Ruth Bartholomew papers

Collection — Box: 1-20

Identifier: 13-3-83

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Ruth Bartholomew pertain to her career as a librarian at the University of Buffalo. The bulk of the papers consists of an alphabetical file which contains her papers as University Librarian (1922-1934) and later as Associate Librarian. Most of the papers date from 1922 to the early 1940's and pertain to the general administration of the Library. The later papers are fragmentary and pertain to her more specialized responsibilities in gifts and exchange, supplies and the bindery. This collection includes library surveys, statistics, budget notes, overdue records, building plans, and correspondence.

Dates

1922-1963

Creator

Bartholomew, Ruth (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Ruth Bartholomew papers, 1922-1963, are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright is held by The State University of New York at Buffalo, University Archives. Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Born in Buffalo, New York, Ruth Bartholomew (1899-1969) was the first professional librarian at the University of Buffalo. At Oberlin College, she studied music and library science. In 1921 she began her career at the Buffalo Public Library on Lafayette Square. She served as University Librarian (the head of the "main library" of the University; the Schools of Medicine and Law maintained separate departmental libraries) from 1922 to 1934. In 1934, Charles D. Abbott was appointed to the newly created post of Director of Libraries and Ruth Bartholomew became Associate Librarian. After an Assistant Director was appointed in the 1950's she became chiefly responsible for overseeing gifts and exchange, personnel, and the bindery.

Bartholomew served as head librarian when the College of Arts and Sciences Library moved from Niagara Square to Foster Hall, later to Hayes Hall, and in 1935 she supervised the move into the original E.B. Green-designed Lockwood Memorial Library, now the Health Sciences Library. She was a member of the American Library Association and a delegate to its national meetings. She also helped organize a library service group, the Friends of Lockwood Library. Bartholomew, also an accomplished pianist, retired in 1964.

Extent

9.7 Linear Feet (20 manuscript boxes )

Additional Description

Abstract

The papers pertain to the career of Ruth Bartholomew as a librarian at the University of Buffalo. The bulk of the papers are in the form of an alphabetical file and date from 1922 to the early 1940s and pertain to the general administration of the Library. Some of the later papers pertain to her more specialized responsibilities in gifts and exchange, supplies and the bindery.