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| Thank you to those who have contributed artifacts to the virtual museum! We are always looking for more items to include. Please contact: heidihoerman@yahoo.com |
| Click here for a link to OCLC's page on Melvil Dewey |
| Click here for an impressive website created by 6th graders to explain the Dewey Decimal System. |
Even though the name Melvil Dewey is well-known to librarians, there are
relatively few biographies written about him. Wayne Wiegand’s biography,
Irrepressible Reformer, is one of the leading sources of information on
Dewey, who was a leading proponent of spelling reform, short hand, and
the metric system. Please see the Bibliography page for complete
information on Wiegand's book.
Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 in Jefferson County, New York.
He attended Amherst College (Massachusetts) for both his bachelor’s and
master’s degree. While pursuing his master’s between 1874 and 1877, he
created the classification system that would become known as the Dewey
Decimal System. To see an example of spelling reform from Dewey's
Decimal Clasification and Relativ Index, please see the Cataloging Books
page.
Throughout his career in various areas of library development, Dewey
found himself in the midst of conflict. More than once, he was accused of
misusing library funds. Later, he was accused of making inappropriate
advances on women at American Library Association events.
• 1876: Dewey established both the American Library Journal, which
was to become Library Journal, and the American Library Association.
• 1881: Dewey establishes Library Bureau, which had previously been
called the Readers and Writers Econmy Club. The RWEC/LB was a supplier
of library furniture.
• 1883: Dewey becomes Chief Librarian of Columbia College (now
Columbia University).
• 1887: Dewey opens first library school at Columbia College and later
pushes for women to be allowed to enroll which enables a career path for
women.
• 1888-89: Dewey moves the Columbia College library school to
Albany, where he becomes the director of the New York State Library.
• 1895: Dewey is accused of misusing library funds. He is able to
defend himself and the charges are dropped.
Dewey also begins inviting people to join his Lake Placid Club in the
Adirondacks of New York.
• 1906: Dewey retires as director of the New York State Library.
• 1910: Dewey sells Library Bureau
• 1925: Dewey establishes Lake Placid Club “South,” in Florida
• 1931: Dewey dies of a brain hemorrhage in Placid South.
relatively few biographies written about him. Wayne Wiegand’s biography,
Irrepressible Reformer, is one of the leading sources of information on
Dewey, who was a leading proponent of spelling reform, short hand, and
the metric system. Please see the Bibliography page for complete
information on Wiegand's book.
Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 in Jefferson County, New York.
He attended Amherst College (Massachusetts) for both his bachelor’s and
master’s degree. While pursuing his master’s between 1874 and 1877, he
created the classification system that would become known as the Dewey
Decimal System. To see an example of spelling reform from Dewey's
Decimal Clasification and Relativ Index, please see the Cataloging Books
page.
Throughout his career in various areas of library development, Dewey
found himself in the midst of conflict. More than once, he was accused of
misusing library funds. Later, he was accused of making inappropriate
advances on women at American Library Association events.
• 1876: Dewey established both the American Library Journal, which
was to become Library Journal, and the American Library Association.
• 1881: Dewey establishes Library Bureau, which had previously been
called the Readers and Writers Econmy Club. The RWEC/LB was a supplier
of library furniture.
• 1883: Dewey becomes Chief Librarian of Columbia College (now
Columbia University).
• 1887: Dewey opens first library school at Columbia College and later
pushes for women to be allowed to enroll which enables a career path for
women.
• 1888-89: Dewey moves the Columbia College library school to
Albany, where he becomes the director of the New York State Library.
• 1895: Dewey is accused of misusing library funds. He is able to
defend himself and the charges are dropped.
Dewey also begins inviting people to join his Lake Placid Club in the
Adirondacks of New York.
• 1906: Dewey retires as director of the New York State Library.
• 1910: Dewey sells Library Bureau
• 1925: Dewey establishes Lake Placid Club “South,” in Florida
• 1931: Dewey dies of a brain hemorrhage in Placid South.
| Designed by Lauren Kirkland, 2007 kirklane@mailbox.sc.edu |