This collection has no 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.
Dr. Alice I. Bryan was a professor in the School of Library Service (SLS), but she also held a PhD. in Psychology and had professional interests in both disciplines. Bryan's papers document her professional career, and include material on her work at Columbia University and in professional associations, research, and special projects.
Much of the material documents Bryan's career at Columbia University. Bryan kept files on her work both at SLS and within the larger University community. Her SLS records include correspondence, communications with the Dean's office, and material on committee work, curricula, examinations, and for her own courses. Her records related to work in the larger University community include correspondence, committee material, and meeting material for the Women's Faculty Club, School of General Studies, and the University Seminar on Public Communication.
The papers also document Bryan's professional career outside of Columbia University. The records' coverage is strongest from the late 1930s through the 1950s. They document Bryan's research interests, special projects, public speeches, and work in professional associations related to both psychology and librarianship. These associations include the Association of American Library Schools, American Library Association, American Psychological Association, International Council of Women Psychologists, and the National Research Council's Emergency Committee in Psychology. Bryan's files on research interests and projects are divided into three areas within Series II, III, and IV. Bryan kept material related to special projects with her Professional Activities files in Series III, with two exceptions: files related to the library film forum project and the legibility of the Library of Congress Catalog are in the Research--Special subseries of Series II. She also kept a set of Special Subject Files; these make up Series IV. Bryan also kept bibliographies, correspondence, and reprints related to her publications (1930-1952). There is some additional professional material filed in Series V.
There is some documentation of Bryan's academic work in her papers. There are a few research papers from her work on her bachelor's degree (1927-1928). She also kept notebooks and other material from her studies at the Graduate Library School at the University of Chicago (1949-1951).
There is a limited amount of personal material included in the papers. These materials include a few folders of personal correspondence, diaries (1976-1991), photographs, and a file on her personal travel immediately following her retirement (1972-1976).
Bryan had an elaborate personal classification and filing system. Copies of the outline are filed in Box 2. Series I-IV follow the order of this outline, however, many folders in the system did not contain records and have been removed from the collection.
This collection is arranged in six series and several subseries.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection has no 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.
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.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Alice I. Bryan Papers; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
The records of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which funded the library personnel study related to Bryan's 1952 report"The Public Librarian", are held by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. The corporation's grant files include records for this project in Box 329, Folders 14-15. Additional information for Bryan can be found in the Historical Biographical Files of the University Archives. Additional records related to the University Seminar on Public Communication, including meeting minutes, can be found in the University Archives
No additons expected
Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--1992.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed by Catherine N. Carson.
Finding aid written by Catherine N. Carson May 2008.
2008-09-02 File created.
2008-11-14 xml document instance created by Patrick Lawlor
2009-05-01 xml document instance edited by Carrie Hintz
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Alice I Bryan was born Alice Isabel Bever on September 11, 1902. She was the second child and only daughter of Ewald Bever, a banker, and Caroline Bever née Lawrence. Bryan grew up in the Arlington section of Kearny, New Jersey.
After finishing high school in 1918, Bryan completed a two-year course of academic and secretarial studies at the extension division of Columbia University and then worked in the publishing industry. She also developed a lifelong interest in theosophy, mysticism, and parapsychology during this period. In 1921, she became an instructor for advertising courses offered by the Extension Division of the YMCA. She remained in this position when the program transferred to the Home Study Division of Columbia University.
Bryan continued to teach advertising courses until 1929. She also earned three degrees in psychology at Columbia University; a bachelor's (1929), a master's (1930) and a PhD. (1934). During the Great Depression, Bryan taught psychology at both Sarah Lawrence College and the Pratt Institute, and also taught a research methods course at the School for Library Service (SLS) at Columbia University. She was later invited to teach a course in psychology for practicing librarians at SLS, and was offered an assistant professorship in 1939. Bryan was also considered a leading theoretician in the field of bibliotherapy (which she defined as"the prescription of reading materials that will help to develop emotional maturity and sustain mental health") during the 1930s.
During the next two decades, Bryan pursued her interests in psychology and librarianship. She helped to bring women into the mainstream of the profession of psychology, and was a founder of the National Council of Women Psychologists (which became the International Council of Women Psychologists) in 1940. She represented this organization on the National Research Council's Emergency Committee in Psychology during World War II. She also served as executive secretary of the American Association for Applied Psychology, and worked on the revision of by-laws of the American Psychological Association. She published articles on both psychology and on its intersection with librarianship.
Bryan pursued additional training to further her career at SLS and took a sabbatical to pursue a master's degree in library science at the University of Chicago, which she completed in 1951. At the same time, Bryan was recruited to conduct a study of library personnel being undertaken by the Public Library Inquiry (PLI) and the Social Science Research Council with funding from the Carnegie Corporation. Bryan's resulting report"The Public Librarian" (1952), was a groundbreaking work for which she had interviewed more than 3,000 librarians in 60 libraries nationwide. The American Library Association (ALA) honored her on the 40th anniversary of its publication in 1992, and she delivered an address on the study and its significance at the ALA convention that year.
Bryan became an Associate Professor at SLS in 1953, and was the first woman to achieve a full professorship at SLS in 1959. She was also instrumental in the creation of its doctoral program, and was the chair of the doctoral committee for many years. She was designated as professor emerita upon her retirement in 1971.
Bryan was married three times. Bryan's first marriage to Chester Ward Bryan in 1924 ended in divorce in 1934, but she continued to use his name professionally as it was the name in which she had established herself as a scholar and received her doctorate. Her second marriage to Frank Martin Blasingame, a sculptor and painter, ended in divorce after eight years in 1944. She married George Virgil Fuller, a retired colonel, in 1956. The marriage ended with Fuller's death in 1960. The George Virgil Fuller Award was established at Columbia University in his memory. Bryan had no children. She died on October 30, 1992, of leukemia.
This series consists of material that is related to Bryan's activities at Columbia University outside of the School of Library Service.
includes all of Bryan's employment contracts for Columbia University, as well as general correspondence.
Box 2 Folder 11
Box 2 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 13
Box 2 Folder 14
contains correspondence on Dr. Russell Potter's film forum project.
Box 19 Folder 8
contains correspondence related to doctoral examinations at the college.
Box 19 Folder 9
includes correspondence and files on club committees and on Bryan's service as president and vice-president.
Box 19 Folder 10
Box 19 Folder 11
Box 19 Folder 12
Box 19 Folder 13
Box 19 Folder 14
Box 20 Folder 1
Box 20 Folder 2
consists primarily of correspondence, but also includes material from meetings of the Board of Advisors.
Box 20 Folder 3
Box 20 Folder 4
Box 20 Folder 5
Box 20 Folder 6
Box 20 Folder 7
Most of the material in this subseries is related to the University Seminar on Public Communication (1951-1965). Bryan chaired the seminar from 1964-1965. The material includes correspondence with the chairman, secretary, and several individual members. The subseries also includes a file on the University Seminar on Death (1971-1974).
Box 20 Folder 8
Box 20 Folder 9
Box 20 Folder 10
Box 20 Folder 11
Box 20 Folder 13
Box 20 Folder 14
Box 20 Folder 15
Box 20 Folder 16
Box 20 Folder 17
Box 20 Folder 18
Box 20 Folder 19
Box 20 Folder 20
Box 20 Folder 21
Box 20 Folder 22
Box 20 Folder 23
Box 20 Folder 24
Box 20 Folder 25
Box 20 Folder 26
Box 20 Folder 27
Box 20 Folder 28
Box 20 Folder 29
Box 20 Folder 30
Box 20 Folder 31
Box 20 Folder 32
This series consists of material related to Bryan's career at the School of Library Service. It also includes material on two research projects undertaken in the 1940s on library film forums and the legibility of the Library of Congress catalog, respectively.
consists of general announcements, correspondence, and faculty meeting material.
Box 13 Folder 1
Box 13 Folder 2
Box 13 Folder 3
Box 13 Folder 4
Box 13 Folder 5
Box 13 Folder 6
Box 13 Folder 7
Box 13 Folder 8
Box 13 Folder 9
Box 13 Folder 10
Box 13 Folder 11
contains correspondence and memoranda sent between Bryan, individual deans, and the dean's office.
Box 13 Folder 12
Box 13 Folder 13
Box 13 Folder 14
Box 13 Folder 15
Box 13 Folder 16
Box 13 Folder 17
Box 13 Folder 18
Box 13 Folder 19
Box 13 Folder 20
documents Bryan's committee work within the school, and includes files on her work on the curriculum, masters' theses, instruction, research and doctoral committees.
Box 13 Folder 21
Box 13 Folder 22
Box 13 Folder 23
Box 13 Folder 24
Box 13 Folder 25
Box 13 Folder 26
Box 13 Folder 27
Box 13 Folder 28
Box 13 Folder 29
Box 13 Folder 30 to 31
1951-1953, (2 Folders)
Box 14 Folder 1 to 2
Box 14 Folder 3
Box 14 Folder 4
Box 14 Folder 5
Box 14 Folder 6
Box 14 Folder 7 to 9
1956-1968, (3 Folders)
Box 12 Folder 1 to 3
1969-1971, (3 Folders)
Box 14 Folder 10
1957-1960
Box 15 Folder 1
1961-1970
Box 15 Folder 2
relates to the planning of a proposed SLS Summer Conference.
