William H. Carlson Papers, 1924-1981

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Carlson, William Hugh, 1898-
Title
William H. Carlson Papers
Dates
1924-1981
Quantity
3.4 cubic feet
Collection Number
Consult repository.
Summary
These papers document the career and research endeavors of William H. Carlson, University Librarian of OSU from 1945 to 1965.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William H. Carlson served as the University Librarian of OSU from 1945 to 1965. Born in 1898 in Waverly, Nebraska, William Carlson graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1924 with a degree in Journalism. As a student, Carlson's employment in the Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau Library sparked an interest in a career in library work. Pursuing this interest, Carlson earned a certificate from the New York State Library School in 1926 and later graduated with a Master's degree in Librarianship from the University of California at Berkeley in 1937. Before his appointment as Director of the Libraries for the Oregon State System of Higher Education and OSU Librarian in 1945, Carlson worked in several college and university libraries, including: the University of Iowa, University of North Dakota, Vanderbilt University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Washington. Active in research on library topics, Carlson published a number of articles and reviews on contemporary topics in library science such as post-war library planning and resources in Western libraries. Carlson also pursued an interest in Scandinavian studies, owing partly to his own Swedish ancestry. The Kerr Library was constructed in 1963 during Carlson's tenure as OSU Librarian. Retiring from the OSU Library in 1965, Carlson continued to be involved in library research, serving as a consultant on a survey of Oregon Institutional Libraries from 1966 to 1967. Carlson also completed a history of the OSU Library during his retirement, which was later submitted to The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science in 1977. Carlson died in Corvallis in 1990.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Subjects addressed in the correspondence include the publication of Carlson's articles and studies, employment possibilities as a university librarian, involvement in the Pacific Northwest Library Association Reorganization Committee, sabbatical leave plans, and Carlson's receipt of a Carnegie Fellowship Award. Carlson's research and lecture notes were generated in the course of formulating articles, speeches, books, and courses in library science which were taught in the summer of 1938 at the University of California at Berkeley. Class notes from Carlson's graduate course work in library science are also included in this series. The reports and studies pertain to institutional and university library resources and services. Carlson was involved as a researcher, author, and consultant in these reports. This series also includes completed surveys and informational materials assembled in the process of research.

The speeches delivered by Carlson to library schools, library association conferences, and local fraternal clubs and churches cover the subjects of library management, religion, and books. Series V contains draft copies and reprints of Carlson's articles and book reviews published in journals, magazines, and an encyclopedia. The subject of these articles primarily relate to library subjects and Scandinavian studies. This series also includes reprints of articles collected by Carlson that mostly pertain to library topics such as international libraries, library special collections, and the library profession. The publications consist of library staff newsletters, library journals, magazines, annual reports, book collection guides, and conference proceedings, and relate to various library topics, Scandinavian studies, and U. S. History.

The pamphlet materials and brochures relate primarily to university libraries, including dedications of new library buildings, university library handbooks/guides, and brochures for library furniture. The two book drafts are: In a Grand and Awful Time: Essays from the Librarian's Desk on 20th Century Man and His Books and The Library of OSU: Its Origins, Management, and Growth. A Centennial History. The book, The Development and Financial Support of Seven Northwestern and Western State University Libraries, was the product of a study Carlson conducted and submitted to the University of California School of Librarianship and which was funded in part by a American Library Association Carnegie Fellowship. The newspaper clippings pertain to Carlson and his post at the OSU Library, dedications of other university libraries, the University of California Berkeley student free-speech movement, and state legislation relating to correctional facilities. The photographs, primarily B&W prints and color slides, depict the Dodgen family and other friends/relatives, the OSU Library and other university and public libraries, and Carlson in portrait shots.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

William H. Carlson Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The William H. Carlson Papers are organized into eleven series: I. Correspondence; II. Research and Lecture Notes; III. Reports and Studies; IV. Speeches; V. Articles; VI. Publications; VII. Brochures/Pamphlets/Handbooks; VIII. Book Drafts; IX. Book; X. Newspaper Clippings; and XI. Photographs.

Related Materials

The Library Records (RG 9) include the administrative records of the OSU Library under Carlson's leadership. The Archives also has the personal papers of other OSU librarians, such as Bertha Herse.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Correspondence, 1928-1981Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Article on Ida Kidder
1966-1967
1
Article on " Notable Nebraskans"
1964-1966
1
Articles and Speeches by Carlson (general)
1936-1972
1
Book, In a Grand and Awful Time
1966
1
Conference Paper: Resources of Western Libraries
1940
1
Dodgen Family
1961-1966
1
Employment Related
1928-1968
1
Fellowships/Scholarships
1933-1936
1
Genealogy Research
1958, 1968
1
General
1935-1942, 1945-1981
1
Higher Education Act of 1965 (Federal Legislation)
1965
1
Oregon Institutional Library Services Study
1967
1
PNLA (Pacific Northwest Library Association) Reorganization Committee
1964-1966
1
Publication of Western and Northwest University Libraries Study
1937-1939
1
Retirement Congratulations Letters
1965
1
Sabbatical Leave (ranching in Oregon research)
1950-1951
1
Sabbatical Leave (Sweden)
1956-1957
1
State Institutional Library Services Advisory Council (includes minutes)
1967

