Login

Publications  •  Project Statistics

Glossary  •  Schools  •  Disciplines
People Search: 
   
Title/Abstract Search: 

Dissertation Information for Barry William Seaver

NAME:
- Barry William Seaver

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA) (1997)

ADVISORS:
- Edward G. Holley

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Elfreda Annmary Chatman
- Barbara B. Moran
- Helen R. Tibbo
- Roger W. Lotchin

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: The career of Rebecca Browning Rankin, the Municipal Reference Librarian of the City of New York, 1920-1952

Abstract: Rebecca Rankin was a true politician in the best sense of the word and under her direction the Municipal Reference Library of the City of New York became an effective and vital adjunct of the local government. Rankin served in many key positions, both on mayoral committees and in professional organizations. She was president of the New York Special Library Association, New York Library Association and Special Library Association, and led that association of librarians to national status during her tenure as president, 1922-23. Later as its executive secretary she reorganized its headquarters in New York.

Rankin established the employment service of the Special Library Association and convinced Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to provide pensions for the public librarians of New York City. She also persuaded Mayor La Guardia, through extensive research, to support a local sales tax to finance unemployment relief during the Depression. Rankin served on his committees to establish a municipal archives, conquer juvenile delinquency through reading and to bring Latin Americans to study in New York during World War II.

Rankin published over fifty articles and books on aspects of city government and libraries, and delivered weekly radio speeches about New York City from 1928 to 1937. She compiled and edited the Guide to the Municipal Government of the City of New York in seven editions and New York Advancing, an account of La Guardia's administration in three separate editions. Rankin also co-authored New York: The World's Capital City which was published in 1948. The legacy of Rankin's career includes the creation of the Municipal Archives of the City of New York in 1950 and a Records Center to manage public documents in 1952. Rankin's efforts and political acumen had a significant impact on the library profession as well as on the lives of the citizens of New York.

MPACT Scores for Barry William Seaver

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:20:31

Advisors and Advisees Graph