Box 15 Folder 3
Box 15 Folder 4
includes material related to examinations given by the SLS - comprehensive examinations, qualifying examinations for the doctorate, and other graduate examinations. The subseries also includes examinations for Bryan's courses; however, additional course examinations are filed with the course materials in Subseries 9: Courses.
Box 15 Folder 5
Box 15 Folder 6
Box 15 Folder 7
Box 15 Folder 8
Box 15 Folder 9
Box 15 Folder 10
Box 15 Folder 11
Box 15 Folder 12
(Includes examination for LS 321, 1939-1940)
Box 15 Folder 13
Box 15 Folder 14
This subseries includes Bryan's research files on library film forums (1940-1946) and the legibility of the Library of Congress catalog (1944-1945). Copies of related publications are filed in Series III, Subseries 5: Publications.
Box 15 Folder 15
Box 15 Folder 16
Box 15 Folder 17
Box 16 Folder 1
Box 16 Folder 2
Box 16 Folder 3
consists primarily of general correspondence, manuals, and memoranda on students pursuing masters' or doctoral degrees at SLS.
Box 16 Folder 4
Box 16 Folder 5
Box 16 Folder 5
consists of general correspondence and guidelines on student research and grading policies. The subseries also contains correspondence between Bryan and individual students on research issues.
Box 16 Folder 6
Box 16 Folder 7
Box 16 Folder 8
Box 16 Folder 9
Box 16 Folder 10
Box 16 Folder 11
includes course outlines, lecture notes, examinations, reading lists, and other material. The files were not kept together in good order, and much of the material is undated.
Box 12 Folder 4
Box 16 Folder 13 to 16
Box 19 Folder 4
Box 12 Folder 8 to 9
Box 19 Folder 3
Box 16 Folder 12
Box 19 Folder 6 to 7
Box 16 Folder 19
Box 5 Folder 2
Box 4 Folder 9
Box 19 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 1
Box 4 Folder 7
Box 4 Folder 8 to 9
Box 12 Folder 5
Box 12 Folder 6 to 7
Box 17 Folder 1
This series includes professional correspondence, public speeches, publications, and material related to Bryan's work with professional associations in both librarianship and psychology. The series also includes correspondence, research files, and other material related to several special projects. These projects include Bryan's work on the Public Library Inquiry, which resulted in The Public Librarian.
consists of general correspondence.
Box 17 Folder 2
consists of correspondence, committee files, and other material related to Bryan's work with professional associations, including the National (later International) Council of Women Psychologists, of which she was a founder, and the National Research Council's Emergency Committee in Psychology (1941-1946).
Box 17 Folder 3
Box 17 Folder 4
Box 17 Folder 5
Box 17 Folder 6
Box 17 Folder 7
Box 17 Folder 8
Box 17 Folder 9
Box 17 Folder 10
Box 17 Folder 11
Box 17 Folder 12
Box 17 Folder 13
Box 17 Folder 14
Box 17 Folder 15 to 16
Box 18 Folder 1
Box 18 Folder 2
Box 18 Folder 3
Box 18 Folder 4
Box 18 Folder 5
Box 18 Folder 6
Box 18 Folder 7
Box 18 Folder 8
Box 18 Folder 9
Box 18 Folder 10
Box 3 Folder 4 to 5
Box 3 Folder 6
Box 3 Folder 7
Box 3 Folder 8
Box 3 Folder 9
Box 4 Folder 1
Box 4 Folder 2 to 5
Box 4 Folder 6
Box 18 Folder 11
Box 18 Folder 12
Box 18 Folder 13
Box 18 Folder 14
Box 18 Folder 15
Box 19
contains material on several of Bryan's special projects including the US Forest Service project, the Public Library Inquiry, her work at the Graduate Library School at the University of Chicago, and other projects on public communications, library education, and library personnel.
