1924-1930

1924-1925

The Radcliffe Library was again overcrowded. The problem was addressed by storing books on top of bookcases, installing five double-faced cases for reserved books, and building bookshelves along the walls of one room.107

1925-1926

Rose Sherman, Librarian at Radcliffe, noted the “widespread lack of responsibility” demonstrated by students in the library. Books were cut up, written upon, and taken without being checked out. She noted that these were expensive and frustrating side effects of the open-stack system. The year was also noteworthy for an increase       in binding. In addition to the usual binding of periodicals, the library had engaged in “a systematic attempt to strengthen bindings.” Many books with loose bindings were recased in their old covers, a job that was done in the library.108

1926-1927

Rose Sherman noted the “frequent and mysterious disappearance” of books from the Radcliffe Library. New security measures—including a desk at the exit of the reserved books room (the Fiske Room) where patrons were required to show all of their books—were approved and put into place. Mending and repair work continued. Much of this work was done by Elfreda C. Heath, who remained at Radcliffe until 1945.109

1927-1928

Georgiana Ames, the new Librarian of Radcliffe, noted that fewer books had been lost since security measures were instituted. Students still kept books for too long and frequently whispered in the library, forcing staff to act as disciplinarians. The library remained overcrowded; many items—including maps—were moved to the basement.

During the summer, books were cleaned “with a vacuum cleaner.” Ames kept statistics about annual expenditures for binding and recasing; she also noted the number of books mended in the library each year.110

1928

Edward W. Forbes founded the Fogg Art Museum’s Department of Technical Studies (also referred to as the Department of Conservation and Technical Research, later the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies). It quickly became an important voice in the growing field of conservation science. In the 1930s, the department examined and experimented on a variety of materials, including drawings and engravings, to determine best restoration practices. The department produced and studied X-rays of paintings. Another study examined “the effect of oxidation on the cellulose fibre of paper.”111

1929

The Library Bindery moved from Widener to the Boylston Hall Annex (the current site of Wigglesworth Hall), where there was more space for its equipment. This freed up space in Widener for expansion of the Treasure Room, such that one room would primarily be used for exhibitions and another would be used for secure storage. A small repair shop remained in operation in Widener.112

1929-1930

Lists of books missing from the Radcliffe Library were printed in The Radcliffe Daily. Editorials in this newspaper discussed students’ obligations to return books and to keep them in good condition. Overcrowding of the library continued. An “unused coal hole” was cleaned and equipped with shelves in order to provide more storage space.113

1929-1930

Widener’s female cleaning staff were dismissed in December 1929 and replaced with male workers. Frank Carney (who worked in the Shelf Department) found that the men lacked discipline and left many parts of Widener uncleaned. There were complaints from patrons about dust and uncollected trash.114

Early 1930s

House libraries opened in seven Harvard dormitories. Many freshmen used the library in the Freshman Union.115

Early 1930s

It was discovered that numerous books had been stolen from the stacks of Widener. In the following years, the thieves were caught and many of the books were recovered. The Library Council and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences agreed that security in Widener should be increased. As a result, a guard was placed at each entrance and a barrier with turnstiles was constructed at the main entrance. The locks to the stacks were changed and the number of keys in circulation was reduced. (Young staff, research assistants, and secretaries were now less likely to receive keys.)116

1930

Plans to build Wigglesworth Hall caused the Bindery to move to 888 Memorial Drive (former site of the Hingham Knitting Company). It was difficult for Widener to administer the department from this distance.117

References

107 Rose Sherman, “Report of the Librarian,” Annual Reports of Radcliffe College for 1924-1925 (1926): 29-30.

108 Rose Sherman, “Report of the Librarian,” Annual Reports of Radcliffe College for 1925-1926 (1927): 30-32.

109 Rose Sherman, “Report of the Librarian,” Annual Reports of Radcliffe College for 1926-1927 (1928): 30-35.

110 Georgiana Ames, “Report of the Librarian,” Annual Reports of Radcliffe College for 1927-1928 (1929): 26-31.

111 Francesca Bewer, “Early History of conservation and technical studies at the Fogg Art Museum”; available from http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1998/1145.html; Internet; accessed 26 October 2009. For more details about the research carried out at the Fogg, see Edward W. Forbes’s annual reports of this period (in Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments).

112 Barnes, “The Library Bindery,” 60-63; Robert P. Blake, “The Library,” Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1927-1928 (1929): 232; Robert P. Blake, “The Library,” Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1928-1929 (1930): 206

113 Georgiana Ames, “Report of the Librarian,” Annual Reports of Radcliffe College for 1929-1930 (1931): 28-32.

114 Harvard University. Records of the Harvard University Library. Records relating to the activities of the Library. Frank Carney, “History of the Shelf Department,” 1900. Archives UA.III.50.29.00.6. Harvard University Archives. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives.

115 Lovett, “The Undergraduate and the Harvard Library, 1877-1937,” 235-236; A. Lawrence Lowell, “The President’s Report,” Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments 1931-1932 (1933): 15; Delmar Leighton, “The College,” Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments 1931-1932 (1933): 105.

116 Robert P. Blake, “The Library,” Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments 1929-1930 (1931): 221; Robert P. Blake, “The Library,” Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments 1930-1931 (1932): 230- 231.

117 A. Lawrence Lowell, “The President’s Report,” Report of the President of Harvard College and Reports of Departments 1929-1930 (1931): 23; Barnes, “The Library Bindery,” 60-63; Harvard University. Photographs of 888 Memorial Drive. HUV 653. Harvard University Archives. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives.