"^
EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
OF THE
CITY OF BOSTON
1937
BOSTON
PUBLISHED BY THE TRUSTEES
1941
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON: PRINTIN6 DEPARTMENT.
8,13,41 1 ISOOfSO
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
ELLERY SEDGWICK, President
Terra expires April 30. 1938
JOHN L. HALL
Term expires April 30, 1941
LOUIS E. KIRSTEIN FRANK W. BUXTON
Term expires April 30. 1939 Term expires April 30, 1940
ROBERT H. LORD
Term expires April 30, 1942
MILTON E. LORD
Director, and Librarian
FORM FOR GIFTS AND BEQUESTS
Gifts
/ give to The Trustees of the Public Library) of the City of
Boston the sum of
to be used at the discretion of the Trustees (or for a purpose to
be specified).
Bequests for General Uses
/ give and bequeath to The Trustees of the Public Librar})
of the Cit^ of Boston the sum of
for the general uses of the Library.
Bequests for Specified Uses
/ give and bequeath to The Trustees of the Public Library
of the Cit^ of Boston the sum of
„ for the purchase of books (for the
purchase of books on a specified subject if desired, or for some
other purpose to be specified).
ORGANIZATION OF THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
The Library is a unit of the municipal government of the City of Boston and as
such is known as the Library Department of the City of Boston. It is governed by a
Board of Trustees.
The Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston v/ere organized in 1852.
They are incorporated under the provisions of Chapter 114 of the Acts of 1878, as
amended. The Board for 1852 v^^as a preliminary organization; that for 1853 made
the first annual report.
The legal title is The Trustees of the Puhlic Library of the Cily of Boston.
The Board of Trustees is made up of five citizens at large, appointed by the
Mayor of the City of Boston for five-year terms, the term of one member expiring each
year. The following citizens at large have been members of the Board since its
organization in 1852:
Abbott. Gordon, A.B., 1926-1931. Haynes, Henry Williamson, A.M.,
Abbott, Samuel Appleton Browne, A.M., 1880-94.
1879-95. Milliard, George Stillman, LL.D.,
Appleton, Thomas Gold, A.M., 1852-56. 1872-75; 1876-77.
Benton, Josiah Henry, LL.D., 1894-1917. Kenney, William Francis, A.M.,
Bigelow, John Prescott. A.M., 1852-68. 1908-1921.
Bowditch, Henry Ingersoll, M.D., 1865-67. Kirstein, Louis Edward, A.M., 1919-
Bowditch, Henry Pickering, MJ>., Lewis, Weston, 1868-79.
1894-1902. Lewis, Winslow, m.d., 1867.
Boyle, Thomas Francis, 1902-12. Lincoln, Solomon, A.M., 1897-1907.
Braman, Jarvis Dwight, 1869-72. Lord, Robert Howard, A.M., PH.D., 1936-
Brett, John Andrew, LL.B., 1912-16. Mann, Alexander, DJ)., 1908-1923.
Buxton, Frank W., A.B., 1928- Morton, Ellis Wesley, 1870-73.
Carr. Samuel, 1895-96. 1908-22. Murray Michael Joseph. LL.B., 1921-26.
Chase, George Bigelow, A.M., 1876-85. O'Connell. William Cardinal. 1932-36.
Clarke, James Freeman, D.D., 1879-88. Pierce, Phineas, 1888-94.
Coakley, Daniel Henry, 1917-19. Prince, Frederick Octavlus, A.M.. 1888-99.
Connolly, Arthur Theodore, 1916-1932. Putnam, George, D.D., 1868-77.
Currier, Guy Wilbur. 1922-1930. Richards. William Reuben, A.M., 1 889-95.
Curtis, Daniel Sargent, A.M., 1873-75. Sedgwick, Ellery, A.B., LITTJ)., 1930-
De Normandie, James, D.D., 1895-1908. Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet, LL.D.,
Dwight. Thomas. M.D., 1899-1908. 1852-68
Dwinnell, Clifton Howard, B.S., 1927-28. Thomas, .Benjamin Franklin. LL.D.,
Everett, Edward, LL.D., 1852-64. 1877-78.
Frothingham, Richard, LL.D., 1875-79. Ticknor. George, LL.D.. 1852-66.
Gaston, William Alexander. LL.D., Walker, Francis Amasa, LL.D., 1896.
1923-27. Whipple, Edwin Percy, A.M., 1868-70.
Green, Samuel Abbott, M.D., 1868-78. Whitmore, William Henry, A.M.. 1885-88.
Greenough. William Whitwell. 1856-88. Winsor. Justin, LL.D., 1867-68.
Hall, John Loomer, A.B., LL.B., 1931-
PRESIDENTS OF THE TRUSTEES
Edward Everett. 1852-1864
George Ticknor 1 865
William W. Greenough 1866-88
Henry \V. Haynes. May 7. 1888-May 12, 1888
Samuel A. B. Abbott, May 12, 1888-Aprll 30. 1895
Frederick O. Prince, October 8, 1895-May 8. 1899
Solomon Lincoln. May 12. 1899-October 15, 1907
James De Normandie, January 31, I90&-May 8 1908
Josiah H. Benton May 8, 1908-February 6, 1917
William F. Kenney, February 13, 1917-May 7, 1920
Alexander Mann. May 7, 1920-January 22. 1923
Arthur T. Connolly. April 13. 1923-June 13. 1924
May 2. 1927-June 22. 1928
Louis E. Kirstein. June 13. 1924-June 19, 1925
June 22, 1925-June 21 1929
May 15. 1931 -May 20. 1932
May 6. I93^May 7. 1937
Michael J. Murray. June 19 1925-July 2. 1926
Guy W. Currier. July 2. 1926-May 2. 1927
Gordou Abbott. June 21, 1929-June 20 1930
Frank W. Buxton, June 20, 1930-May 15. 1931
May 6. 1935-May 6. 1936
Ellery Sedgwick. May 20. 1932-May 5,1933
May 7, 1937-
John L. Hall. May 5, 1933-May 18, 1834
William Cardinal O'Connell. May 18. 1934-May 6. 1935
LIBRARIANS
From 1852 to 1858 the chief officer of the Library bore the title of Librarian;
from 1858 to 1877 Superinlendenl ; from 1877 to 1923 Librarian; from 1923 to 1934
Director; since 1934 Director, and Librarian.
Capen. Edward. Librarian, May 13, 1852-December 16 1874.
Jewett, Charles C, Superinlendenl, 1858-january 9. 1868.
WiNSOR Justin. LL.D.. Superintendent, February 25. 1868-September 30. 1877.
Green, Samuel A. M.D., Trustee, Acting Librarian, October 1, 1 877-September 30,
1878.
Chamberlain. Mellen, ll.d.. Librarian, October I, 1 878-September 30, 1890.
DwiGHT, Theodore F., Librarian, April 13, 1892-April 30, 1894.
Putnam, Herbert, ll.d.. Librarian February 11,1 895-April 3, 1 899.
Whitney, James L., a.m., Acting Librarian, March 31, 1 899-December 21, 1899;
Librarian, December 22 1899-January 31, 1903.
Wadlin. Horace G., LrrT.D., Librarian February 1, 1903-March 15, 1917; Acting
Librarian, March 15. 1917-June 15, 1917.
Belden, Charles F. D., a.m.. ll b.. litt.d.. Director March 15, 1917-October 24,
1931.
Lord, Milton E. A.B., Director and Librarian, since February I, 1932.
LIBRARY SYSTEM, JANUARY 1, 1937
Departments
^Central Library, Copley Square .
*East Boston Branch, 276-282 Meridian St.
§South Boston Branch, 372 West Broadway .
llFellowes Athenasum Branch, 46 Millmont St.
*CharIestown Branch, 43 Monument Square
♦Brighton Branch, 40 Academy Hill Road .
JDorchester Branch, Arcadia, cor. Adams St.
■fLower Mills Branch, 1110 Washington, cor. Richmond St.
JSouth End Branch, 65 West Brookline St.
■f Jamaica Plain Branch, 12 Sedgwick, cor. South St.
IRoslindale Branch, 4210 V/ashington St.
*West Roxbury Branch, 1961 Centre St.
*Mattapan Branch, 8-10 Hazleton St. .
*North End Branch, 3a North Bennet St.
§Neponset Branch, 362 Neponsel Ave.
§Mt. Bowdoin Branch, 275 Washington St.
§AIlsfon Branch, 161 Harvard Ave. .
fCodman Square Branch, Washington, cor. Norfolk St.
$Mt. Pleasant Branch, 335 Dudley, cor Vine St.
ITyler Street Branch, 130 Tyler, cor. Oak St.
*Wesl End Branch, 131 Cambridge St.
JUpham's Corner Branch, 500 Columbia Rd.
JMemorial Branch, cor. Warren and Townsend St».
§Roxbury Crossing Branch, 208 Ruggles, cor. Tremont St.
*Boylston Branch, 433 Centre St
§Orient Heights Branch, 5 Butler Ave.
JCity Point Branch, Municipal Bldg., Broadway ,
*Parker Hill Branch. 1497 Tremont St. . . .
*Hyde Park Branch, 35 Harvard Ave., cor. Winthrop St.
*Faneuil Branch, 419 Faneuil St
§Andrew Square Branch, 394 Dorchester St.
'Jeffries Point Branch, 222 Webster St. . . .
JBaker Library, Harvard Graduate School of Business AdminisJ
*KirsteIn Memorial Library Building: 20 City Hall Ave.
Business Branch, first and second floors;
Kirsfein Branch, third floor,
§Phillip8 Brooks Branch, 12 Hamilton St., Readville .
<IOpe
NED
May 2,
1854
. Jan. 28,
1871
May 1,
1872
. July 16,
1873
. Jan. 5,
1874
. Jan. 5,
1874
Jan. 25,
1875
June 7,
1875
Aug.,
1877
June,
1877
. Dec. 3,
1878
Jan, 6,
1880
Dec. 27.
