LHRT (Library History Round Table)

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last person joined: 28 days ago 

The mission of the Library History Round Table (LHRT) is to encourage research and publication on library history and promote awareness and discussion of historical issues in librarianship.

Learn more about LHRT on the ALA website.

  • 1.  ALA Medal of Excellence - Question

    Posted Feb 18, 2024 09:20 AM

    The ALA Medal of Excellence now has a Wikipedia page with citations. I could not find a citation for the 1957 honoree, Willis E. Wright. I think also a winner of the Margaret Mann citation. Worked at Williams College.  Anyone with a citation please reply to me.

    ALA Medal of Excellence - Wikipedia



    ------------------------------
    Kathleen de la Peña McCook
    Distinguished University Professor
    School of Information
    University of South Florida
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  • 2.  RE: ALA Medal of Excellence - Question

    Posted Feb 18, 2024 08:52 PM
    Dear Kathleen
    Wyllis (with a Y not an I) E. Wright was the chairman of the ALA Catalog Code Revision Committee, which was the dominant force behind the 1967 Anglo-American cataloging rules, edited first by Seymour Lubetzky and, when Seymour was defenestrated by LC as being too radical,  by Sumner Spalding.  They were not really "Anglo-American" as the rules for entry and heading were not accepted by BNB and most British libraries and the descriptive rules were rewritten by the British (LA) committee, in which I had a small part, and issued as a separate publication.  I met Mr Wright once--a  very nice gentleman whom I recall but I doubt he remembered me for more than a few minutes.  I imagine that role is why he was awarded the Dewey Medal.  All the best, Michael
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    Michael Gorman
    525 W. Superior, Apt.225
    Chicago Illinois 60654
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    312-515-8478



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: ALA Medal of Excellence - Question

    Posted Feb 18, 2024 09:19 PM
    His name was spelled wrong on the list at the ALA website, but has been fixed now on the Wikipedia page...and I wrote this year's committee to please change his name at the ALA site. 

    Also, the announcement about him was in the first issue of LRTS which wasn't in the Wilson index. 

    Lucky for me an intrepid friend had the very first volume of LRTS so I was able to create an entry with a citation.


    -Kathleen

    Distinguished University Professor of Librarianship
    School of Information, University of South Florida




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: ALA Medal of Excellence - Question

    Posted Feb 18, 2024 08:54 PM
    PS. The Anglo-American cataloguing rules (1978-AACR2) is misspelled on the Wikipedia page.  MG
    -----
    Michael Gorman
    525 W. Superior, Apt.225
    Chicago Illinois 60654
    -----
    312-515-8478



    Original Message