Friends of the Amherst College Library Records, 1938-
General International Standard for Archival Description
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Sarang Gopalakrishnan. 2003-06-24
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
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Friends of the Amherst College Library Records
Amherst College. Library. Friends.
Biographical History for: Friends of the Amherst College Library Records
Historical Note 1930The William Wordsworth Collection of Cornelius H. Patton (AC 1883) is acquired.1931N.F. McKeon is appointed Instructor in the English Department. Many Lord Jeffery Amherst public papers (copies) and some manuscripts are acquired.1933King and Turner House libraries are installed in North and South College dormitories.George Daniel Olds Memorial Library (Mathematics) established in Walker Hall.1934N.F. McKeon's connection with the library begins. He continues to teach. Morrow dormitory library is dedicated October, 1934. The Olds Mathematics Library is established.1935-39Henry deForest Smith serves as Library Director. Robert S. Fletcher is on medical leave.1935The Hitchcock Memorabilia Room in the Morgan Library is completed.1936The Pratt Library is completed. A Freshman Reading Room is made available on the third floor of Williston Hall. The Delta Kappa Epsilon Library is established, Amherst's only college-supervised library in a fraternity.The Hitchcock Memorial Room is created in Morgan Hall to house the College Memorabilia Collection. It is a gift from Arthur N. Milliken (AC 1880).1937"Report on the Urgent Needs of the Library" (N.F. McKeon, Assistant to Director of the Library and Secretary of the Faculty Committee on the Library) March, 1937. Trustees approve and fund an extension to Converse.1938Converse Memorial Library extension is completed (Architect: James Kelum Smith (AC 1915) of McKim, Mead & White).1939N.F. McKeon is appointed Director of the Library. First direct borrowing privileges to Amherst, Smith, and Mount Holyoke faculty are approved this year.First local interlibrary loan code is agreed upon.1941The four house libraries (North, South, Morrow, Pratt) are closed during World War II.1942Folger Shakespeare Library material is stored in Converse during the war.1945The Amherst College Library becomes a depository for maps distributed by the Army Map Service (later the Defense Mapping Agency). The stored Folger Shakespeare Library material is removed from Converse Library.1946The four house libraries (North, South, Morrow, Pratt) are re-opened, and house libraries are also opened in James and Stearns.Post-war rules for reporting holdings to the Library of Congress for the National Union Catalog are changed; before the war the College reported all holdings; new emphasis is on foreign publications and early imprints. Amherst Massachusetts, Imprints 1825-1876 is published by Newton F. McKeon and Katherine Cowles.1947The new curriculum begins (used until 1967).1949Steel stack is installed in the West Basement.A regular report on Converse Library is included in the President's Report from 1949-1950 to 1975.1950Hugh C. Pritchard is appointed the first reference librarian at Amherst. The Place of a Library in a University is published. N.F. McKeon is a contributing author.1951The Hampshire Interlibrary Center (HILC) is incorporated September 26. Original members are Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges (UMass joins in 1954, The Forbes Library in 1962, and Hampshire College in 1970). The HILC Collection is originally housed in the Mount Holyoke College Library and moves to the UMass Goodell Library early in the 1960s.1952The Richmond Mayo-Smith Room in Converse Library is dedicated on October 26.1953A basement Reading Room is opened containing 50 carrels for honors seniors.New lighting is installed in the Reading and Reserve Rooms and over the card catalogue.Amherst College and The University of Massachusetts develop a code for borrowing from each other's libraries.Supervision of the dormitory libraries by student attendants is discontinued.1954"The Nature of the College Library Book Collection" (N.F. McKeon) in The Function of the Library in the Modern College. Also in Library Quarterly vol. 24, no. 4, October 1954.HILC messenger service is begun on a semi-weekly basis.HILC hires a full-time staff member.1957A collection of spoken-word recordings and equipment for listening are installed in the English Seminar.The Emily Dickinson manuscript collection is received from Millicent Todd Bingham.1958G. Armour Craig serves as Library Director during the spring semester while N.F. McKeon is on sabbatical.Six skylights in Converse Library are eliminated.The first version of a plan to enlarge the library is drafted.University of Massachusetts graduate and undergraduate students may borrow only via interlibrary loan.1959Study facilities in Churchill House are provided for 53 honors seniors.A small glass and steel enclosure is installed in the southwest corner of the lobby creating Amherst's first Reference Office.1960The Asian-African Studies Program, funded by the Ford Foundation, is undertaken by the four Colleges.1961Early shipments of the Marshall Bloom Alternative Press Collection are received.1962Two anonymous donors give $3,500,000 for construction of a new library on the Walker Hall site.It is decided that the new library will be named after Robert Frost.The northeast basement 1963Convocation and groundbreaking ceremonies for the Robert Frost Library take place on October 26. President John F. Kennedy is the speaker.1964Many Robert Frost books and manuscripts are received in this period, most notably the extensive Frost Collection of Jack W.C. Hagstrom.1965Dedication of the Robert Frost Library, October 25 (Architect: O'Connor and Kilham, New York; Contractor: George B.H. Macomber Company, Boston).The College Archives are moved from Morgan Hall to the Frost Library.Borrowing by University graduate students is allowed only at their dean's request.Users of the Frost Library are screened for admittance at an entrance gate.1967J. Richard Phillips, Amherst's first professional Special Collections librarian, is appointed.Sociology is added to the curriculum.The first installments of the Abbott Van Nostrand Theater Collection are received.1968The Friends of the Amherst College Library is founded.The Music Library, formerly in the Octagon, re-opens in the new music building.The Science Library, consolidating Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics collections formerly in the Observatory, Moore, and Fayerweather buildings, opens in Merrill Science Center.1969 The Four College Libraries Union List of Journal and Serial Holdings is first published (later editions appeared in print in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1978, appeared in microfilm from 1979-1994, and online, as part of the Five College Online Catalog, beginning in 1995).Newton F. McKeon, Director of the Library since 1939, retires.1970Richard J. Cody is appointed Librarian of the College (1970-1974).Charles T. Laugher is appointed Director of the Library (1970-1975).Selected Hampshire College students are allowed full borrowing privileges at Amherst.The Frost Library is occupied by black students of the Five College community on February 18, 1970.1971Audio-visual services are established in Frost on Level B (film study was added to the curriculum in 1972).1972Robert Frost Library Fellowships begin.1973Reciprocal direct borrowing privileges are instituted for all Five College students.1974The Trustees decide that Amherst will become coeducational. The first women are admitted as transfer students in the fall of 1975. The first women are admitted to the freshman class beginning in the fall of 1976.The library joins OCLC (originally Ohio College Library Center; currently Online Computer Library Center) for cataloguing purposes. The library discontinues use of the Dewey Decimal System, and adopts the Library of Congress classification.1975Willis E. Bridegam, Jr. assumes the position of Librarian of the College on August 1.The Library Council is established.The Library joins NELINET (New England Library Information Network).The Five College Librarians Council is established.HILC is moved to the Robert Frost Library.A report by four consultants titled "A View of HILC and its Future" is received by Five Colleges, Inc. Four Consultants: Richard De Gennaro, Director of Libraries at the University of Pennsylvania; Donald B. Engley, Associate University Librarian at Yale University; David Kaser, Professor in the Graduate School of Indiana University; and Louis Martin, Librarian of Harvard College.1976Annual Reviews of academic periodical subscriptions are begun; 149 subscriptions are canceled in the first year of review.The Frost Librarians council is asked to study total Five College library cooperation, including HILC and automated library systems.1977The Five College Librarians Council undertakes a survey of Five College Library Cooperation; "Report on Five College Library Cooperation" is issued in March.1978Implementation of HILC dispersal decisions recommended by the Librarians Council begins.The College Archives are given a mandate by the Board of Trustees.1980Dormitory library collections which were catalogued are moved to Frost LibraryHILC Dispersal is begun.HILC offices move from Frost Library to the Five College Center, Spring Street.1981Dispersal of the Hampshire Interlibrary Center Collection to members is completed.AACR2 is adopted for cataloguing by the Library.1982Five Colleges, Inc. contracts with OCLC to develop a Five College Automated Library SystemThe Neuroscience collection is moved from the Science Library in Merrill Center and integrated with the Biology collection to become the Biology-Neuroscience Library in Webster.1983Administration and operation of the Language Laboratory is transferred from the Romance Languages Department to the Library.1984Grants are received from the Pew Foundation ($10,500) and Culpepper Foundation ($53,000) for conversion of card catalogue records to machine-readable form.Olds Mathematics Library moves to the new Seeley Mudd Building.1985Frost Library, Level C is finished for book storage, and compact shelving is installed.1986Frost C-level is opened to the public; most books in the Dewey classification are moved to Level C.A Culpepper grant ($100,000) is received for Five College conversion ofcatalogue records.The Reserves Area of Level A in Frost Library is remodeled and expanded.Microforms are moved from the first floor of Frost Library to a larger area on Level A (near Reserves).1987Satellite TV is installed.A Long-Range Planning Committee composed of Library staff is established to study Library space needs.The Fine Arts Library moves from Mead Art Museum and is integrated into Frost Library.1988First Five College online catalog and circulation system (LS/2000) is installed.The card catalog is frozen as of December 19, 1988; new titles available only online thereafter.1989The circulation system in LS/2000 is the first part of the new system to be implemented in Frost Library, Fall 1989.The Library Expansion Committee is formed.Monographs and backfiles of many journals in the Biology-Neuroscience Library are moved to Frost Library.1990Circulation and Reserve functions in LS/2000 are fully automated and operational.Library gains responsibility for maintaining and replacing all classroom media equipment on campus, as part of the expanded services of the Audio-Visual Department.1991Library Expansion Committee Report is issued.Childs Bertram Tseckares Inc (CBT), architects, complete preliminary plans for expansion of the Frost Library.1992Thomas P. Whitney (AC 1937) established and endowment and donates monographs, serials, and manuscript material to establish the Amherst Center for Russian Culture.1993The College's Priorities and Planning Committee report is issued, establishing Library expansion as a first priority, but recommending the use of existing buildings.The Trustees approve a fifteen-year plan which will provide off-site storage, a central Science Library, and the renovation of Frost Library.1994The second Five College automated library system is installed (Innovative Interfaces Inc., III)The Depository opens in the renovated Air Force Stategic Air Command bunker in the Holyoke Range. It serves as an off-campus storage facility, connected by a daily delivery service.The Library establishes its first web site, giving it an internet presence.1995Robert Frost Library is renovated. William H. Rowe & Associates serves as architect; Marois Construction serves as general contractor.The Science Library in Merrill Center (previously for Astronomy, Chemistry and Physics) is expanded to include Psychology, Biology/neuroscience, and Geology.The Frost Library and Science Library rededication ceremony is held on October 28.Folger Undergraduate Fellowship for study at the Folger Shakespeare Library established by the Friends of the Amherst College Library and the Folger.1996Five Colleges, Inc. receives a $1.1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the five libraries to explore "Consortial Training and Collaborative Collection Development," which includes components for digitization of unique primary source materials held in each library, a cooperative Five College database purchase, and Five College Multimedia Access projects.1997Requests for books from any Five College Library may be made directly through the online catalogue, with the books delivered to the requester's home library.The Library begins to use the integrated online system for Acquisitions in III.The Science Library in Merrill science Center is named for Harry V. Keefe, Jr. (AC 1943), for his gift to the College in memory of his classmate and friend, Bruce B. Benson (AC 1943), Professor of Physics, 1947-1999.1998The Serial System in III becomes operational. The paper check-in system is discontinued.The Library establishes a liaison program with academic departments for enhancing communication and collection development.The Amherst Center for Russian Culture opens in the newly renovated Webster Building, housing the extensive Russian book and manuscript collections Acquired in 1992 from Thomas P. Whitney (AC 1937).The 1998 NEAS&C reaccreditation report for the College identifies the Library as a major college strength: "A first-class and well-supported college library, outstanding museum and archival resources."The Fine Arts Slide Collection is renamed the Visual Resources Department to reflect the expansion of services provided, including creation of and access to electronic images.1999Five College library cooperation is reviewed as part of an independent review of the consortial arrangements of Five Colleges, Inc.The Friends of the Amherst College Library web site is established.The second phase of renovation of the Depository is completed (to be occupied By the art collections while Mead undergoes renovations); the Library will begin to move in 2000.Visual Resources Department is temprarily relocated to the Frost Library, awaiting the creation of a new space in the renovation of Fayerweather.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Friends of the Amherst College Library Records, totaling 3.5 linear feet, document the formation, history, and activities of the group. Correspondence regarding the formation of a Friends group during the McKeon Administration (1938-1970) is sizeable. There is considerably less correspondence from the Laugher administration (1970-1975), and none from the Bridegam administration (1975 to date). The Bridegam administration is represented in files such as the minutes of meetings, financial and membership records, the Newsletter of the Friends of the Amherst College Library, other Friends' publications, and information regarding many events and activities sponsored by the Friends of the Library to date.
Academic libraries--Administration.
lcsh
McKeon, Newton Felch, 1904-1990.
lcnaf
Laugher, Charles T.
Bridegam, Willis E.
series
Series 1: CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Constitution and Bylaws 1968-date
Series 2: CORRESPONDENCE
Prior to formation of the group 1912-1967
N.F. McKeon Administration - general correspondence 1968-1969
N.F. McKeon Administration - general correspondence 1970 Jan-Jun
N.F. McKeon Administration (Council Chairman) 1956-1970
N.F. McKeon Administration (Council Membership) 1968-1970
N.F. McKeon Administration (Annual Spring Meeting) 1970
N.F. McKeon (Emeritus) - general correspondence 1970-1975 Jul
C.T. Laugher Administration - general correspondence 1970-1975
Series 3: FINANCIAL RECORDS
General 1968-1974
Membership/Contribution trend analysis [1968]-1975
Statement of cash receipts and disbursements 1973-date
William B. Stitt Memorial Fund 1969-1975
Phi Psi Fraternity Gift 1968-1974
Laurence B. Packard Memorial Book Collection 1976-1977
Series 4: MEETINGS
Council and Council/Membership Meetings - general 1990-date
Agendas 1969-date
Minutes of Council Meetings 1968-1973
Minutes of Annual Membership Meetings 1970-1973
Minutes 1974-1983
Minutes 1984-1994
Minutes 1995-1999
Minutes 2000-
Series 5: MEMBERSHIP
General prior to 1968 Apr 27
General 1968-1969
General 1969-1970
General 1970-1976
General 1996
Records prior to formation of the Friends A-B 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends C-D 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends E-G 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends H-K 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends L-M 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends N-R 1969-1977
Records prior to formation of the Friends S-Z 1969-1977
Invitations to join the Friends 1973-1980
Invitations to join the Friends 1981-1990
Invitations to join the Friends 1991-1994
Invitations to join the Friends 1995-1996
Invitations to join the Friends 1997-2000
Invitations to join the Friends 2001-
Letters of Solicitation 1988-
Life and Honorary Members 1969-
Council Members 1968-
(For "Membership/Contribution Trend Analysis" see Financial Records, Box 1)
Series 6: PHOTOGRAPHS
Council Meeting 1990 Oct 20
Annual Meeting 1991 Apr 27
Council Dinner 1994 Apr 22
Annual Meeting 1995 Oct 28
1996 to date
Series 7: PUBLICATIONS (EXCEPT NEWSLETTER)
Chronological list 1970-date
Myfanwy Thomas Remembers Robert Frost 1970
Poetry Amherst, A Sesquicentennial Anthology... Richard Aldridge, editor 1972
Robert Frost 1874-1963, A Remembrance 1974
Frost 100 (Catalog for the Frost Centennial Exhibition) 1975
A Report on the Amherst College Library, W.E. Bridegam 1975
Poetry and Prophecy, Mario A. DiCesare 1976
Amherst College Library Handbook, compiled by M.A. Groesbeck 1977
Forest Flowers, Robert Frost (keepsake) 1978
Amherst College Library Handbook 1982
Think Tank, James Merrill (keepsake) 1983
A Ragbag of Old Airs, Rolphe Humphries (keepsake) 1985
The Master Letters of Emily Dickinson 1986
The Poetical Manuscripts of Mark Akenside 1988
Trolling for Blues, Richard Wilbur 1989
Notes by Robert Frost on His Life and Early Writings 1990
Friends of the Library Bookplate (R. Gordon) 1990
Emily Dickinson - A Letter, with a note by Polly Longsworth 1992