1881
. Oct.,
1882
. Jan. 1,
1883
. Nov. 1,
1886
Mar. 11,
1839
Nov. 12,
1890
Nov. 12,
1890
Jan. 16,
1896
Feb. 1.
1896
Mar. 16,
1896
May 1.
1896
Jan. 18,
1897
Nov. 1,
1897
June 25,
1901
July 18,
1906
. July 15,
1907
Jan. 1,
1912
Mar. 4,
1914
Mar. 5.
1914
Oct. 15,
1921
ation Jan. 15,
1927
May 7,
1930
May 18.
1931
^In the case of the Central Library and some of the branches the opening was in a
different location from that now occupied. *In building owned by City and
controlled by Library Board, tli^ building owned by City, and exclusively devoted
to library uses. Jin City building, in part devoted to other municipal uses. §Occupies
rented rooms. i|The lessee of the Fellowes AihenKum, a private library association.
• Under agreement with Harvard.
CONTENTS
Report of the Trustees .
Financial Statement
Report of the Examining Committee
Report of the Director .
Appendix
I
12
18
31
54
To The Honorable Frederick W. Mansfield,
Ma^or of the City of Boston.
Sir:
The Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Boston
present the following report of its condition and affairs for the
year ending December 31, 1937, being the eighty-sixth annual
report.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
The Corporation organized at the annual meeting on May 7,
1937 with the election of Mr. Ellery Sedgwick as President,
Mr. John L. Hall as Vice President, and Miss Elizabeth B.
Brockunier as Clerk.
The Reverend Robert H. Lord, whose term as Trustee ex-
pired on April 30, was re-appointed for the term ending April
30, 1942.
BUDGET ESTIMATES
The estimates submitted as of November 1 , 1 936 for the
maintenance of the Library during the year 1937 were later
amended and reduced. These estimates were as follows:
Item
Estimated
Allowed
A. — Personal Service
$970,379.40
$985,000.00
B. — Service other than personal .
109,121.33
86,486.00
C. — Equipment ....
166,577.65
85,048.00
D. — Supplies
38,392.00
34,910.00
E.— Materials
22,336.00
20,235.00
H. — Emergency relief projects
97,450.63
78,750.00
Total
$1,404,257.01
$1,290,429.00
RECEIPTS OF THE LIBRARY
The receipts which may be expended by the Trustees for the
maintenance of the Library consist of the annual appropriation
by the Mayor and the City Council, and the income from Trust
[21
Funds given to the institution and held and invested by the City
Treasurer. During the year 1937 these receipts were:
Annual appropriation .......
Income from trust funds
Unexpended balajice of trust funds income of previous years
Unexpended balance of special appropriations of previous years
Unexpended balance of deposits in London of previous years
Total
$1,290,429.00
59.839.65
40,107.73
23.408.32
72.75
$1,413,857.45
Receipts which were accounted for and paid into the City
Treasury for general municipal purposes during the year were
as follows:
From fines $23,413.45
From sales of waiste paper ......... II 938
From sales of catalogs and other publications ...... 252,76
From commission on telephone pay stations ...... 522.82
From payments for lost books ........ 737.03
Refunds, fees. etc. 8.80
Total . . . $25,054.24
EXPENDITURES OF THE LIBRARY
The total amount expended during 1937 was $1 ,329,360.44.
This was divided as follows :
From city appropriations ......... $1,267,066.88
From special appropriations ........ 11,131.75
From the income of trust funds ........ 51,161.81
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
The number of volumes added to the Library during the year
was 67,582, obtained chiefly by purchase, but in some part also
by gift and exchange.
Against the above-mentioned gain there was a total loss of
60,236 volumes, arising chiefly out of volumes reported lost
or missing, condemned copies not yet replaced, thus making the
net gain for the year 7,346. The total number of volumes in
the Library at the close of the year was 1 ,700,681 .
The total amount expended for books, periodicals, news-
papers, photographs, and other library material from the city
appropriation and the income from trust funds was $131 ,1 64.30.
[3]
USE OF THE LIBRARY
The total number of books lent to borrowers during the year
was 4,531,378. The use of books and other library materials
within the Library's premises for reference and study is for the
most part unrestricted, and it is therefore impracticable to re-
cord it.
In addition to the above-noted use of the Central Library and
the thirty-three Branch Libraries, deposits of books were made
available to 281 agencies, including schools, institiitions, and
engine houses.
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS FOR 1936 AND 1937
A comparison of certain statistics for 1937 with those for
1936 is given below:
Total expenditures: city appropriation
and trust funds income
Elxpended for books and other library
materials from city appropriation
and trust funds income
Number of volumes added .
Number of volumes discarded
Total number of volumes in the Library
Number of volumes lent to borrowers
Number of card holders
1936
1937
$1,249,953.92
$1 ,329.360.44
1 1 1 .945.72
54.620
49.708
1.693,335
4,806,737
176,982
131,164.30
67,582
60,236
1 ,700,681
4,531.378
178.097
BOOKS
The amounts appropriated by the City for the purchase of
books during the last ten years are given below for comparative
purposes :
1928
$125,000
1929
140.000
1930
160.000
1931
175.000
1932
160.000
1933
75.000
1934
100.000
1935
100.000
1936
55.000
1937
75.000
[4]
With appreciation it is noted that the amount appropriated in
1937 represents an increase over that made available in 1936.
It is hoped that in the years immediately to come further im-
provement may be possible in this respect until the appropriation
for books may be returned at least to the level which the ex-
perience of many years has indicated to be the minimum amount
with which the Library can function to advantage.
SALARIES AND WAGES
In 1936 it became increasingly clear that the Library was
not receiving sufficient appropriations year by year for develop-
ing an adequate scale of remuneration for the members of the
librar}' staff. A special committee of the Trustees was thereupon
appointed to study the problem. The committee continued its
inquiry into 1937 and presented findings and recommendations
in the matter in April.
The Trustees wish to record here their appreciation of the
action taken by the Mayor and the City Council in making avail-
able to the Library a supplementary appropriation for 1937 in
the amount of $32,000 for improvement in salaries and wages.
This was made effective as of June 4th.
On June 1 st there was announced the establishment of a new
Classification of Personnel for the library staff. In addition to
setting up uniform lines of classification for the library personnel
provision was made for a series of Qualifying Examinations for
probationary assistants who desire to qualify for appointment
to the permanent service, and Promotional Examinations for
assistants in the permanent service who desire to qualify for pro-
motion and possibilities of increased remuneration. By these
means it is expected that there can be achieved an improved
classification of the Library's personnel, and also provision of
definite "steps" with which a system of "step rate increases in
pay" can be easily articulated. The new arrangements were an-
nounced to become effective as of January 1 , 1 938.
[51
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
Early in the year an examination of the tower of the old West
Church building, in which is housed the West End Branch Li-
brary, revealed a structural weakness of sufficient extent to neces-
sitate the closing of the entire front portion of the building.
Shortly thereafter, follov/ing examination of the structural ele-
ments of the rest of the old building, it appeared desirable to
the Building Commissioner to order the entire building to be
closed to public use. Temporary quarters almost directly across
the street were promptly rented for the branch library and its
activities until the old building could be made safe for occupancy
once again.
Emergency repairs were made upon the tov/er at once, at a
cost of approximately $7000. Careful examination of the rest
of the building indicated that the total cost of repairs would
amount to approximately $55,000. For lack of an appropriation
for the purpose no further work on the building has been possible
since the completion of the emergency work in March.
Each year over a period of years the Trustees have included
in their annual budget estimates an item for the repair of this old
building. Year by year the item has not been allowed, until finally
an emergency situation came into being. The old church building
is one of the significant historical and esthetic monuments of the
city; it is also one of the only two remaining public edifices of
its period in Boston. It is therefore important that provision be
made for its renovation and repair at an early date.
At the Central Library building there has long existed a
troublesome situation in connection with the tile roofing. There
is lacking an under roof with the result that, when the old tiles
crack and disintegrate as they do soon or late in a northern cli-
mate such as ours, there is nothing underneath to prevent the re-
sulting leaks from dcimaging the Library's beautiful rooms and
their invaluable contents. Year by year the annual cost of main-
tenance and repair of the tile roofing has ranged from ten to
twelve thousand dollars. With a view to ascertaining the steps
which might be taken toward remedying the present unsatis-
factory situation in which repairs are constantly needed, the
[6]
Trustees engaged Messrs J. R. Worcester and Company, long
the Library's consulting engineers, to make a thorough study of
the condition of the tile roofing and to make recommendations
for a fundamental and permanent treatment of the problem..
The report of the Worcester Company, as rendered on Sep-
tember 13, 1937, recommended a program which it is believed
will lead to a reasonably permanent solution. The cost will be
approximately $256,000. This is a large figure. Yet in 1937
alone there had to be expended the sum of $13,221.01 for re-
pairs upon the roof as it now stands. Apparently any treatment
accorded to it will be costly. The present practice of annual
patching and repairing will prove in the long run to be the more
costly, however, since it provides for no more than keeping a-
breast of existing difficulties as they occur in cycles year by year,
and as they are likely to continue to do so more or less indefinite-
ly into the future. The Trustees earnestly request therefore that
careful consideration be accorded to the recommendation of
their engineers looking toward a fundamental treatment of the
problem which will be reasonably permanent in its results.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECTS CARRIED ON
UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE LIBRARY
During the year the Library was responsible for carrying on
three separate work relief projects under the auspices of the
Works Progress Administration of the Federal Government.
Two of these were in continuation of projects initiated in earlier
years. One was entirely new.
