Records of the Acting Librarian Effie Keith (1882-1969)
Scope and Contents
Effie Keith's records fill one half-size box and span the years 1933-2004. The majority of the materials come from 1941-1944, during her tenure as Acting University Librarian. The materials include correspondence, personnel files, periodical clippings, and some inventories and reports.
The records begin with some chronologically arranged biographical material, including personnel files, obituary notices, and posthumous tributes. The bulk of the material is in the form of correspondence between Keith and various library personnel, professors, and book dealers. Those with whom Keith exchanged significant correspondence have been given their own folders, including correspondence regarding the Franz Boas Collection, the Technological Institute library, and a collector of political cartoons. Also included is a folder of general correspondence.
A folder containing Keith's publications includes "A Selected Bibliography of Library Architecture: 1915-1930."
Dates
- 1933-2004
Creator
- Keith, Effie, 1882-1969 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.
Extent
1.00 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Effie Almira Keith held various positions in the Northwestern University Library from 1916 through 1949, most notably Acting University Librarian (1941-1944); but also head cataloguer (1916-1921), Assistant University Librarian (1921-1941, 1944-1947), and Special Consultant in Cataloguing (1947-1949). During her Acting Librarianship, she steered the library through the staffing shortages caused by World War II, negotiated the consolidation of three different departmental libraries into the library of the newly constructed Technological Institute, and secured the purchase of the Franz Boas Collection, which provided the foundation of the Africana collection. These records fill one half-size box and span the years 1933-2004. The majority of the materials come from 1941-1944, during her tenure as Acting University Librarian. The materials include correspondence, personnel files, periodical clippings, and some inventories and reports.
Arrangement
The records of Effie Almira Keith are organized into: miscellaneous/biogrpahical material; correspondence (general correspondence, and correspondence arranged by surname or topic); and publications.
Method of Acquisition
The Records of Effie Keith are comprised of material from Accession # 74-95, which were transferred from the Northwestern University Archives' Alumni Biographical Files and Faculty Biographical Files.
Separated Materials
Half an inch of duplicate and extraneous material was discarded.
Processing Information
Jeremy Abbott, February 23, 2005
- Title
- Guide to the Records of the Acting Librarian Effie Keith (1882-1969)
- Author
- Jeremy Abbott
- Date
- 11/02/2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Repository Details
Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635
specialcollections@northwestern.edu