Box 19 Folder 1
Box 5 Folder 10
Box 3 Folder 3
(Includes "Factors Affecting the Professional Careers of Men and Women Psychologists: A Bryan-Boring-OPP Questionnaire")
Box 21 Folder 1
Box 21 Folder 2
Box 21 Folder 3
Box 21 Folder 4
Box 21 Folder 5
Box 21 Folder 6
Box 21 Folder 7
Box 21 Folder 8
Box 21 Folder 9
Box 8 Folder 1 to 3
(Original survey booklets; summaries for Various Groups)
Box 9 Folder 11
Box 10 Folder 2
Box 10 Folder 3
(Original survey booklets; summaries for Various Groups)
Box 10 Folder 4
Box 11 Folder 2
Box 11 Folder 22
Box 21 Folder 10
Box 21 Folder 11
Box 21 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 7
Box 10 Folder 10 to 11
Box 11 Folder 1
Box 21 Folder 13
Box 21 Folder 14
Box 21 Folder 15
Box 21 Folder 16
Box 21 Folder 17
Box 21 Folder 18
Box 21 Folder 19
Box 21 Folder 20
(List)
Box 21 Folder 21
Box 21 Folder 22
Box 6
includes general correspondence related to Bryan's public speeches. Most of the correspondence is filed chronologically. Material related to Bryan's 1992 speech at the American Library Association is filed with the Public Library Inquiry material in Subseries 3, above.
Box 6 Folder 1
Box 6 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 3 to 19
1938-1957, (17 Folders)
contains a bibliography, reprints, and correspondence related to Bryan's articles, book reviews, and other publications.
Box 6 Folder 20
Box 19 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 21
Box 6 Folder 22
Box 6 Folder 23
Box 6 Folder 24
Box 6 Folder 25
Box 6 Folder 26
Box 7 Folder 1
Box 7 Folder 2
Box 7 Folder 3
Box 7 Folder 4
Box 7 Folder 5
Box 7 Folder 6
Box 7 Folder 7
Box 7 Folder 8
Box 7 Folder 9
Box 7 Folder 10
Box 7 Folder 11
Box 7 Folder 12
Box 7 Folder 13
Box 7 Folder 14
Box 7 Folder 15
Box 7 Folder 16
Box 7 Folder 17
Box 7 Folder 18
Box 7 Folder 19
Box 7 Folder 20
Box 7 Folder 21
Box 7 Folder 22
Box 7 Folder 23
(Master's Thesis)
Box 10
Box 10
Box 10
Box 10
Box 7 Folder 24
Box 7 Folder 26
Box 7 Folder 27
Box 7 Folder 28
Box 7 Folder 29
This subseries includes bibliographies, correspondence, drafts, and other material related to five main subjects: Bibliography, Hospital Libraries, Values, The Professional Woman, Book on Research Methods, and Communications.
Box 9 Folder 1
Box 9 Folder 2
Box 9 Folder 3
Box 9 Folder 4
Box 9 Folder 5
(Includes drafts)
Box 9 Folder 6
Box 9 Folder 7
Box 11 Folder 3
Box 11 Folder 4
Box 11 Folder 5
Box 11 Folder 6
(Chapter IV)
Box 11 Folder 7
Box 11 Folder 8
Box 11 Folder 9
Box 11 Folder 10
Box 11 Folder 11
Box 11 Folder 12
Box 11 Folder 13
Box 11 Folder 14
Box 11 Folder 15
Box 11 Folder 16
Box 11 Folder 17
Box 3 Folder 2
Box 11 Folder 18
Box 11 Folder 19
Box 11 Folder 20
(Outline and Chapters I-III)
Box 11 Folder 21
Box 9
Box 9 Folder 8
Box 9 Folder 9
Box 9 Folder 10
(Includes Bryan's notes)
Box 2 Folder 1 to 2
(This outlines Bryan's classified filing system)
Box 2 Folder 6
Box 2 Folder 8
Box 2 Folder 9
(Miscellaneous professional correspondence)
Box 2 Folder 10
Box 5 Folder 1 to 4
Box 5 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Box 5 Folder 8
Box 5 Folder 9
Box 9 Folder 12
(Some material on the doctoral committee)
Box 9 Folder 13
(Includes correspondence, bibliography of Bryan's publications, material on staff appointment)
Box 10 Folder 5
Box 10 Folder 6
Box 10 Folder 7
(Bryan was Corresponding Secretary)
Box 10 Folder 8
Box 10 Folder 9
This series contains correspondence, diaries, and files on subjects of personal interest. Correspondents include Edwin G. Boring and Paul W. Gallico.
Box 2 Folder 3
Box 2 Folder 4
Box 2 Folder 5
Box 1
Box 2 Folder 15
Box 3 Folder 1
(Donald Galloway lecture and Bryan's notes)
Box 8 Folder 4
(Summary of history and Bryan's activities with the property)
Box 8 Folder 5
Box 8 Folder 6
Box 8 Folder 7
(Clippings; programs; commemorations; correspondence)
Box 8 Folder 8
Box 8 Folder 9
Box 8 Folder 10
Box 8 Folder 11
(Includes passport photographs)
Box 20 Folder 33