Work was continued upon the extensive preparatory stages
for the project of reclassifying the scholarly book collections of
the Central Library on a modern classification scheme such as
that of the Library of Congress. These were substantially com-
pleted by the month of November, with the result that in the
remaining weeks of the year it was possible to begin the actual
work of reclassification itself.
On July 1 st an entirely new project was initiated along similar
lines for the book collections of the branch libraries and other
[7]
units of the Circulation Division. Its purpose is to provide a uni-
form cataloging and classification of books in place of the several
existing varieties of procedure. For instance, there have been up
to the present four different classification arrangements and six
different sizes of catalog cards in use in the Circulation Division.
In one branch library there has actually been no card catalog
at all. This extensive new project will, through its establishment
of a uniform basis of cataloging and classification procedure, ul-
timately make possible a orocess of centralized cataloging for
the branch libraries, with appreciable economies in operation ex-
pected to follow from it. It will make use of a simplified foi-m of
Library of Congress cataloging and a simplified and modified
form of the decimal classification generally known as the Dewey
Classification.
There was also continued through the year the project for the
cleaning of books throughout the entire library system.
All of these projects provided work for several hundred indi-
viduals. The cost of their wages was provided by the Federal
Government. The incidental expenses were borne by the City
of Boston as its contribution as sponsor of the projects.
GIFTS
As usual the Library received many important gifts of books
and other library materials during the year. A list of the more
important of these is to be found in the Appendix on pages 70-7 1 .
TRUST FUNDS
As a matter of interest to the citizens of Boston the Trustees
have pleasure in listing the present trust funds of the Library,
with explanatory notes, on pages 72—84 in the Appendix to the
Report.
The Trustees welcome bequests of money and hope that
generous testators may remember the Library. It is from such
sources only that they can make purchases of rare and other im-
portant books which give value and prestige to a great educa-
tional institution such as the Library.
[8]
ADMINISTRATION OF TRUST FUNDS ESTABLISHED
UNDER THE WILL OF THE LATE JOSIAH H. BENTON
Under the twelfth clause of the Will of the late Josiah H.
Benton, and as subsequently modified by an Agreement of Com-
promise dated January 15, 1935, the Trustees of the Public Li-
brary were designated as the residuary legatee of the Benton
Estate. The Will provided that the residuary estate should be
divided into two equal parts, to be designated as the Benton
Book Fund and the Benton Building Fund respectively. The
Trustees of the Public Library received also the Children's Fund,
established separately under another provision of the Will.
In 1936 the Trustees of the Public Library, having been
found to be legally competent to hold the above-mentioned funds,
received a first and a second payment of the cash and securities
constituting the bulk of the Estate, and delivered them to the
City Treasurer as the official custodian of all funds and securities
to which the Trustees of the Public Library hold title.
In 1937 the Trustees of the Public Library engaged the
services of Messrs Stewart, Watts, and Bollong, Public Ac-
countants and Auditors, to carry through an auditing and an
accounting of the Estate, with a view to being able thereafter to
set up the Benton Book Fund and the Benton Building Fund as
required under the terms of the Will.
Pending a final settlement of the Estate, and with the con-
currence of the several interested parties, the Trustees of the
PubHc Library distributed in 1937 to themselves as Trustees of
the Public Library of the City of Boston and to the Rector of
Trinity Church in the City of Boston one half of the total in-
come received from such portion of the residuary estate as was
then in the possession of the Trustees of the Public Library for
the period extending from the date on which it had been delivered
to the Trustees of the Public Library up to the time of taking
the action, namely, from January 22, 1 936 to March 31,1 937,
inclusive. The effect of this action was to make available for im-
mediate use a substantial part of the current income from that
portion of the residuary estate which would be set up as the
Benton Book Fund when the necessary auditing and accounting
[9]
of the Estate should be completed. Under the terms of the Will,
as subsequently modified by the Agreement of Compromise, six
tenths of this income was paid to the Trustees of the Public Li-
brary and four tenths to the Rector of Trinity Church. The
total payments amounted to $59,307.93. Of this total the sum
of $35,584.76 was paid to the Trustees of the Public Library
and the sum of $23,723.1 7 to the Rector of Trinity Church.
That portion of the income from the Benton Book Fund
which is payable to the Trustees of the Public Library is to be
applied by them "for the purchase of books, maps and other
library material of permanent value and benefit for said Library;
meaning and intending hereby that such income shall be applied
for books desirable for scholarly research and use." In accord-
ance with this provision the Trustees of the Public Library ex-
pended the sum of $ 1 4,826.02 for this purpose during the calen-
dar year 1937.
The Will requests that the Trustees of the Public Library
pubhsh in their annual reports a detailed statement of the pay-
ments of the income from the Benton Book Fund, and also "a
certificate that said income is expended ... in accordance with
the directions of said will, according to their best examination
and judgment in the premises."
In accordance with this request the Trustees of the Public
Library have made above a detailed statement of the payments
of the net irxome from that portion of the Benton Book Fund
which was in their possession for the period of January 22, 1 936
to March 31, 1 937 inclusive.
In addition, as requested, the Trustees of the Public Library
hereby certify that according to their best examination and judg-
ment the expenditure of that portion of the income of the Benton
Book Fund which is payable to the Trustees of the Public Li-
brary for the purchase of books, maps and other library material
of permanent value and benefit has been made in accordance
with the directions of the Will, as modified by the Agreement
of Compromise of January 15, 1935.
In accordance with the terms of another provision of the Will
the Trustees of the Public Library paid in 1937 to the Rector
[10]
of Trinity Church in the City of Boston the sum of $3,741 .22,
representing the income from The Children's Fund for the year
ending December 31, 1936, and the sum of $1,840.61, repre-
senting the income for the period of January 1 to June 30, 1937,
inclusive. The Children's Fund was given to the Trustees of the
Public Library under the Will, with the provision that the an-
nual income therefrom should be available to the Library in
any year only if certain conditions should be met in that year.
Inasmuch as these conditions could not be met for the year end-
ing December 31,1 936, payment of the income for that year
was therefore made to the Rector of Trinity Church as required
by the Will. So likewise was payment made to the Rector of
Trinity Church of the income for the period of January 1 to
June 30, 1937, inclusive.
EXAMINING COMMITTEE
The Trustees acknowledge gratefully the assistance given by
the Examining Committee of 1937. Its membership included
the following individuals:
Mrs. Gordon Abbott
Mr. Walter B. Briggs
Mr. Henry T. Glaus
Mrs. William H. Dewart
Mr. Garl Dreyfus
Dr. Albert Ehren fried
Mr. H. B. EUIston
Miss Susan J. Ginn
Mr. Arthur L. Gould
Mr. Chester N. Greenough
Mr. M. A. DeWolfe Howe
Dr. Henry Jackson
Rev. John S. Keating
Mr. Carl T. Keller
Mrs. Augustus P. Loring, Jr.
Mr. George N. Northrop
Rev. Charles E. Park
Mrs. Charles B. Perkins
Mrs. Edward M. Pickman
Mr. Gabriel F. Piemonte
Hon. Abraham E. Pinanski
Rev. Richard J. Quinlan
Mr. William K. Richardson
Mr. B. M. Selekman
Mr. Harlow Shapley
Mrs. Arhur A. Shurcliif
Mrs. Francis E. Slattery
Mrs. Donald C. Starr
Miss Ruth Tiffany
Mrs. Joseph A. Tomasello
Mr. John P. Vaccaro
Dr. Henry R. Viets
Mr. Robert J. Watt
Mrs. Frederick Winslow
The City of Boston is fortunate in having the generous and
helpful assistance of citizens who give so freely of their time and
interest in examining and reporting upon the Library and its ac-
[11]
tivities. Special attention is called to the interesting report of the
Committee, which appears on pages 1 8-30 immediately follow-
ing.
CONCLUSION
The report of the Director of the Library is to be found on
pages 31-53 below. It gives detailed information concerning the
significant developments within the Library during the course of
the year.
The Trustees have pleasure in expressing here their appre-
ciation of the varied activities in which the library staff has en-
deavored throughout the year to meet the needs of the citizens
of Boston.
Frank W. Buxton
John L. Hall
Louis E. Kirstein
Robert H. Lord
Ellery Sedgwick
[12]
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
Expenditures for Personnel:
Permanent and Probationary employees (ex-
clusive of Printing r.nd Binding Department
employees)
. $800,836.13
Sundays and Evenings, extra and
other serv
R Than F
ice . . 102,413.11
$903,249.24
Expenditures for SER%acE Othe
'ersonal:
Printing and binding .
30.50
Advertising
76.75
Transportation of persons
2,178.25
Cartage and freight
6,967.67
Light, heat and power .
19,593.53
Rent, taxes and water
20,146.08
Bond and insurance premiums
397.85
Communication
4,455.43
Cleaning ....
1,407.58
Removal of ashes
21.10
Expert ....
4,470.25
Stenographic and copying
1,226.81
Fees ....
26.70
Photographic and blueprinting
95.78
General plant
25,339.42
Miscellaneous services
142.90
86,576.60
Expenditures for Equipment:
Machinery
803.70
Electrical
865.30
Motorless vehicles
159.50
Furniture and fittings .
1 ,762.63
Office
5,070.85
Books :
City appropriation
$72,516.85
Trust funds
28,721.75
Josiah H. Benton Book
Fund Income
14,819.1;
' 116,057.77
Newspapers:
City appropriation
1,524.7!
)
Trust funds income
1,651.5C
) 3.176.25
Music:
City appropriation
507.3!
>
Trust funds income
1,441.1^
\ 1,948.49
Lantern slides:
City appropriation
37.5(
)
Trust funds income
69.0C
) 106.50
Periodicals:
City appropriation
6,864.6^
1
Trust funds income
1 ,909.5f
\
Josiah H. Benton Book
Fund Income
6,8!
