the Miniature
Book Society, she it was who con-
ferred the name of "conclave" on
the gatherings which has met
annually in a host of cities over theyears since 1983.
Though few women knew as
much about books as she did.
Mary Helen, like her husband,
Glen, remained a person of a sin-
gle book and that book was the
Bible. It was her inspiration, her
guide and her compass.
Everything in life derived its
meaning in Sacred Writ.
A measure of Mary Helen's
long love affair with the Bible was
the distinction she has of actually
being mentioned, by association if
not by name, in the Book of
Proverbs where the role of the
"Capable Wife" is defined. Here is
what the inspired writer wrote
about the woman whom we
mourn today:
The Capable Wife (Proverbs
31:10-31)
10 How hard it is to find a
capable wife!
She is worth far more than
jewels!
11 Her husband puts his confi-
dence in her and he will never be
poor.12 As long as she lives, she
does him good and never harm.
13 She keeps herself busy mak-
ing wool and linen cloth.
14 She brings home food from
out-of-the-way places, as merchant
ships do.
15 She gets up before daylight
to prepare food for her family and
to tell her servant girls what to do.
16 She looks at land and buys
it, and with money she has earned
she plants a vineyard.
17 She is hard worker, strong
and industrious.
18 She knows the value of
everything she makes, and works
late into the night.
19 She spins her own thread
and weaves her own cloth.
20 She is generous to the poor
and needy.
21 She doesn't worry when it
snows, because her family has
warm clothing.
22 She makes bedspreads and
wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Her husband is well known,
one of the leading citizens.
24 She makes clothes and belts,
and sells them to merchants.
25 She is strong and respected
and not afraid of the future.
26 She speaks with a gentle
wisdom.
27 She is always busy and
looks after her family needs.
28 Her children show their
appreciation, and her husband
praises her.
29 He says, " Many women are
good wives, but you are the best of
them all."
30 Charm is deceptive and
beauty disappears, but a woman
who honors the Lord should be
praised.
31 Give her credit for all she
does. She deserves the respect of
everyone.
-Msgr. Francis J. WeberJanuary 2003 MBS Newsletter
Mary Helen Dawson
January 2003
MBS Newsletter
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Miniature Book Society. Miniature Book Society Newsletter, Number 57, January 2003, periodical, January 2003; Ohio. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28032/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.