Series 02: William Stetson Merrill papers, 1888-1959, bulk: 1888-1918
Scope and Contents
Primarily correspondence, memoranda, reports, and notes regarding Merrill's professional responsibilities (1888-1918). Also family and personal correspondence (1888-1911). Chronological files (1888 1912) contain correspondence on Newberry affairs, Chicago library activities (e.g., Chicago Library Club, Bibliographical Society of Chicago), classification, ALA issues, the Centre for University Extension, Catholicism, and family matters. After 1911, Merrill maintained a subject file which includes reports, proposals, memoranda, and correspondence regarding Newberry Library business, especially technical services. This file ceases in 1919 when Merrill moved to public services. There is also correspondence regarding ALA periodical cards and Merrill's reminiscences of William Frederick Poole. Correspondents include John Vance Cheney, George Watson Cole, Charles A. Cutter, Charles Martel, Carl B. Roden, Ellen Gates Starr, and George E. Wire.
Dates
- Creation: 1888-1959
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1888-1918
Creator
- Merrill, William Stetson, 1866- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The Newberry Library Archives are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Unprocessed records are available by appointment only. Advance notice is necessary, particularly for administrative files, so that files may be screened for personnel records that are removed when records are processed.
Files containing personal or confidential information about individuals (including individual files on members of the Board of Trustees, individual donor files and records reporting the donations of an individual, personnel records, payroll records, and individual accepted fellows files) are closed for 30 years.
Biography of William Stetson Merrill
Librarian at the Newberry Library and author of Code for Classifiers, 1914. Born January 16, 1866, and educated at Harvard (1888), William Stetson Merrill worked briefly in banking before coming to the Newberry June 1, 1889. Responsible for the accession book, Merrill was soon appointed Superintendent of the Accessions Department by the Trustees and served as Head of Accessions, Classification, Binding, and Library Statistics until 1919 when he was appointed Head of Public Services. One year prior to his retirement, March 1, 1930, Merrill returned to technical services where he served as Supervisor of Technical Processes. Author of numerous articles on librarianship, Merrill also served as American Library Association periodical cards editor from 1913 to 1931. Merrill died in 1969 at the age of 102.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Arrangement
Arranged by type of material.
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org