Death Sauntering About, Anthony Hecht 1994
body, James Merrill 1995 Mar
Friends...Twenty Fifth Anniversary Booklet 1968-1993 1995 Oct
Friends...Bookmarks 1995-1996
Bookmarks 1996-1997
Bookmarks 1997-1998
Bookmarks 1998-1999
Bookmarks 1999-2000
Bookmarks 2000-2001
The Phyllis A. Maurer and Barry D. Maurer (AC 1959) Memorial Book Fund Bookplate (R. Gordon) 1996
For Victoria, Traveling in Europe, Timothy Steele 1996 Oct
New Year's Greetings 1996-
Speaking of Frost, Richard Wilbur and William H. Pritchard interviewed by Donald G. Sheehy 1997
Archives and Special Collections brochure and "Visit our web site" 1998-1999
(For table of contents, 1970-1993 see Supplement to vol. 19, 1993)
Series 8: PUBLICATIONS - NEWSLETTER
Newsletter, vol. 0, no. 1 1970 Nov
Newsletter, vol. 0, no. 2 1971 Spring
Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 1 1972 Winter
Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 2 1972 Summer
Newsletter, vol. 2, no. 1 1973 Winter
Newsletter, vol. 2, no. 2 1973 Fall
Newsletter, vol. 3, no.1 1974 Spring
Newsletter, vol. 3, no. 2 1975 Winter
Newsletter, vol. 4, no. 1 1975 Summer
Newsletter, vol. 4, no. 2 1976 Winter
Newsletter, vol. 5, no. 1 1976 Fall
Newsletter, vol. 5, no. 2 1977 Spring/Fall
Newsletter, vol. 6, no. 2 1978 Spring
Newsletter, vol. 7, no. 1 1978 Fall
Newsletter, vol. 8 1979-1980
Newsletter, vol. 9 1981
Newsletter, vol.10 1982
Newsletter, vol. 11 1983
Newsletter, vol. 12 1984-1985
Newsletter, vol. 13 1985-1986
Newsletter, vol. 14 1987
Newsletter, 20th Anniversary 1988 Supplement
Newsletter, vol. 15/16 1988-1990
Newsletter, vol. 17 1990-1991
Newsletter, vol. 18 1991-1992
Newsletter, vol. 19 1992-1993
Table of Contents, 1970-1993 1993 Supplement
Newsletter, vol. 20 1993-1994
Newsletter, vol. 21 1994-1995
Newsletter, vol. 22 1995-1996
Newsletter, vol.23 1996-1997
Newsletter, vol.24 1997-1998
Newsletter, vol.25 1998-1999
Newsletter, vol.26 1999-2000
Newsletter, vol. 27 2000-2001
Newsletter, vol. 28 2001-2002
Newsletter, vol. 29 2002-2003
Newsletter, vol. 30 2003-2004
Newsletter, vols. 24-30 1997/98-2003/04
Newsletter, vol. 31 2004-2005
Newsletter, vol. 32 2005-2006
Newsletter, vol. 33 2006-2007
Newsletter, vol. 34 2007-2008
Newsletter, vol. 35 2008-2009
Newsletter, vol. 36 2009-2010
Newsletter, vol. 37 2010-2011
Newsletter, vol. 38 2011-2012
Series 9, SPONSORED EVENTS (ADDRESSES, READINGS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS)
See also the Friends Newsletter for coverage of these events
Chronology of events 1970-date
Invitation list and more about the Robert Frost Centennial 1974
Mario DiCesare address, "Poetry and Prophecy" 1976
"Invitation to..." announcement of the Laurence Packard Memorial Collection and Annual Meeting 1977
Poster announcing address by Herbert S. Bailey 1978
Invitation to annual dinner and address by F.T. Prince 1979 Apr 27
Invitation to annual dinner, annual meeting, and dedication of the George D. Olds Mathematics Library 1980 Apr 25-26
Invitation to annual dinner and address by Thomas P. Whitney and text of address 1980 Apr 25
Invitation to Thom Gunn address, annual meeting, annual dinner, and reception; tape recording of address; poster for reading 1981 May 4-9
Invitation to William Pritchard address and annual dinner 1982 Apr 23
Invitation to annual dinner and reading by James Merrill 1983 Apr 29
Invitation to annual dinner and address by Mary Hyde 1984 May 4
Invitations to annual meeting, annual dinner, and address by Helen Vendler 1985 May 3-4
Invitations to annual meeting, annual dinner, and address by Robert A. Gross 1986 Apr 25-26
Invitation to annual meeting, annual dinner, and 20th Anniversary Celebration 1988 Apr 22-23
Invitation to annual meeting, annual dinner, and Werner Gundersheimer address 1989 Apr 28-29
Invitation to annual Meeting, annual dinner, and Richard Wilbur reading 1990 Apr 27-28
Invitation to open meeting, dinner, and Margaret Geller address 1991 Apr 26-27
Address by Donald O. White 1992 Feb 10
Invitation to Harry Duncan address 1992 Apr 24
Invitation to Joseph S. Tulchin address and annual dinner 1992 Oct 23
Announcement of Anthony Hecht residence and reading 1994 Apr 18-22
Invitation to Gerald D. Gibson address, annual meeting, and dinner 1994 Oct 14-15
Invitation to Martin Daly and Margo Wilson address and dinner 1995 Oct 27
Invitation to rededication of the Robert Frost Library, reception, and luncheon 1995 Oct 28
Program for rededication of the Robert Frost Library 1995 Oct 28
Invitation, announcement, and poster for Hans-Albecht Koch lecture 1996 Apr 15
Announcement and reviews of Joseph E. Stiglitz address 1996 Apr 26
The World War I Collection of Barry D. Maurer (AC 1959), notice of exhibit, and catalogs of collection 1996 May
Invitation to Timothy Steele reading, annual meeting, and dinner 1996 Oct 11-12
John Solt talk on Modern Japanese book designers 1997 Apr
"Hidden Treasures of the Amherst College 1997-2001 Library," John Lancaster, Daria D'Arienzo, Barnes Taft Alumni Week
James Carroll reading of "An American Requiem," poster 1997 Oct 23
James Carroll address "The Virtue of Writing...," table tent 1997 Oct 24
Invitation to James Carroll address, annual meeting, and dinner 1997 Oct 24-25
A 50th Anniversary Celebration of the publication of The Beautiful Changes by Richard Wilbur, announcements, poster 1997 Oct 29
Address by John Moon on James Joyce, "As Others See Us." 1998 Apr 17
Paul O'Rourke lecture, "Books and Learning in Ancient Egypt," poster 1999 Apr 22
Address by Alina Payne, David Kim (AC 1999) exhibit booklet on humanism and the book in Renaissance Venice. 1999 Apr 23
Jay Parini, "Reading Poems and Talking," poster and table tent 1999 Oct 15
Address by Stanley Rabinowitz on the Amherst Center for Russian Culture 1999 Oct 23
Tad Mosel (AC 1944) address, "Befriended by Books," poster 1999 Nov 3
Dedication of the Barbara and Frederick S. Lane (AC 1931) Room. 2000 Jan 28
Robert De Maria address, "Lying and Literature in the Eighteenth Century," invitation and handouts 2000 May 5
Four Oral History Tapes: M. Abbott Van Nostrand, Jr. (AC 1934); Charlotte S. Turgeon; Theodore P. Greene (AC 1943); Elizabeth M. Guest (AC 1933, widow) 2000 Oct 20
Beeke Sell Tower address, "GIALCULTUR-Americanism and the New Woman in the Weimar Republic." 2000 Oct 26
Series 10: OTHER ACTIVITIES
Robert Frost Library Fellowships 1972-
Student Book Collection Competition 1969-
Amherst College Undergraduate Folger Fellowships 1996-
Student Advisory Committee 1995-
Series 11: MISCELLANEOUS
Writings about the Friends of the Amherst College Library 1969-
Friends groups of other libraries 1969-
Stationery and supplies 1969-