Series II:  Research and Lecture Notes, 1936-1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Advanced Cataloging 218
1936
1
Bibliography 220 A
1936
1
Economics 140-Elementary Statistics
1936
1
History of Libraries 215
1936
1
Political Science 200
1936
1
Freshman Lecture-Business Administration
1937
1
Librarianship 203
1938
1
Study of Correlation Between Grades and Library Books Drawn
1938
1
Junior College Library Administration
1938
1
Scandinavian Materials in U.S. Libraries
1939
2
Notes for Articles on Library Topics
1945-1947
2
Notes for Booklist Columns
1955-1964
2
Notes on the History of OSU Library
1966
2
Notes on Visits to Scandinavian Libraries
1969
2
Notes on World Council of Churches and Its Outlook on Contemporary Social Issues
1972
2
Notes for Ida Kidder Article
undated
2
Notes for " Propaganda Paper"
undated
2
Notes from an Unidentified Book on University Library Design
undated
2
Notes on Pacific Northwest Library Resources
undated
2
Notes on the Merton College Library-Oxford
undated
2
Notes on Education/Librarianship After World War II
undated
2
General Library Topics
undated

Series III:  Reports and Studies, 1936-1968Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Report on the General Education Board Fund for the Development of the Bibliographical and Reference Book Resources of Vanderbilt University Academic Library
1936
2
Western and Northwestern University Libraries Survey
1936-1937
2
Survey Results: Montana, Idaho, Nevada, South/North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
2
Report to Library Committee on Book Allocation Funds (Report compiled by Carlson for Univ. of Florida)
1940-1941
2
Monthly Reference Reports (OSU Library)
1952-1955
5
Draft Report: A Study and Analysis, with Recommendations, of Library Services and Facilities in the State of Oregon Correctional Institutions, the Mental Institutions, and Those for the Physically Handicapped (Handwritten by Carlson)
1967
2
A Report on Institutional Library Services in Oregon
Survey results and form-included.
1967
2
Survey Results/Informational Materials
Box
2
Columbia Park Hospital and Training Center
1967
2
Dammasch State Hospital
1967
2
Eastern Oregon State Hospital
1967
2
Fairview Hospital and Training Center
1967
2
Hillcrest School for Girls
1967
2
MacLaren School for Boys
1963-1967
2
Oregon State Correctional Institution
1967
2
Oregon State Hospital
1967
2
Oregon State Penitentiary
1967
2
Oregon State Schools for the Deaf/Blind
1967
2
Informational Materials
Box
2
Library Services and Construction Act
Documents relating to both the federal and state legislation that prompted the Institutional Library Services Study.
1966-1968
2
Standards for Institutional Libraries
1963-1966
2
Washington State Institutional Libraries
1963-1966

Series IV:  Speeches, 1932-1971Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Speeches
1932-1942, 1945-1948, 1951-1971, undated

Series V:  Articles, 1932-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Article Draft: History of the OSU Library, by William H. Carlson (Written for The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science)
1975-1977
3
Articles by Carlson
1932-1969
3
Book and Reviews by Carlson
1945-1964
3
General Library Topics
1940-1966
3
International Libraries
1946-1958
3
The Library Profession
1944-1964
3
Non-Library Topics
1947-1956
3
Research Resources in Libraries
1941-1957
3
Special Collections and Manuscripts
1934-1963
3
University Library Topics
1941-1966

Series VI:  Publications, 1924-1973Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Addresses and Speeches
1937-1946
3
Annual Reports from University and Public Libraries
1938-1955
3
Book Collection Guides
1951-1957
3
Library Association Conference Proceedings and Meetings
1945-1973
3
General
1948-1967
3
General Historical Topics
1938-1960
3
" Libraries In the Southwest: Their Growth, Strengths, Needs" University of California
3
Library, Occasional Paper No. 3
1955
3
Library Periodicals and Journals
1947-1964
3
Library Science Education
1944-1952
3
Materials Relating to General Higher Education Topics
1935-1958
3
" Nebraska Voter's Handbook"
Carlson helped to write and compile the contents of this handbook as a Research Assistant at the Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau.
1924
3
Scandinavian Materials (not in English)
1946-1958
3
Scandinavian Materials (in English)
1953-1965
3
University Library Staff Newsletters (University of Washington, Columbia University)
1942-1957

Series VII:  Brochures/Pamphlets/Handbooks, 1957-1973Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
Library Furniture Vendors
1966
4
OSU Press/Personal
1957-1973
4
Public Libraries
1966
4
University Libraries
1965-1967

Series VIII:  Book Drafts, 1965-1966Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
First Draft, The Library of OSU: Its Origins, Management, and Growth
1966
4
First Draft, Havd I Hela Mintid-(First title for In a Grand and Awful Time: Essays from the Librarian's Desk On 20th Century Man and His Books)
undated
4
Proof Copy, In a Grand and Awful Time
1965
5
Final Draft, In a Grand and Awful Time
1965

Series IX:  Book, 1938Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
The Development and Financial Support of Seven Western and Northwestern State University Libraries
two copies
1938

Series X:  Newspaper Clippings, 1945-1967Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
OSU Library-Carlson
1945-1947
4
State Legislation Relating to Correctional Facilities
1967
4
Student Free-Speech Movement
1965
4
University Libraries other Than OSU
1966

Series XI:  Photographs, 1947-1965Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
6
Dodgen Family, Other Friends-Relatives
1961-1965
6
OSU Library
1951-1962
6
Portraits of Carlson
1947-1953
6
University and Public Libraries: Exterior Views of Buildings
1951-1962
6
University and Public Libraries: General Views
1960
6
University and Public Libraries: Images Organized by Library Use Areas
1959-1962
6
University of North Dakota/Miami University Libraries
1951-1963

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Academic libraries.
  • Institution libraries--Oregon.
  • Libraries--United States.
  • Library science.

Personal Names

  • Carlson, William Hugh, 1898-

Corporate Names

  • Oregon State University. Library.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs.