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Records of the Library

4 cartons, 3 boxes (6.66 linear feet)

(1935 – 2016)

bulk 1950-1990

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier SUA-001
Creator(s) Salisbury University Libraries
Acquisition

Materials were accumulated in Blackwell Library with no formal transfers or donations.
Language(s) English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding aid written by Ian Post, July 2016; additions and revisions by Jennifer Pulsney, December 2023.
Related Materials

Photograph Files (1923 – 2015)

Dr. Alice Bahr Publications Collection (1983 – 2013)

Judith K. Fischer Papers (1973 – 1996)

Stephanie Freide Papers (1977 – 2013)

James Thrash papers (1949 – 2018)

Records of the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons​ (1998 – 2016)

Records of the President's Office (1923 – 2023)
Separated Materials

Series 3: Academic Commons Renderings, undated  (32/3/14)

Series 3: Blackwell Library Rendering, circa 1956 (32/3/14)

Series 9: Posters: Giving Day, De-Stress Station, Family Weekend, "Handmade Thinking" Exhibit, 2019 (Unit 3, Drawer 14 )       

Series 11: Blackwell Library broadsides, undated (32/3/14)

Artifacts (Chair and doorplate—see Scope and Contents Note)

Blackwell Library blueprints
Abstract

The Records of the Library contain records, photographs, and memorabilia from Salisbury University Libraries that range from 1950 to 1990. The University Libraries began as the College Library and was housed in Holloway Hall. In 1957, a building known as the College Library was built. The building was dedicated as Blackwell Library in 1966. In 2016, the library moved from Blackwell to the newly constructed Guerrieri Academic Commons. The records include information on the administration, employees, and changes of the Library. Changes mentioned include the building and dedication of Blackwell as well as the Guerrieri Academic Commons. Ledgers and journals in the collection detail incoming books, fines, and lost books. The collection also includes scrapbooks, photographs, and other ephemera relating to the library. Library publications and material relating to events hosted by the library are present in the collection.

Administrative History

The Salisbury University Libraries began as the College Library of what was then— in 1925— called the Maryland Normal School at Salisbury. Housed in the north wing of the first floor of the main building (now Holloway Hall), the College Library began with roughly 5,000 volumes of books. By 1929, the library had also subscribed to over 40 magazines.

According to the 1926 Evergreen yearbook, Dorothy Doerr was the first librarian. From 1938 to 1969, Grace E. Strickland Chaires served as the first trained librarian; Chaires joined the Women’s Reserve of the Navy and served between 1943 and 1946. In 1945, there were approximately 20,000 volumes of books and new subjects were introduced as the college’s curriculum expanded.

In 1952, the first bookplates were introduced and the Campus School had its first dedicated librarian. However, the 1950s saw one of the most significant changes for the library: a new building. The new building, known as the College Library, was approved by the State Department of Education on July 26, 1950 and first opened its doors October 1957.

When the school began to name its buildings on campus in 1966, the library was dedicated as the Blackwell Library. In 1975, the building underwent renovations that significantly altered the appearance and furniture of the library.

By 1992, the library ceased using the catalog card system; later in the 1990s, library staff delivered eulogies for the catalog.

The library has also had different satellite library departments that are part of the Libraries, which include the Curriculum Resource Center (formerly the Curriculum Laboratory), Instructional Design and Delivery, and the Campus Elementary School Library.

In 2016, the Salisbury University Libraries moved into the newly constructed Guerrieri Academic Commons. The last day that Blackwell Library was open was July 8.

Scope and Content Note

The Records of the Library consist of records, photographs, and memorabilia that were created by the Salisbury University Libraries and, earlier, the College Library. The bulk of the records date between 1950 and 1990 and were produced to support the various functions of the library, including the acquisition, environmental management, promotion, and borrowing of books and other library materials on campus.

The first series, Administration, pertains to the long-range management of the library through reports, budgeting, committees, and organizational structure. Particular note should be paid to the reports, which document the accreditation of the library, as well as major changes in both organization and physical structure. Similar records regarding the administration of the libraries can be found in the James Thrash papers and the Alice Bahr publications.

The second series, Personnel, relates to the employees of the library. While the majority of the documents demonstrate practices and procedures for different eras, there are also all staff memorandums and ephemera.

The third series is one of the most expansive and documents changes in the physical facilities of the library. The bulk of these records relate to Blackwell Library, or the College Library building before its dedication in 1966. The planning documents about the Academic Commons and Blackwell Library have, in most cases, remained in their original order. Three renderings of the Academic Commons are oversize and separated. One rendering of Blackwell Library from around 1956 is also oversized and separated. Blueprints for Blackwell Library are separated as well.

The fourth series include statistics that track various functions of the library, such as circulation, holdings, and student opinions.

The fifth series consists of four metal-edge bound ledgers that document incoming books, which made note of the author and title in addition to price.

The sixth series contains journals that document student library fines and books that were lost.

The seventh series include guides for the library building and its services, primarily for Blackwell Library. There are also a limited number of guides for more specific services of the library.

The eighth series relates to the publicity of the library through its publications: College Library News and Notes, the Curriculum Lab Newsletter, Library Lite, and the Enlightener. This series also includes newspaper clippings relating to library matters.

The ninth series documents events hosted by the library, including the dedication for the library in 1957, its naming in 1966, and groundbreaking for the Academic Commons.

The tenth series contains scrapbooks, photograph scrapbooks, and miscellaneous photographs of the library and its staff. The bulk of the photographs of the library can be found in the Photograph Collection in the folder Library.

The eleventh series consists of ephemera created throughout the history of the library, such as bookplates, stickers, catalog cards, and notices that were posted in the library. One posted notice, which depict Blackwell Library, is oversized and separated (see box list for location).

There are two artifacts relevant to the Records of the Library: a chair and library doorplate from the original College Library in Holloway Hall.

Arrangement Statement

The Records of the Library are arranged topically, primarily consisting of series that reflect the functions of the library. While many of the individual folders remain in their original order, some have been organized chronologically. There are 11 series:

(1) Administration
(2) Personnel 
(3) Facilities 
(4) Statistics
(5) Accession Records
(6) Library Fines
(7) Library Guides
(8) Publicity
(9) Events
(10) Scrapbooks and Photographs
(11) Ephemera.

For series descriptions, see the Scope and Contents note.

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Libraries
  • Corporate Names
    • Maryland State Teachers College
    • Salisbury State College
    • Salisbury State University
    • Salisbury University
    • Salisbury University Libraries
  • Personal Names
    • Fisher, Grace Stoddard
  • Location Terms
    • Salisbury (Md.)

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

Box 1

  1. Series 1: About the Library, circa 1940s-1990
  2. Series 1: Reports, 1938-1995
  3. Series 1: Books and Periodicals, 1947
  4. Series 1: Correspondence, 1950-1959
  5. Series 1: Book Additions, 1951
  6. Series 1: Correspondence and Procedure Changes, 1959-1962
  7. Series 1: University of Maryland Libraries, 1961-2000
  8. Series 1: Maryland Library Association Conference Schedule, 1963
  9. Series 1: Board of Trustees Policy Directive Re: Representative Racial Balance, 1969
  10. Series 1: Correspondence and Memorandums, 1970-1979
  11. Series 1: Forms, Questionnaires, and Procedures, 1970-1979
  12. Series 1: List of Periodicals, 1972
  13. Series 1: Office of Instructional Resources, 1976
  14. Series 1: Correspondence, 1976
  15. Series 1: Professional/Reference Staff Meeting Minutes, 1979-1988
  16. Series 1: Technical Services Meeting Minutes, 1978-1990
  17. Series 1: Public Services Meeting Minutes, 1978-1984
  18. Series 1: Organization Charts, 1978, 1995
  19. Series 1: UMES Borrowing Privileges, 1970-1971
  20. Series 1: Proposed Constitution of the Faculty Senate, undated
  21. Series 1: Budget Estimates, 1975-1986
  22. Series 1: Periodical Expenditures, 1976-1987
  23. Series 1: Fire and Disaster Evacuation Plans, 1980, 2012
  24. Series 1: Nursing Grant Periodicals, 1988-1990
  25. Series 1: Alice Bahr Correspondence, 2002-2009
  26. Series 1: Library Emails, 2005-2009
  27. Series 1: Three Year Departmental Plans, 2005-2011
  28. Series 1: ProQuest Correspondence Re: Masters Theses and Honors Projects, 2005-2015 (1/2)
  29. Series 1: ProQuest Correspondence Re: Masters Theses and Honors Projects, 2005-2015 (2/2)
  30. Series 1: Communications Committee, 2014
  31. Series 1: Library Purchases, 2015

Box 2

  1. Series 2: Basic Employee Practices and Procedures, 1979
  2. Series 2: Duties and Responsibilities of the Librarian, before 1957
  3. Series 2: Student Assistant Employee Guide, 1968
  4. Series 2: Blackwell Library Staff Handbook, 1999
  5. Series 2: Circulation Desk Procedures, 1953-1967
  6. Series 2: Card Catalog Filing Rules, circa 1966
  7. Series 2: Master List of Library Staff and Donors, undated
  8. Series 2: Memorandums, 1962-1980
  9. Series 2: Personnel Ephemera, 1966-1999
  10. Series 2: Photograph: Keith Vail, Library Director, circa 1970s
  11. Series 3: Planning a College Library Building, 1950-1951
  12. Series 3: Specifications for a Library Building at State Teachers College, 1955
  13. Series 3: General Library Building Planning Documents, 1950-1955
  14. Series 3: General Library Building Planning Documents, undated
  15. Series 3: College Library Building Floorplans, undated
  16. Series 3: College Library Buildings Bibliographies, 1950
  17. Series 3: Library Plan, 1956 [SEPARATED]
  18. Series 3: College Library First Floor Plan, 1957 [SEPARATED]
  19. Series 3: Naming of Blackwell Library, 1966
  20. Series 3: Space Summary, 1969
  21. Series 3: Blackwell Library Renovation Planning, 1969
  22. Series 3: Proposed Library Addition, 1971 [SEPARATED]
  23. Series 3: Addition to Library Planning, 1972 [SEPARATED]
  24. Series 3: Blackwell Library Floor Plans, 1972 [SEPARATED]
  25. Series 3: Blackwell Library Renovation Planning, 1972-1975
  26. Series 3: Blackwell Library Switch Control Panels Plan, 1972 [SEPARATED]
  27. Series 3: Blackwell Library Floor Plans, 1973
  28. Series 3: Blackwell Library Renovation Conditions of Contract, undated
  29. Series 3: Blackwell Library Room Directory, undated
  30. Series 3: Blackwell Library Floor Plans, undated [SEPARATED]
  31. Series 3: Library Furniture, before 1935-circa 1975
  32. Series 3: Blackwell Library Storage Cabinets Floor Plans, 1976 [SEPARATED]
  33. Series 3: Blackwell Library Carpeting Planning, 1988 [SEPARATED]
  34. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning Overview and History, 2005-2011
  35. Series 3: Academic Commons Space Planning, 1995-2005
  36. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning Documents, 1991-2001
  37. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning Data, 2005
  38. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning Documents, 2005
  39. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning with President, 2005
  40. Series 3: Academic Commons Dean’s Planning Documents, 2005
  41. Series 3: Academic Commons Planning Documents, 2007-2012
  42. Series 3: Blackwell Library Building Second Floor Plan, 2010 [SEPARATED]
  43. Series 3: Blackwell Library Record Floor Plans, 2015 [SEPARATED]
  44. Series 4: Attendance and Circulation Statistics, 1939-1957

Box 3

  1. Series 4: General Statistics, 1941-1967
  2. Series 4: General Statistics, 1986-1994
  3. Series 4: Inventory and Holding Statistics, 1953-1983
  4. Series 4: OCLC Statistics, 1984-1987
  5. Series 4: Departmental Accreditation Statistics, 1978-1987
  6. Series 4: Questionnaires, circa 1946-2000
  7. Series 4: Cost Analyses, 1972-1977
  8. Series 4: Legislative Request for Budget Statistics, 1977
  9. Series 5: Accession Records (4), 1939-1970—SEPARATED (SEE SHELF)
  10. Series 6: Account of Fine Money Paid, 1954-1955
  11. Series 6: Record of Fines Due, 1962-1967
  12. Series 6: Library Fines and Lost Books, 1964-1967
  13. Series 6: Record of Fines Due, 1967-1969
  14. Series 6: Receipt Book for Fines and Lost Books, 1967-1970
  15. Series 6: Library Fines and Lost Books, 1970-1971
  16. Series 7: Library Guides for Students, 1955-1959
  17. Series 7: Library Guides for Students, 1960-1965
  18. Series 7: Library Guides for Students, 1966-1971
  19. Series 7: Library Guide for Students, 2013
  20. Series 7: General Information Directories, 1965-1980
  21. Series 7: Maps and Directories, circa 1957-1977
  22. Series 7: Summer Session Guides, 1966-1975
  23. Series 7: Library Acronyms and Abbreviations, circa 2001
  24. Series 7: Brochures, 2007-2013
  25. Series 7: Blackwell Library Folder Handout, 2012
  26. Series 7: Audiovisual Guides, 1976
  27. Series 7: Library of Congress Classification, 1970-1981
  28. Series 7: Subject Headings Guide, 1982
  29. Series 7: Paperbacks for College Bound Students, undated

Box 4

  1. Series 7: Reserve Lists, 1989-1992
  2. Series 7: Curriculum Laboratory Guides, 1970
  3. Series 7: Periodical System Guides, 1985-1993
  4. Series 7: Advanced PC/MS DOS Guide, 1985
  5. Series 7: Maryland Library Association Internet Procedures, undated
  6. Series 7: VICTOR Online Catalog Guide, 1995
  7. Series 7: Academic Commons Transition FAQ, 2016
  8. Series 8: College Library News and Notes, 1966
  9. Series 8: Curriculum Lab Newsletter, 1979
  10. Series 8: eSU News Emails, 2004-2009
  11. Series 8: Library Lite, 1991-1993
  12. Series 8: The Enlightener, 1999-2005
  13. Series 8: The Enlightener, 2006-2010
  14. Series 8: The Enlightener, 2011-2016
  15. Series 8: Press Release, 1983
  16. Series 8: Holly Leaf Bibliography, 1954
  17. Series 8: Newspaper Clippings, 1952-1983
  18. Series 8: Newspaper Clippings and Articles, 2002-2009
  19. Series 9: College Library Building Dedication, 1957
  20. Series 9: Blackwell Library Naming, 1966
  21. Series 9: Blackwell Library Renovation Open House, 1975
  22. Series 9: Les Callette Civil War Memorial Room Dedication, 1979
  23. Series 9: Event Programs, 1979-2009
  24. Series 9: Maryland Preservation Planning Project meeting, 1993
  25. Series 9: Homecoming Weekend Booklets, 2002-2005
  26. Series 9: Event Flyers, Posters, and Handouts, 2002-2009
  27. Series 9: Event Flyers, Posters, and Handouts, 2002-2009 [SEPARATED]
  28. Series 9: Recognizing and Preserving Faculty Scholarship: The Library’s Contribution, 2003
  29. Series 9: Women’s History Month Meeting Agenda, 2003
  30. Series 9: Event Invitations, 2003-2004
  31. Series 9: Mitzi Perdue honor, 2004
  32. Series 9: Les Callette Civil War Memorial Room Re-dedication, 2005-2006
  33. Series 9: Delmarva Book Discussions, 2006
  34. Series 9: Library Booksale, 2007-2009
  35. Series 9: Charletta House retirement, 2008
  36. Series 9: Department of Music Benefit Concert, 2009
  37. Series 9: Patricia Guerrieri Academic Commons Groundbreaking, 2014
  38. Series 9: Pub Night, 2015
  39. Series 9: Academic Commons Ribbon-Cutting, 2016
  40. Series 9: Posters: Giving Day, De-Stress Station, Family Weekend, "Handmade Thinking" Exhibit, 2019
  41. Series 10: Library Scrapbook, 1965-2005
  42. Series 10: Miscellaneous Staff and Event Photographs, 1996-2015
  43. Series 10: Salisbury University Photographs and Postcard, undated
  44. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 1972-1998 (SEE BOX 5)
  45. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 1999-2004 (SEE BOX 6)
  46. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 2005-2008 (SEE BOX 7)
  47. Series 11: Catalog Card examples, undated
  48. Series 11: Bookplates, 1952-2001
  49. Series 11: Blackwell Library stickers, after 2001
  50. Series 11: Posted Notices, 1976, 2015
  51. Series 11: Test on the Use of Books and Libraries, 1950

Box 5

  1. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 1972-1998

Box 6

  1. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 1999-2004

Box 7

  1. Series 10: Library Photograph Scrapbook, 2005-2008

Flat Files

  1. Series 3: Academic Commons Renderings, undated
  2. Series 3: Blackwell Library rendering, circa 1956
  3. Series 11: Blackwell Library broadside, undated

 

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None