Barbara Gordon papers, 1972-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gordon, Barbara
Title
Barbara Gordon papers
Dates
1972-1976 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 vertical file
Collection Number
4105 (Accession No. 4105-001)
Summary
Clippings, correspondence, and conference files of a forest resources librarian
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Barbara Gordon was born in Michigan in 1925. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Zoology. While in Michigan, Gordon worked as the director of the Children’s Zoo in Detroit and as a researcher for General Motors. She began working in libraries when she worked as a reference librarian at Oakland University. Gordon was drawn to Seattle for the wildlife and the thriving boating community.

Gordon worked for the University of Washington as the head of the Forest Resources Library in Bloedel Hall beginning in 1972. While working at UW, Gordon served on a national committee to reorganize the National Agricultural Library in 1982, was the president of the Association of Librarians of the University of Washington (ALUW), and established WESTFORNET which is an information network about American forests in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture. During Gordon’s career at UW, she also worked for PACFORNET North which is similar to WESTFORNET but operated out of the University of Washington. Gordon also went on a trip to Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru in 1974 to visit libraries through the Washington State Partners of the Americas. She also worked as the Forestry advisor to Books for Asia sponsored by the Asia Foundation to send books about forestry to libraries and communities in China, primarily Sichuan province. Gordon also published multiple articles on library sciences and forestry library collections.

Aside from her career, Gordon was an adamant boater and scuba diver. She was a board member of the Corinthian Yacht Club and the Puget Sound Cruising Club. Barbara Gordon passed away in 1985 in Bellevue, Washington. The Barbara Gordon Sailorship Fund was established through Youth Adventure, an organization which teaches children how to sail, in her honor.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Clippings, correspondence, and conference files, 1972-1976.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Carol Green, 1989-07-01.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Gordon, Barbara (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives