Columbia University Library Office files, 1890-1998

Creator:: Columbia University. Libraries
Abstract:: The office files of the University Librarian's Office of Columbia University Libraries, 1889-1948, are composed is composed chiefly of correspondence sent and received between Columbia University Librarians, library staff, Columbia University administrators, and outside individuals and organizations, as well as related reports, budgets, as well as related reports, budgets, and administrative material concerning the history of the library.
Extent:: 48.37 linear feet Series I: 116 document boxes, 181.4 linear feet Series II: 435 document boxes, and 30.27 linear feet Unprocessed: 63 document boxes, 4 record cards, 1 volume, and 1 oversize folder
Language:: English .
Scope and content:: The office files of the University Librarian's office of Columbia University Libraries, 1889-1948. Although chiefly the correspondence of the Library Office administrative staff, there are also forms, notices, regulations, and papers concerned with policy statements of various departments and cooperative projects in which the library participated. The correspondence and related materials cover the period, 1890-1928. In addition, there are financial records for book funds, 1944-1946; for budgets, 1916-1930 and 1935-1938; for salaries, 1889-1919; and a personnel and financial analysis, 1929-1948. There are also some administrative memoranda, 1910-1916; and annual reports of the Librarian and Supervisors, 1913-1925; committee files for the Study Committee, 1968-1969; Representative Committee of Librarians, 1973-1977; Standing Committees, 1966-1970; Division Heads Meetings, 1966-1970; Committees superceded by the Professional Advisory Committee, 1970-1972; Butler Library floor plans and furnishings; Director's Office memoranda and related files, 1943-1964; Reader Services' memoranda, 1946-1953; Supervising Librarians minutes, 1953-1958; Technical Services memoranda, 1946-1953; and printed materials: LIBRARY COLUMNS, COLUMBIA LIBRARY WORLD; and Burgess-Carpenter Library Correspondence, 1950-1975.
Biographical / historical:: The Columbia University Library played an important role in the changing nature of the library and of American library management and administration more broadly. During the 1880s, under the direction of Melvil Dewey as the head librarian, the university became the site of the first school for professional librarian training, Melvil Dewey's School for Library Economy, which opened its doors to students in 1887. The library became a locus for the increasing professionalization of the field of library management as over the course of the 1890s, graduates of Dewey's school––many of them women––moved into staff positions within the library. The l890s marked the beginning of a period of transformation in the structure of Columbia University and its library. In the 1890s, the university established a number of its professional schools and graduate schools. Under the leadership of George Baker, from 1889-1899, the Columbia University Library expanded its collection, and James Hulme Canfield oversaw the growth of the library from the small library of Columbia College to the large metropolitan research library.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Columbiana. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--1954. Accession number--M-54.

Custodial history:

Transferred from Columbiana, 1954; transferred from the Library Office, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982& 1989; gift of Marianne von Dobeneck, 1989.

Processing information:

Cataloged 05/05/89 Christina Hilton Fenn.

Series II inventory was compiled by Molly Boord (GS 2021), Hannah Johns (SSW 2019), Jessica Liston (CC 2020) and Kelly Powers (CC 2018) in 2017-2018; Series II finding aid written by Joanna Rios, December 2018.

Arrangement:

Series I: Correspondence and Series II. Library Office Files are processed and arranged chronologically; the remainder of the collection is unprocessed.

Accruals:

Additions are expected.

Materials have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact uarchives@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related material:

This collection contains the correspondence records of the University Librarian and the office files of central administration of the Columbia University Libraries. For individual departments, units or committees within the Libraries, please consult the Columbia University Libraries records, 1890s-1980s.

Melvil Dewey papers, circa 1870-1931. Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

There are no restrictions on this collection.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Columbia University Library Office Files; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.

Location of this collection:: Columbia University Archives

University Archives Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: uarchives@columbia.edu

Collection