The McCain Collection was established in 1993 to augment Albertsons Library’s holdings on the Western United States. The collection was made possible through a generous endowment by Warren E. and Bernie McCain, supplemented by an additional one million dollar challenge grant, which was successfully matched by the contributions of hundreds of individual donors. The McCain Collection for Western Life contains books, journals, microforms, and other media, documenting the Western United States, especially its history, literature, anthropology, geography, politics, economics, and cultural life. Emphasis is placed on the West beyond the 100th meridian. Also included are materials related to the U.S. frontier experience as well as Native American tribes throughout all parts of the country.
Warren McCain grew up in Payette, Idaho, went to work for the Albertsons, Inc., in 1959, and served as the firm’s chief executive officer from 1976 until 1991. Much of the McCain Collection is housed in the McCain Room on the second floor, though publications are found in all areas of the library. A distinctive bookplate identifies materials that are purchased with the McCain endowment.