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Dissertation Information for John Calvin Colson

NAME:
- John Calvin Colson

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Chicago (USA) (1973)

ADVISORS:
- None

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected

Title: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY MOVEMENT IN WISCONSIN, 1836-1900

Abstract: A study of the development of the public library in Wisconsin during the nineteenth century. The creation of the institution is seen as a process which involved the transplanting of the New England social library to Wisconsin, its gradual atrophication and replacement by a public institution modeled after the social library. The decline and replacement occurred in the context of the social and technological developments in Wisconsin during this period-- developments to which the public library promoters tended to react adversely, and for which they saw the public library as a possible corrective. The social library in Wisconsin began and remained an institution dominated by New England migrants; its replacement by the public library was effected by New Englanders. The social library was promoted by laymen, as was the public library the creation of the latter institution, however, resulted in the establishment of a professional cadre who at the end of the century began to assume direction of public library development, largely through the means of a state agency-- the Free library Commission-- and with the assistance of the Wisconsin Library Association, a putative professional organization. Both organizations came into existence during the last decade of the century, at the behest of the newly established librarians and their allies in the Legislature.

Throughout the nineteenth century the public library movement in Wisconsin was under some measure of legislative control, but through the social library phase of the movement it was very light applied. After the enactment of the Public Library Act in 1872 the legislature began slowly to enact more comprehensive legislation, and some developing purpose can be seen in subsequent public library acts, culminating in the creation of the Free Library Commission as a State agency for the promotion of public libraries. Even so, the principal effect of the legislation was to make public library establishment a matter for referendum in the jurisdiction involved. Thus the movement was thrust directly into local politics, although to what purpose is not recognizable from the available record. The result was to complicate public library establishment, but little else. Library promoters usually were readily able to persuade an electorate to establish a public library.

By the end of the nineteenth century a new institution had been created in Wisconsin, of largely unknown potential. Its principal advocated were of conservative bent, proposing to use the institution to maintain or restore the values of the New England commonwealth which had been transplanted to Wisconsin six decades earlier.

MPACT Scores for John Calvin Colson

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calculated 2008-01-31 06:15:15

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