Friends of the Library Records, 1934-1996

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State University. Friends of the Library.
Title
Friends of the Library Records
Dates
1934-1996 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.72 cubic foot, (1 box)
1 microfilm reel
Collection Number
RG 002
Summary
The Friends of the Library of Oregon State University was founded on October 27, 1943, to promote "interest in the Library of Oregon State College" and to encourage "suitable gifts and bequests to the Library." These records document the administration and activities of this library support organization.
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
Access Restrictions

collection is open research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Friends of the Library of Oregon State University was founded on October 27, 1943, to promote "interest in the Library of Oregon State College" and to encourage "suitable gifts and bequests to the Library." The organization is governed by a board of twelve directors, with the University Librarian acting as executive secretary. Included among the activities sponsored by the Friends over the years have been the Annual Library Day and the Co-op Book Award Contest. This contest, financially supported by the OSU Bookstore, offered $50 in credit at the bookstore for the best student essay on literature and/or the importance of reading. The event was also known as the Student Personal Library Contest. Significant donations to the Friends have included a Bible from the 13th century.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These records document the administration and activities of this library support organization.

The paper records are organized into eight series and date from 1934 to 1996. Series I consists of correspondence and pertains to planning efforts for the annual Library Day dinner and presentation, docent activities, gifts, membership, and the McDonald Rare Book Room. Series II consists of minutes from Board of Director's meetings and a minute book with handwritten notes from various unidentified meetings. Series III contains annual and treasurer's reports, and reports with basic information about the Friends of the Library. Series IV consists of copies of the constitutions and bylaws and their revisions.

Series V contains brochures for the annual Library Day Spring dinner and presentation, a hand-book on the use of the OSU Library (printed by the Friends of the Library), and publications of Library dedication ceremonies and Library Day speeches and addresses. Series VI consists of lists of the membership and officers of the Friends of the Library. Series VII is an undated essay on the history of the Friends of the Library. Series VIII contains copies of the Friends of the Library newsletters: Bulletin of the Friends of the Library and A Friendly Newsletter.

There are 13 series in the microfilm records which cover the years 1940 to 1966. Series I consists of minutes from the Co-op Book Award Committee and the Friends of the Library Board of Director's meetings. Series II contains correspondence primarily relating to meetings, members, and Friends-sponsored events such as Library Day. Series III pertains to the Co-op Book Awards and consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, contest reports, and judge/contestant lists. Series IV consists of copies of the constitution and revisions.

Series V consists of lists of guests at the annual Library Day banquet. Series VI primarily constitutes correspondence relating to gifts and donations. Series VII consists of essays sub-mitted by students for the Co-op Book Award Contest and news releases relating to the contest and Library Day. Series VIII contains membership lists. Series IX consists of lists of officers in the Friends of the Library.

Series X contains newspaper clippings from the Barometer and the Corvallis Gazette-Times pertaining to events sponsored by the Friends of the Library and news about members.Series XI consists of Friends of the Library newsletters. Series XII contains brochures and flyers mostly pertaining to the annual Library Day and other events. Series XIII consists entirely of annual and treasurer's reports.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Friends of the Library Records (RG 002), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Given differences in the series designations between the paper and microfilm records in this group, the microfilm reels are described separately below and in the inventory.

The paper records are organized into eight series: I. Correspondence; II. Minutes; III. Reports/Studies; IV. Constitutions/Bylaws; V. Brochures; VI. Membership Lists; VII. Historical Essay; and VIII. Newsletters.

The microfilmed records contain 13 series: I. Minutes; II. Correspondence; III. Co-op Book Award Materials; IV. Constitution; V. Banquet Lists; VI. Gifts; VII. Essays and News Releases; VIII. Membership Lists; IX. Officer Lists; X. Newspaper Clippings; XI. Newsletters; XII. Brochures/Flyers; and XIII. Reports.

Related Materials

Other records relating to the Friends of the Library can be found in the records and photographs of the Library (RG 9, P 83).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Paper RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Series I: Correspondence
1934-1995
Box
1
Annual Library Day Spring Dinner
1955-1987
1
Docent Activities
1987-1995
1
General
1950-1993
1
Gifts
1972-1976
1
McDonald Room (Library Rare Book Room)
1934-1974
Series II: Minutes
1953-1996
Box
1
Board of Directors Meetings
1954-1996
1
Minute Book
1953-1964
Series III: Reports/Studies
1946-1992
Box
1
Annual Reports
1967-1969
1
Handbook for County Representatives
1969
1
Things to Know About Friends of the Library
1971
1
Treasurer's Reports
1946-1992
Series IV: Constitutions/Bylaws
1943-1994
Series V: Brochures
1949-1992
Box
1
Annual Library Day Spring Dinner
1952-1992
1
Dedication of the William Jasper Kerr Library
1964
1
Library Handbook for Faculty Members/Graduate Students
1959
1
General
1949-1990
1
Medical Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Brochure published from the 1965 Library Day Banquet speech
1965
1
Oregon: A State of Mind
Brochure published from an address delivered at the 10th Annual Library Day, May 3, 1961
1962
1
William Jasper Kerr: Statesman in Education
Printed from an address on the occasion of the naming of the Library after Kerr
1954
Series VI: Membership Lists
1962-1995
Box
1
Board Members
1982-1995
1
General
1962-1992
Series VII: Historical Essay
circa 1970
Box
1
History of the Friends of the Library
circa 1970
Series VIII: Newsletters
1952-1978
Box
1
Bulletin of the Friends of the Library
1973-1978
1
A Friendly Newsletter
1952-1966

Microfilmed RecordsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Reel
1
Series I: Minutes
1941-1963
Reel
1
Coop Book Award Committee
1941-1949
1
Friends of the Library
1943-1963
1
Series II: Correspondence
1943-1963
Reel
1
General
1943-1963
1
Series III: Co-op Book Award Materials
1940-1961
Reel
1
Correspondence
1942-1961
1
Judges and Contestants
1940-1959
1
News clippings
1942-1958
1
Contest reports
1950-1952
1
Series IV: Constitution
1943-1948
1
Series V: Banquet Lists
1953-1963
1
Series VI: Gifts
1944-1955
1
Series VII: Essays and News Releases
1939-1950
1
Series VIII: Membership Lists
1943-1952
1
Series IX: Officer Lists
1946-1955
1
Series X: Newspaper Clippings
1943-1948
1
Series XI: Newsletters
1942-1966
1
Series XII: Brochures/Flyers
1948-1966
Reel
1
General
1948-1966
1
Series XIII: Reports
1943-1962
Reel
1
Annual and Treasurer's Reports
1943-1962

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Academic libraries--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Friends of the library--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Libraries--Gifts, legacies.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon State College. Library.
  • Oregon State University. Libraries.
  • Oregon State University. Library.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Oregon State College. Friends of the Library. (creator)