) 8,781.07
Photographs :
City appropriation
7I.4(
)
Trust funds income
.2!
) 71.65
Manuscripts:
Trust funds income
1,022.57
Tools and instruments
1,225.63
Wearing apparel
11.50
General plant
350.70
141,414.11
Carried forward
$1,131,239.95
13]
AND RECEIPTS. DECEMBER 31, 1937
Receipts From:
City Appropriation. 1937 $1,290,429.00
income from Trust Funds 23,554.89
Income from Josiah H. Benton Book Fund Income . 59,307.93
Income from James L. Whitney Bibliographic account . 700.00
Income from Children's Fund 3,711.22
•$i,377,703.G4
\
Carried forward
$1,377,703.04
[14]
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
Brought fonvard
Expenditures for Supplies
Office
Food ...
Fuel ....
Medical
Laundry, cleaning, toilet
Educational and recreational
Agricultural
Chemical and disinfectants
General plant
Expenditures for Materials:
Building ....
Electrical
General plant
$1,131,239.95
$8,090.06
21.33
17,703.58
38.85
1,660.52
.20
203.14
213.94
3,004.19
3,705.41
2,91 1 .41
1,802.54
W. P. A. Library Project
Special Items:
J. L. Whitney Bibliographic account ....
Louis Kirstein Fund, Cataloguing ....
A. L. Whitney Fund, Sick benefit ....
Josiah H. Benton Book Fund Income, Trinity Church
Children's Fund, Trinity Church ....
Binding Department:
Salaries
Transportation of persons
Gas ....
Repairs
Equipment
Supplies
Stock
Printing Department:
Salaries ....
Gas .....
Photographic and blueprinting
Repairs ....
Equipment
Supplies ....
Electrical maierial
Stock ....
Outside work
Special Appropriation Expenditures:
Fireproofing, improvements, etc. .
H. C. Bentley Gift .
1,028.00
100.00
392.00
23,723.17
5,61 ! .83
60.162.78
.40
72.78
71.99
5.70
2.07
6,817.02
12,339.59
48.52
188.75
259.38
4.10
2.10
3.82
4,020.41
41.75
11,131.75
206.68
30,935.81
8,41936
62,072.41
30,855.00
67.132.74
16,903.42
1 1 ,338.43
Carried forTvard
$1,358,902.12
[151
AND RECEIPTS, DECEMBER 31. 1937
Brought forward $1,377,703.04
Balances Brought Forward From 1936:
Trust funds income. City Treasury .... $37,546.70
Trust funds income on deposit in London . . . .30
City appropriation on deposit in London . . . 72.75
James L. Whitney Bibliographic account . . . 2,560.73
Library Building, Fireproofing, Improvements, etc. . 23,408.32
H. C. Bentley Gift 220.38
Judaica Bookshelf . . . . . . . 159.17
Children's Fund 3,741.22 67,709.57
Carried forward
$1,445,412.61
[16]
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
Brought forrvard
Amounts Paid Into City Treasury:
Fines ....
Sales of catalogues, bulletins
Commission on telephone stations
Refunds, fees, etc.
Sales of waste paper .
Payments for lost books
Balances, December 31, 1937:
Trust Funds Income, City Treasury .
Josiah H. Benton Book Fund Income
James L. Whitney Bibliographic account
H. C. Bentley Gift ....
Judaica Bookshelf ....
City appropriation on deposit in London
Children's Fund .....
$1,358,902.12
Balances Unexpended, December 31, 1937:
General appropriation .....
Central Library Building, Fireproofing
$23,413.45
252.76
522.82
8.80
119.38
737.03
25,794.10
20,758.74
2,232.73
13.70
159.17
72.75
1.840.61
23362.12
12,276.57
25,054.24
50.871.80
35,638.69
To Balance
$1,470,466.85
17]
AND RECEIPTS. DECEMBER 31, 1937
Broughl forward
Receipts From:
From Fines ....
Sales of catalogues, bulletins and lists
Commission on telephone stations
Payments for lost books
Refunds, fees, etc.
Sales of waste paper .
$1,445,412.61
$23,413.45
252.76
522.82
737.03
8.80
119.38
25,054.24
To Balance
$1,470,466.85
[18]
REPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE
To The Trustees of the Public Library
OF THE City of Boston.
Gentlemen: —
The Examining Committee for the year 1937 respectfully
submits its report.
The Committee met for organization on June 7, 1937. Short-
ly thereafter the usual sub-committees were appointed, and re-
ports from them were submitted to the Vice Chairman early in
November. These reports, with their detailed findings, observa-
vations, and recommendations, have been filed with the Library
for reference, examination, and study.
The Report herewith submitted is intended to be a summary
of the important and prominent features and outstanding sug-
gestions contained in the sub-committee reports. Your Committee
presents these findings and suggestions, conscious of the fact that
the Trustees are aware of the conditions which need improvement
and correction and of the defects which should be remedied. It
is our hope that reference to them will serve as the impetus to
further constructive action, and may impress the new municipal
administration with the wisdom and necessity of making appropri-
ations which will be adequate to permit the Boston Public
Library (the oldest and the pioneer among the great public li-
braries in the United States) to maintain its proper place as a
leader in the performance of public duty.
Let it again be recorded that we find that the service of the
Director, his assistants, the heads of the various departments
and branch libraries, and their respective staffs, has been loyal,
admirable, competent, and efficient. The Excimining Committee
is indebted to them for their hearty cooperation and takes this
means of expressing its appreciation.
[19]
THE NEED OF BOOKS
The 20th Century may answer the question whether our
Democracy is capable of educating itself adequately to stave off
disaster and survive. Meanwhile, the public library is one of our
steadying influences. It is generally conceded that without knowl-
edge democracy cannot live. Accurate knowledge can be ob-
tained through intelligent library service. No library, public or
private, can long endure, unless it provides new books as needed.
The Public Library of the City of Boston is severely handi-
capped in this respect. It requires and should have more books to
meet the demands upon it.
The Examining Committee of 1936 focused attention upon
this subject; and, although it is a fact that the appropriation for
this year has been increased over that for last year by approxi-
mately $20,000, it is still $25,000 less than the appropriation
in 1935 and $100,000 less than in 1931.
The funds for the purchase of books come from two sources
— ( 1 ) from appropriations made for that purpose by the Mayor
and the City Council, the larger part of which is devoted to
obtaining books which are distributed through the branch li-
braries; and (2) the income from trust funds, which for the
most part have been given and are used specifically for the
purpose of purchasing books for the special collections in the
central library.
The Boston Public Library is maintained by its citizens pri-
marily for the acquisition and provision of books for the use of
the public. Ninety per cent of the total circulation of its books
takes place in the 33 branch libraries, and consequently they
carry the brunt of the burden of the public use. They supply
chiefly books of popular and general interest, and books used by
children in connection with school work. Education for children
and adults has been expanding with an increasing emphasis on
the part of teachers and class leaders upon outside reading. Of
necessity, for the great majority this must mean reading public
library books. Thus the branch libraries are finding themselves
closer and closer to the school system with each succeeding year.
[20]
During the recent depression period the use of the branch
libraries increased markedly. In 1 932 and 1 933 it increased by
42% and 41 % respectively over 1929. Since 1933 it has gradu-
ally diminished, but to a point which is still 2 1 % above 1 929.
During this long period of over-use of library materials the wear
and tear upon them has grown in ever increasing pyroportion, so
that today there no longer holds good the normal estimate which
had been in use up to 1929, that in any one year approxi-
mately 60% of the funds available for the purchase of books
would be necessary and sufficient for the replacement of the
worn-out books. Coincidentally with this increased use the ap-
propriations by the City for the purchase of books were cut sadly.
The average of the annual appropriations for the five years from
1928 to 1932 inclusive was $152,000, while the average for
the five years from 1933 to 1937 inclusive has been only
$81,000. This represents a cut of nearly 50%.
The result of this combination of circumstances has been most
unfortunate. The branch libraries in particular have been serious-
ly affected. Not only have they been stan'ed for new material,
so important to maintain the interest of readers; but in a period
of abnormal use not even the normal replacement of worn-out
material has been possible, and the general collections have
become sadly depleted. The books most in demand — actually
the best of the library materials — have become so badly worn
that many have had to be discarded, and the books needed by
school children for study and outside reading are deplorably
dirty. Finally, with the enormous number of books which are
being published in these times, a considerable proportion of
which a proper library should have, it seems apparent that even
if the whole of this year's appropriation of $75,000 were avail-
able for new books alone (quite apart from replacements) it
would not be adequate.
The Committee renews the reconmiendations of its predeces-
sors that appropriations be increased to a level which will be
sufficient to provide for normal demands as well as to replace
worn-out and discarded books — a need arising out of the
cumulative result of drastic cuts in the appropriations for the
[21]
last five years. The depleted book stocks in the branch Kbraries
should be brought back to more nearly standard levels by the
addition of the new items necessary to supply the demands of
their readers, and the material which has been used up should be
freshened, repaired, and replaced. The crying need of the
Library is Books — More Books, Replaced BooJ?s, Nexv Books.
OVERCROWDING OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY BUILDING
An early and radical change is imperative if the conditions
resulting from the overcrowding of the Central Library building
are to be relieved before they become so acute as to bring discredit
upon the Library. We are aware that these difficulties, which
have been stated and emphasized by the Director and your
Examining Committees in several previous reports, give you
grave concern, and that you have been helpless in the situation
from lack of sufficient appropriations. Although we appreciate
the importance of economy in municipal administration, in this
situation as in the case of books the need is so fundamental that
our new Mayor and City Council will certainly relieve the situ-
ation if they are made aware of the facts.
The facilities in the Central Library building at no time were
adequate for the 350 persons regularly employed therein. With
the addition of 150 W.P.A. relief workers conditions have
become almost intolerable. The problem is not easy of solution,
as the Director has said, "in a building of such architectural im-
portance and stability." Much of the building partakes of the
nature of a national monument and as such is quite properly
inviolate. The available space in the building has been used to
such advantage that few specific suggestions can be made. In-
deed the suggestion of minor adaptations and improvements is
almost an impertinence in view of the human factors and im-
portant issues involved. Only a radical change will give the
space necessary to adapt the library facilities to a decent standard
of health and comfort for those who work within its walls. This
is clearly indicated in the detailed and comprehensive report of
our new Sub-Committee on Staff Facilities, which was formed
[22]
this year for the first time. Here we can only reiterate that the
rest and recreation rooms crowded with lockers, the inadequate
and unattractive lunch rooms, the lack of proper drinking water
particularly in the summer months, and an impossible condition
of overcrowding in the toilets must affect the comfort and the
mental health and reduce the working time and power of the
staff. For example, in one section of the building one small
toilet room with facilities for only 3 persons at a time has to serve
for approximately 1 1 5 women members of the staff, plus some
100 additional women workers under the auspices of the W.P.
A. Unless conditions in general are altered at an early date
the future must show expensive deterioration in equipment and
human living. If a few temporary alleviations or changes which
have been suggested are carried out, we are fearful that these,
desirable as they may be, may tend to obscure the imminent
necessity of radical change to provide essential additional space.
The reallocation of the space in the Central Library building
is a vital first step in any determined effort to relieve the acute
situation. The recommendations of previous Examining Com-
mittees and of the Director that space be found outside of the
central building for certain of the Library's activities and that
they be housed in some central location are deemed important,
are re-emphasized and again urged upon you. Two such activ-
ities are the following:
( 1 ) The Newspaper Room for the daily reading of current news-
papers now occupies an especially valuable front corner of the
ground floor. From its very nature, its location in so important a
spot is not in keeping with either the cultural or educational atmos-
phere of the building or its aesthetic importance. It could be re-
moved to some convenient central location outside of the main li-
brary, without impairing its usefulness, and at a moderate cost. The
substantial space which would be thus released is urgently required
for other departments which cannot be housed anywhere except in
the main building.
(2) The Central Department for Branch Libraries, with its group
of clearly related activities, and large reservoir of books for supple-
menting the collections of individual branch libraries, is for the
most part self-sufficient. Its removal from the Central Library build-
ing to a point in the center of the city, convenient for book ship-
ments, would not impair its efficiency or the work of the Library.
[23]
Possibly one of the closed public school buildings could be obtained
to house the 1 00,000 volumes and the 40 members of the depart-
ment.
If these two changes can be accomplished, then the readjust-
ment or reallocation of such units as the Fine Arts Department,
the Science and Technology Department, the Cataloging and
Classification Department, the Music Department, and the en-
largem.ent of the Rare Book Department might follow, at least
in part.
The economic and efficient catering to the public's needs de-
pends largely upon the proper administration of the Library.
Here again your Committee is impressed with the lack of proper
quarters to enable the Director and the administrative staff to
function adequately. Overcrowding is bound to interfere with
efficiency of management, and no criticism of individual de-
ficiencies in administration is fair until and unless the manage-
ment has had the opportunity to house its departments properly.
The problems of administration arise directly from the inade-
quacy of quarters, and the fundamental requirement is more
space.
PUBLICITY
To the end that there may be a larger public appreciation of
the value of the Library and a better understanding of its needs
and problems, the Committee recommends again the appointment
of a skilled publicity director. Here is a forward step which we
believe should not be longer postponed. Indeed, it is our judg-
ment that, if the regular budget funds do not permit such expan-
sion in staff, efforts should be made by the Trustees to secure the
necessary funds through outside contributions.
It has been the experience of large libraries that sound pub-
licity is a wise investment. In many instances it has led to gener-
ous subscriptions for special purposes. In others it has been re-
sponsible for important bequests. In all it has helped to stimu-
late public enthusiasm for the institutions and public support for
their manifold activities.
While we do not suggest anything in the nature of "bally-
[24]
hoo," it is obvious that the eye of a publicity director must be
constantly on the human and dramatic side of a library's life.
This is the field of which the people have scant knowledge. It
is likewise the field which must be explored if the interest of the
people is to be enlisted.
By way of further suggestion, designed to attract favorable
attention to the Library, it is recommended that some members
of the staff be prepared to lecture entertainingly about the insti-
tution before church bodies, fraternal organizations, labor unions,
and other community groups. Perhaps, too, members of the
Board of Trustees can be prevailed upon to grant occasional in-
terviews relating to some special phase of the Library's work.
Your Committee also urges again the enlargement and the
further development of the admirable monthly bulletin and a
wider circulation of it, particularly in the newspaper offices of
the city and state.
USE OF THE LIBRARY
It is recommended that there be a return to the practice pre-
vailing prior to the depression, whereby some of the branch libra-
ries in the crowded sections of the city may be opened for two or
three hours on Sunday afternoon. If the amount of use justifies
the effort and additional expense, the Sunday afternoon service
can later be extended to other branches.
To meet the special need in those parts of the city where the use
of foreign languages prevails, attention might be given even fur-
ther than at present to the inclusion in branch library staffs of
appropriately equipped personnel. Such specialization of staff
should be particularly of value in the selection of suitable foreign
language books.
The problems arising from the excessive use of the Central Li-
brary by students from nearby institutions of learning continue
to give concern. Our reading rooms should not become study
halls. The legitimate requirements of these student groups should
be met, but not at a sacrifice of the needs of the general public.
We consider it particularly appropriate for the library adminis-
[25]
tration to prosecute its efforts with the authorities of the various
institutions involved, in order to bring about some equitable ad-
justment of a situation which has resulted in the unnecessary
crowding of general readers.
We desire especially to endorse the present extensive activi-
ties of the Library in following up and obtaining the return of
books from delinquent borrowers, as well as the careful and
thorough investigation of cases of theft and mutilation. Particu-
larly do we wish to encourage the extension and even the further
development of these activities, because of their value not only
in books recovered but also in public education.
CATALOGING AND CLASSIFICATION
The extensive work now in progress upon the reclassification,
and in many instances also the recataloging, of the book col-
lections in both the central library and the branch libraries has
been examined with some care. A thorough-going revision of
the catalog cards, involving both size and content, and a huge
task of reclassification in accordance with the best modern
methods, is going forward with the indispensable aid of relief
workers employed under the auspices of the Federal Govern-
ment. The nature and object of this complex undertaking has
been described by the Trustees in their reports of previous years.
To review its details in this place would be superfluous.
Of all the relief undertakings of the Federal Government,
this has been the largest single library project throughout the
country. The em:ployment, primarily for relief purposes, of
workers whose number has seldom been less than seven hundred
and has ranged at times up to twelve hundred, over and above
the regular library staff of some six hundred workers, has im-
posed a large responsibility of direction upon the administrative
staff of the Library. The temporary workers have required train-
ing for their tasks, and the results of their work have called for
close inspection and checking. The means to these ends appear
to have been devised with much care and effectiveness.
This work of vital importance would have remained beyond
the range of accomplishment by the Library in normal times.
[26]
Apart from its central object of relief, the project has made an
inestimable contribution to the immediate and future value of
the Library as a workshop for scholarship, both elementary and
advanced.
WORK WITH CHILDREN AND WITH SCHOOLS
The work with children is already being successfully and ad-
mirably carried out by the several branch libraries.
It is the opinion of your Committee, based upon the results of
the conference which its sub-committee held with representatives
of the public school system, the pcirochial schools, and the private
schools, that close cooperation between the Library and the
schools is of paramount importance.
The branch libraries should be encouraged to cooperate di-
rectly and continuously with the schools of their respective neigh-
borhood for the double purpose of publicity for the Library and
its services, and instruction in the proper care of books and the
use of library privileges. Such activity should be invaluable in
the attempt to minimize delinquencies, thefts, and mutilations.
It is suggested also that, if each school would designate one of
its teachers to serve as a liaison officer with the branch library in
the locality, then truly constructive work might be accomplished
in the prevention of mutilation of books, the education of children
in the use of books, training in the use of reference material, and
duty toward public property. Meetings between the branch li-
brarians and groups of teachers to discuss these and related
problems should be fostered and encouraged. A definite for-
ward step in obtaining the help and enlisting the support of the
public schools was taken when the Superintendent of Public
Schools invited the Director of the Public Library to present
the various aspects of the problem before a recent meeting of the
principals of the public schools.
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
In addition to that which has been said in connection with the
overcrowding of the Central Library building, your Committee
[27]
suggests that some temporary improvement might be brought
about by the use of the basement, at least in part, for extra staff
rooms, toilets, rest rooms, and locker space, as well as an ade-
quate lunch room. Possibly this space could be made available,
as a makeshift at least, if arrangements could be effected whereby
the library might purchase its light and heat from outside sources
rather than engage in producing them itself in its own basement
space as at present.
Otherwise, outside of troublesome and recurring difficulties
with the tile roofing, the general structure of the Central Library
building seems to be in relatively good condition. No major dif-
ficulties have occurred in the past year in the matter of the levels
of the underground water; but it is recommended that there con-
tinue to be given the regular daily examination of the water levels
as heretofore, in order that the situation be kept constantly in
hand. It is not recommended that the outside of the building be
cleaned. The lighting of the Abbey mural paintings of the Holy
Grail, and possibly also of the Sargent murals, should be serious-
ly considered at an early date.
Among the branch libraries the most pressing building problem
seems to be that of the West End Branch Library. The old
West Church building housing this branch library had to be
temporarily abandoned this past spring because of emergency
repairs upon its tower. It v/as subsequently found that the roof
trusses were weak and the ceiling in the main room likely to fall,
so that it proved not possible to return to use the building for the
present. Rented quarters were obtained in the immediate neigh-
borhood for temporary use until action could be achieved toward
a final solution of a difficult building problem. It has been sug-
gested that the building be put into adequate repair for continued
use as a branch library, or that it be repaired for subsequent use
as an historic monument and that other space be provided for a
modem new library building. Whatever the solution may be,
and we recognize that this will depend in large part upon the
funds which the City can and will make available, we urge that
every expedition possible be given to the problem, to the end that
this crowded section of the city may have with as little delay as
[281
possible adequate provision of library facilities. Few sections
of the city have so urgent and pressing a need in this respect as
does the West End.
BRANCH LIBRARIES AND SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS
Branch libraries are the chief agencies for bringing books close
to the people. The thirty-three branch libraries of the Boston
Public Library are located in residential areas. Your Committee
is of the opinion that splendid service is being rendered by them
and joins in the universal praise of their staffs and the educational,
social, and cultural aspects of their excellent work. The exami-
nation of these branches has been conducted by your Committee
divided into eleven groups, and here we can only refer to their
detailed reports of findings and reconmiendations, which are on
file with the Library. We do wish to reiterate, however, that the
branches which are housed in municipal buildings of various sorts
or in leased quarters, as distinguished from those located in build-
ings designed specifically for library uses, suffer from various
physical handicaps such as lack of space, inadequate staff quar-
ters and shelf room, poor ventilation and heating. Important re-
pairs should be made as soon as appropriations permit, but the
fundamental remedy is the resumption of the branch library
building program of two new branch libraries a year which was
in effect up to 1 932.
The need of the special departments is more room, and the
other needs are insignificant as compared with this one. We
subscribe heartily to the statement of your Examining Commit-
tee for 1 936 that "the problem of the special libraries is tied up
definitely with the problem of reallocation of space within the
Central Library building." We invite attention to the detailed
suggestions contained in their statement and in the report of our
sub-committee.
At the Business Branch, in the Kirstein Memorial Library
building, it is believed that there is need of the third in addition
to the lower floors. There are probably controlling reasons why
the top floor Ccinnot be vacated by the general Branch Library.
[29]
Its location where it is at present is desirable, but its necessity is
not apparent. It is principally a convenience for people who
prefer to go to a downtown general branch library rather than
to the branches in their respective localities. Should this con-
venience outweigh the proper housing of the Business Branch?
The extensive use of the Business Branch is a tribute to the
thought which originated it. The importance of the general
Branch Library located on the top floor of the Kirstein building
is not minimized. On the contrary, the public response to the
recent display of books there is in several respects remarkable
and is certainly heartening. A window display of a list of " 1 1 7
books that make a college education" resulted in 450 people
climbing the two flights in a period of three weeks and taking
away a list of these classics. Incidentally, the discouraging as-
pect of this experiment has been that the books themselves,
which were displayed on the third floor and were taken out by
the public, were in many instances very old, battered, in the
smallest t>'pe, and unattractive in form.
CONCLUSION
The Public Library of the City of Boston is one of the most
vital instruments by which our Democracy is expected to edu-
cate itself and thus be kept alive. The importance of many of its
needs are dwarfed by comparison with the esssentiai immediate
requirements of more books in all departments and more space
for certain developm.ents in the Central Libraiy building. The
latter can be accomplished by the relatively small expense en-
tailed in housing a number of activities outside of the main build-
ing. Until and unless these needs are satisfied, the Public Library
cannot perform its public duty in accordance with the standards
which the citizens of Boston have a right to demand.
[30]
Adopted as the report of the Examining Committee, Novem-
ber 27, 1937.
Abraham E.
Katharine Abbott
Walter B. Briggs
Henry T. Claus
Elizabeth H. Dewarl
Carl Dreyfus
Albert Ehrenfrisi
H. B. ElHston
Susan J. Ginn
Arthur L. Gould
Chester N. Greenough
M. A. DeWolfe Howe
Henry Jackson
John S. Keating
Carl T. Keller
Rosamond B. Loring
George N. Northrop
Pinanski, Vice Chairman
Charles E. Park
Elizabeth W. Perkins
Hester Pickman
Gabriel F. Piemonte
Richard J, Quinlan
William K. Richardson
B. M. Selekman
Harlow Shapley
Margaret H. Shurcliff
Lillian C. Slattery
Pauline Starr
Ruth Tiffany
Frances Tomasello
John P. Vaccaro
Henry R. Viets
Mary W. Winslow
[31]
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR
To THE Trustees of the Public Library
OF the City of Boston :
I submit herewith the report of the Director of the Library
for the year ending December 31, 1937.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY
The City appropriated for the use of the Library during 1937
the sum of $1,290,429.00. This was $92,563.00 greater than
ihe amount appropriated in 1936.
The total appropriation included an amount of $48,750.00
for the necessary expenditures incidental to the unemployment
relief projects which the Library sponsored on behalf of the City.
By excluding this amount for extraordinary expenditures the
appropriation for the ordinary operating expenses of the Library
was $1,211,679.00. This was $86,644.00 greater than the
amount appropriated for the ordinary operating expenses for
1936.
The appropriation for the purchase of books was $75,000.
This amount represented substantial improvement over the appro-
priation of $55,000 in 1936. That it was still inadequate, how-
ever, is to be seen from the following table, setting forth the
heavily increased use of the Library during the preceding decade :
YEAR
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
AMOUNT APPROPRIATED
PURCHASE OF BOOKS
$125,000
125,000
140,000
160,000
175,000
160,000
75.000
100,000
100.000
55.000
75.000
NO. OF BOOKS
LENT TO
DORROVVERS
3,705.657
3,899.286
3,930,068
4.133.459
4.702,932
5,567.681
5,548.283
5,194,351
4,949,701
4.806,737
4,531.378
[32]
In later sections of this report there is more detailed presen-
tation concerning need of additional provision for the purchase
of books.
USE OF THE LIBRARY
During 1937 there were lent to borrowers 4,531,378 vol-
umes. This figure represents an increase of 15% over that for
1 929, the last of the pre-depression years.
The following table shows the use of the Library during the
period from 1929 to 1937, inclusive:
NO. OF BOOKS
LENT TO
YEAR
BORROWERS
1929
3.930,068
1930
4,133.459
I93I
4,702,932
1932
5,567,681
1933
5,548,283
1934
3,194,351
1935
4,949,701
1936
4.806,737
1937
4.531,378
PERCENTAGE OF
INCREASE OR DECREASE
OVER PRECEDING YEARS
+5%
+13%
+18%
-0.3%
-6%
-5%
-3%
-6%
PERCENTAGE
OF INCREASE
OVER 1929
+5%
+20%
+42%
+41%
+32%
+26%
+22%
+15%
From the above figures it appears clearly that a peak of increas-
ing use was reached in 1932 and in 1933, that since then there
has occurred a declining use.
To those of us in the Library who are close to the situation
it is clear that there is one dominating reason for this declining
use. There are fewer and fewer books to use. In the branch li-
braries — where 90% of the borrowing of books for home use
takes place — books have been worn out from heavy use in the
depression years faster than they have been replaced. For ex-
ample, in the three years 1935, 1936, and 1937 there had to
be discarded 143,851 books as compared with 125,495 added.
In other words, at the end of 1937 there were 18,356 fewer
volumes available for use in the branch libraries than at the end
of 1934. Any member of the library staff in any one of the
branch libraries can give eloquent testimony as to what this means
both to school pupils and to adult readers in general.
[33]
There is in existence a demand for books which is not being
met. The unfortunate feature is that a demand for books is the
sort of thing that with careful nurturing turns into a growth of
persisting vigor, without nurture quickly dies out. It is all too
evident that too many of the Library's newly gained readers
during the depression period from 1929 to 1933 have in the
succeeding four years from 1934 to 1937 become lost to it be-
cause the Library has had fewer and fewer books with which to
meet their legitimate reading and study needs.
THE NEED OF BOOKS
It seems so self-evident that a library must have books that
one v/onders what further can be said in support of such an axiom.
Yet one frequently hears the query as to why more books are
needed anyway. The Library has enough volumes in its system
already. In the central library, for instance, there are 1,195,704
volumes as compared with the 504,977 volumes in the branch
libraries. Why should not some of those in the central library
be turned over to the branch libraries?
But who wants to choose his reading from the sermons of the
Reverend Cotton Mather or the Bay Psalm Book or the First
Folio of Shakespeare ? Who wants to read volume after volume
of specifications of German patents or of the Sessional Papers
of the House of Commons in the 19th century or of the Atti
delV Accademia del Lincei of fifty years ago? Who wants to
read Boston, Worcester and Springfield city directories for 1 875
or the Boston Transcript for 1833 or Who's Who in America
for 1903? Who wants to read Andreas Vesalius De Humani
Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (Basle, 1555) or Frangois Ap-
pert's UArt de Conserver, Pendant Plusieurs Annees, Toutes
les Substances Animales et Vegetates (Paris, 1810) or Fried-
rich Engels' Die Lage der Arbeitenden Klasse in England
(Leipzig, 1845)?
It is of items of the above sort — in single copies only, for
the most part — that the excellent book collections of the central
library are made up. They do not contain, available for use in
[34]
multiple branch libraries, multiple copies of books of the sort
which the average citizens of Boston frequenting the branch li-
braries wish and need for their regular reading. What the central
library has is the vast accumulation of materials which are needed
by the students or the scholar engaged in serious research and
investigation. And for the upkeep and further development of
its collections of this sort it has special support in the form of
trust funds which have been given for the purpose and for no
other.
On the other hand, it is on the branch libraries that there falls
the brunt of the book demands of the citizens of Boston at large.
Ninety percent (90%) of the books borrowed from the entire
library system are asked for and obtained from the branch li-
braries. Yet to meet this demand the branch libraries have book
collections which total only 30% of the book holdings of the
entire library system. A.nd the discouraging feature is that the
number of volumes in the branch libraries is decreasing rather
than increasing. In 1 935 the branch libraries had to discard as
worn out 4,257 volumes more than they could add; in 1936
they fell short by 9,091 volumes; in 1937, by 3,930 volumes.
In other words, in 1 935 they discarded 53,996 books and added
only 49,739; in 1936, they discarded 41,859 volumes and
added only 32,768; in 1937, they discarded 44,346 books
and added only 40,4 1 6.
It is for that reason that more books are needed for the branch
libraries. And, inasmuch as the branch libraries possess few
trust funds for the purchase of books, that is why a return to the
former higher level of book appropriations by the City is urgently
needed.
The amount appropriated by the City for the purchase of
books in 1 937 was $75,000 as compared with $55,000 in 1 936.
Such improvement was most welcome. It is nov/ to be hoped
that in the years immediately to come continued improvement
will follow. The appropriation for books needs sorely to be re-
turned to at least the level which the experience of many years
has indicated to be the minimum amount with which the Library
can function to advantage — nzimely, $150,000 annually.
[35]
MISUSE OF BOOKS
In 1937, as in the immediately preceding two years, constant
effort was directed to making the most of the available book
stock, particularly through preventing the misuse of books.
In the matter of books unrecoverable from borrowers from
the branch libraries continuing close attention to each individual
delinquent case made it possible to hold the number of these
volumes in 1 93 7 at the reduced level which came into being fol-
lowing the special attention given to the problem in 1935 and
1936. From 1930 to 1934 inclusive the average number of
volumes unrecoverable from borrowers annually had been 2322.
In 1 93 1 the number had been as high as 2598. In 1 934 it was
2262, By persistent effort it was reduced to 1399 in 1935 and
to 953 in 1936. In 1937 it was kept at the reduced level, with
only 979 volumes unrecovered from borrowers. This figure for
1937 represents a reduction of 58% from the average of 2322
volumes annually unrecoverable from 1930 to 1934 inclusive.
It is a loss of only one-fortieth of 1 % of the more than 3,500,000
volumes lent from the branch libraries in the course of the year.
Likewise in the matter of missing books in the branch libraries
continuing close attention throughout 1937 resulted in substantial
reduction of the number found to be missing at the time of the
annual inventory. During the ten year period ending in 1934
the average number of books so missing annually from the shelves
of the branch libraries had been as high as 12,000. In 1935 it
was 12,769. In 1936 it was reduced to 1 1,012. In 1937 it was
reduced still further to 8,786. This figure for 1937 represents
a reduction of 31 % from the figure of 1935.
In recapitulation, the combined figures for these two sources
of losses have been as follows :
MISSING FROM
UNRECOVERABLE
TOTAL OF
YEAR
FROM SHELVES
FROM BORROWERS
COMBINED LOSSES
1935
1936
1937
12,769
11,012
8,786
1,399
953
979
14.168
11.965
9.765
[36]
At an average of $1 .50 per volume the value of these books so
lost each year has been as follows :
1935
. $21,252.00
1936
17.947.50
1937
14.647.50
The above figures of losses appear very considerable as
figures. It must be remem.bered, however, that they are gross
figures. The branch libraries are open approximately 300 days
in the year. Thus the daily loss is seen to be only 32 volumes.
And such a daily loss of 32 volumes is spread throughout a
branch library system of 33 branch libraries. Certainly the loss
of a single volume per day for each branch library on the average
is not indicative of careless administration.
A very substantial reduction in these losses has been achieved
in the last two years. It is believed that still further reduction
can be accomplished in the year ahead.
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF PROJECTS
The Library continued during 1937 the two work relief pro-
jects which it had initiated in earlier years under the auspices of
the Works Progress Administration of the Federal Government.
In addition it initiated a third new project beginning on July 1 st.
There was continued through the year the project for the
cleaning of books throughout the entire library system.
There was continued also the work upon the extensive pre-
paratory stages for the project of reclassifying the scholarly book
collections of the central library on a modem classification
scheme such as that of the Library of Congress. Difficulties of
an administrative nature had held back the carrying on of this
complex and difficult task for many months in 1936. Only in
the last weeks of 1936 had they been resolved in favor of the
Library. During the early part of 1937 there therefore had to
follow a considerable period of adjustment, as well as of selec-
tion and further training of personnel. Thereafter the preparatory
stages were completed promptly, and by November 1937 it was
finally possible to begin the actual work of reclassification itself.
On July 1 st an entirely new project was initiated along similar
[37]
lines for the book collections of the branch libraries and other
units of the Circulation Division. Its purpose is to provide a uni-
form cataloging and classification of books in place of the several
varieties of procedure existing heretofore. For instance, there
have been up to the present time four different classification
arrangemxcnts and six different sizes of catalog cards in use in
the Circulation Division. In one branch library there has ac-
tually been no card catalog at all. This extensive new project
will, through its establishment of a uniform basis of cataloging
and classification procedure, ultimately make possible a process
of centralized cataloging for the branch libraries, with appreci-
able economies in operation. It will make use of a simplified form
of Library of Congress cataloging and a simplified form of the
classification commonly known as the Decimal Classification
(the Dewey Classification).
These three projects provided work for several hundred indi-
viduals. The cost of their wages was provided by the Federal
Government. The incidental expenses were borne by the City
of Boston as its contribution as sponsor of the projects.
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
Early in the year there arose an emergency situation at the
West End Branch Library. This has been housed in the old
West Church building on Cambridge Street. When the old
church was taken over in 1894 for the West End Branch Li-
brary, it was put into good condition. Thereafter, however, little
was done by v/ay of repairs. More recently, during the last half
dozen years, an item for the repair of the old building has been
included each year in the annual budget estimates of the Library.
Year by year the item has not been allowed. Finally in the early
part of 1937 an emergency situation came into being.
In March an examination of the tower revealed a structural
weakness of sufficient extent to necessitate the closing of the en-
tire front portion of the building. Shortly thereafter, following
examination of the structural elements of the rest of the building,
it appeared desirable to the Building Commissioner of the City
of Boston to order the entire building closed to public use. Tem-
[38]
porary quarters were promptly rented almost directly across the
street until the old building could be made safe for occupancy
once again.
Emergency repairs were made upon the tower at once. These
cost approximately $7000. Careful examination of the rest of
the building indicated that the total cost for its repair would be
likely to amount to as much as $55,000. For lack of an appro-
priation in this amount no further work has been carried on
since the emergency work W2ts completed in March.
The old church building is one of the significant historical
and esthetic monuments of the city. It is also one of the only
two remaining public edifices of its period in Boston. It is there-
fore important that provision be made for its renovation and re-
pair at an early date.
At the Central Library there has long existed a highly un-
satisfactory situation in the need for constant repair of the tile
roofing. Year by year for a substantial period the annual cost
of maintenance and repair of the tiles has ranged from ten to
tvv^elve thousand dollars. With a view to ascertaining the steps
which might be taken toward remedying this unsatisfactory
situation in v/hich repairs are constantly needed, Messrs J. R.
Worcester and Company, long the Library's consulting engin-
eers, were engaged during the year to make a thorough study of
the condition of the tile roofing and to make recommendation for
a fundamental and permanent treatment of the problem.
The report of the Worcester Company was rendered on Sep-
tember 13, 1937. It recommended a program which, it is be-
lieved, will lead to a reasonably permanent solution. The cost
will be approximately $256,000. This is a large figure. Yet in
1937 alone there had to be expended the sum of $13,221.01
for repairs upon the roof as it now stands. Clearly any treatment
accorded to it will be costly. The present practice of annual
patching and repairing will prove in the long run to be the more
costly, however, since it provides for no more than keeping
abreast of existing difficulties as they occur in cycles year by
year, and as they are apparently likely to continue to occur more
or less indefinitely into the future.
[39]
As to the central library in general the crowding of the build-
ing became in 1937 even more acute than heretofore. The book
collection housed there increased by nearly 25,000 volumes.
For them there was necessary an additional half mile of shelving
in a building in which the shelves have been filled to capacity
for several years already.
As to the branch libraries in general no action was possible
in 1937 other than to attempt to maintain the buildings in as
adequate fashion as the limited appropriations for the year per-
mitted. Important repairs could not always be accomplished.
These cannot be allowed to go without attention indefinitely
without serious difficulties arising soon or late.
THE SALARY SITUATION IN THE LIBRARY PRIOR TO
JUNE 4. 1937
In 1936 it became increasingly clear that the Libraiy was not
receiving sufficient appropriations for personnel year by year
for developing an adequate scale of remuneration for the mem-
bers of the library staff. The preceding period of economic de-
pression had contributed materially to make acute a situation
which had already been highly unsatisfactory before the depres-
sion had set in in 1 929.
The salaries of the library workers in the Boston Public Li-
brary had long been recognized as low. They were low as com-
pared with library salaries elsewhere. They Vs^ere low as compared
with the salaries paid elsewhere in the City of Boston service
for work of a nature more or less similar. They were low as
compared with the salaries and wages paid to the mechanical
and similar workers even in the Boston Public Library service.
The following tables are of interest as showing the distribution
of the various employees of the Library by salary ranges as of
December 31, 1936:
[40]
SALARY
Under
Under
Under
Under
Under
Under
Under
Under
RANGE
$15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00
per week
per week
per week
per week
per Week
per week
per week
per week
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
From
$10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
to $14.99
to 19.99
to 24.99
to 29.99
to 34.99
to 39.99
to 44.99
to 49.99
per week
per week
per week
per week
per week
per week
per week
per week
%0F
TOTAL NUMBER OF
LIBRARY WORKERS
5.2%
31.2%
54.7%
78.4%,
83.6%
89.7%
96.5%
97.1%
5.2%
26.0%
23.5%
23.7%
5.2%
6.1%
6.8%
0.6%
%0F
TOTAL NUMBER OF
MECHANICAL WORKERS
1.6%
16.9%
32.2%
37.9%
58.8%
61 .2%
86.2%
95.1 %
1.6%
153%
15.3%,
5.6%
20.9%
2.4%
25.0%
8.8%
From the above tables it is to be seen that the library workers
were at a disadvantage in remuneration as compared with the
mechanical workers. Nearly one-third (31.2%) of the library
v/orkers were receiving under $20.00 per week as compared with
only one-sixth (16.9%) of the mechanical workers. Over one-
half (54.7%) of the library workers were receiving under
$25.00 per week as compared with only one-third (32.2%) of
the mechanical workers. Nearly four-fifths (78.4%) of the li-
brary workers were receiving under $30.00 per week as com-
pared with only two-fifths (37.9%) of the mechanical workers.
To name specific workers, seven-eighths (29) of the 33 branch
librarians — who have the responsibility of being in charge of
whole buildings — were receiving no more than $41.00 per
week, while rank and file firemen and watchmen were receiving
$41.50, carpenters and painters $42.00, bookbinders $43.50,
printers $44.00, and engineers $48.00. For the mechanical
workers these rates were entirely proper in terms of the rates pre-
vailing for such work in the community. It is nevertheless to be
noted that a preferred treatment in remuneration was thereby
being accorded to the group of workers whose activity is actu-
ally on the margin of the main work for which the Library exists.
To the much larger group of library workers whose activity is
[411
in essence the real work of the Library the community was ac-
cording not nearly as favorable treatment.
As compared with library salaries elsewhere those paid in
the Boston Public Library were low. The beginning rate for
high school graduates had generally been as little as $1 1 .00 and
$12.00 per week. For college graduates it had been in most
cases no more than $15.00 per week, with occasional instances
of as much as $20.00 per week. Sometimes a library school
graduate might begin in the Boston Public Library at $20.00
per week, but more commonly it would be at $15.00, the same
rate as for college graduates in general who had not had the
additional technical library training of a library school. Natu-
rally not many library school graduates were interested in enter-
ing the service of the Boston Public Library at rates such as
these when better remuneration was to be had elsewhere. The
average beginning rate for the graduates of the School of Li-
brary Science in Simmons College was approximately $25.00
per week ($1300 per year). And graduates of the School of
Library Service in Columbia University were frequently ob-
taining beginning positions at $30.00 per week ($1600 per
year) .
As compared with salaries paid in other City of Boston de-
partments for work of not dissimilar kind the salaries paid to the
library workers in the Library Department were notably low.
And in these other city departments, in contrast with the Library
Department, there appeared to be adequate provision available
year by year for moving step by step from lower beginning rates
to higher eventual rates. In the Library Department, on the other
hand, it was becoming increasingly clear that from lack of suffi-
cient appropriations it was not being possible to provide year by
year regular step rate increases in pay to all to whom they were
properly due. In fact, the tendency was in quite the opposite
direction, as the following table shows :
NO. OF INDIVIDUALS
YEAR RECEIVING INCREASES IN PAY
1934 203
1935 173
1936 149
[42]
In 1 932 and 1 933 there were given no increases in remuneration
at all in the Library Department. And in the immediately pre-
ceding years there had never been sufficient funds to permit ac-
tion for the nearly 450 individuals in the Library Department
who had not already reached adequate maxima in their remuner-
ation.
Many library workers in the central library had had no in-
creases toward the maximum remuneration of their positions
since 1 927, and some even since 1 926 and 1 925. Their remuner-
ation had been low for a very long time. In order to increase
their low basic salaries to a more nearly adequate living wage
many had engaged in extra work evenings, in positions on the
evening force which cared for the service of the central library
from 6 to 1 0 P.M. The result was that there were numerous in-
dividuals who were working regularly two or three or more
evenings a week, in addition to their regular full day's work
on those days. Such an arrangement was not for the best for
either the Library or the individuals themselves. Nearly one
hundred had been so employed. In 1 933 a beginning was made
toward the abolition of this necessity for extra work evenings
through action looking toward the eventual establishment of a
shift or platoon system of personnel for the covering of the cen-
tral library service evenings. Progress had been slow, however.
Action could be taken only as individual members of the staff
received increases in their basic remuneration and could thus be
relieved of the necessity of extra work in the evening to a corres-
ponding amount. Action had been possible, in fact, only in the
cases of 30 out of the 88 individuals engaged in such work
evenings.
SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AS OF JUNE 4, 1937
It was against such a background as this that it became clearly
evident in 1936 that special action was needed for providing
more adequate remuneration for the library workers in the Li-
brary Department. The special committee which the Trustees
had appointed in November 1936 to study the situation and
present findings to the city administration made its presentation
[43]
in the following April. Shortly thereafter a special additional
appropriation of $32,000 was made to the Library Department
for the purpose of salary adjustment.
As of June 4, 1937 increases in pay were given to the follow-
ing categories of workers:
Establishment of $15.00 per week as the rate of pay for all in-
dividuals in the service of the Library who had not qualified by
passing the required Entrance Examinations for the Graded
Service, but had passed those for the Ungraded Service;
Establishment of $20.00 per week as a minimum for all assistants
who had qualified by passing the required Entrance Examina-
tions for the Graded Service ;
Increase of $2.00 per week for all other individuals in the Graded
Service v/ho had not reached the maxima of their positions as
follows.
Assistants up to maximum of $37.00
Second Assistants up to maximum of $4 1 .00
First Assistants and
Children's Librarians up to maximum of $45.00
Branch Librarians and
Chiefs of Departments up to $2500 per annum;
Increase of $2.00 per week for individuals employed in depart-
ments other than bibliothecal departments who had not reached
the maxima generally prevailing for similar positions in City of
Boston departments;
Additional increase in basic pay to certain individuals in liquidation
of extra work evenings, in continuation of the program for the
establishment of the shift system in the central library;
Increase in the minimum hourly rate of pay for part time work from
25 cents to 30 cents per hour, as of June 7, 1937.
This action of June 1937 made provision primarily for the
lower paid groups of library workers. For 23 individuals em-
ployed on a non-permanent basis and not fully qualified for en-
trance into the Graded Service of the Library it provided a
$15.00 per week rate of pay. For 1 13 individuals fully qualified
for the Graded Service it established a minimum rate of $20.00
per week. To 303 other individuals it provided an increase of
$2.00 per week toward the maximum of their positions. It made
no provision, however, for the higher paid group of library
[44]
workers. Nor did it make any provision for the mechanical and
similar workers in general. Both of these groups were already
reasonably well remunerated. Toward the abolition of the neces-
sity of extra work evenings in the central library it permitted
action to a substantial degree. Up to June 1937 it had been
possible to abolish this extra work evenings for only 30 out of
the 88 individuals concerned. By the action of June 4, 1937 it
was abolished for 41 other individuals. There remained there-
after only 1 7 individuals for whom further action v/ould have
to be taken eventually. In effect the shift or platoon system of
personnel had finally been established for taking care of the
service of the central libraiy evenings. This was in itself one of
the most substantial accomplishments in the Library in many
years, and one which had been desired long and urgently.
The average of all salaries in the Library — including the
lowest and the highest — had been raised from a figure in the
neighborhood of $1400 per annum to $1530 per annum. Even
after action on so widespread a basis the average of salaries in the
Library Department was still low as compared with the averages
prevailing in other city of Boston departments, as the following
table shows:
AVERAGE SALARIES IN CITY OF BOSTON DEPARTMENTS
(Compiled from data contained in Officials and Emplo\}ees
of the Ci'/p of Boston. 1937)
Transit Department .
Law Department
Finance Commission .
School Buildings Department
Treasury Department .
Election Department .
Building Department .
School Department .
Street Laying-Out Department
Auditing Department .
Weights and Measures Department
Boston Traffic Commission
3,761.26
2,962.53
2.840.10
2,729.00
2,604.76
2,597.62
2,592.2!
2,537.80
2,360.68
2,313.94
2,240.00
2,124.70
[45]
Park Department, Cemetery Division
Assessing Department
City Clerk Department
2.063.38
2,020.17
2,009.53
Soldiers' Relief Department . . . 1,925.65
Collecting Department .... 1,728.58
Supply Departnnent 1,718.60
Park Department (excluding day laborers) 1 ,690.43
Library Department 1,530.15
The above departments are for the most part the "white collar"
departments. In the case of the remaining city departments the
figures for the average salaries are not available for one reason
or another. For the Health Department, the Hospital Depart-
ment, and the Institutions Department figures comparable with
those in other city departments are not easily obtainable, since
many of the medical men are employed on only a part time
basis, and many of the other workers are given food or quarters
(or both) in addition to cash salaries. For the Fire Department
and the Police Department the basic salaries paid are $2100
per year, to which the firemen and policemen progress by annual
increments of $100 per year from a beginning rate of $1600
per year. An actual average figure for all employees of these
two departments ^vas not attempted, in view of the several thou-
sand employees in each department. In the Public Works De-
partment most of the workers are laborers on a per diem basis,
so that the figures for this department are not easily comparable
with those for the other city departments. And the Public Wel-
fare Department seems not to be organized on a permanent
basis, so that its figures appear not entirely pertinent for com-
parative purposes.
As compared with the salaries paid to the mechanical and
other workers in the Library Department itself those paid to the
library workers in the Library Department are shown in the
following comparative table presenting the figures after the action
of June 4, 1937:
[46]
%0F
%
OF
TOT.AL NUMBER OF TOTAL NUMBER OF
SALARY RANGE
LIBRARY WORKERS MECHANICAL WORKERS
Under $15.00 per week
, .
0.0% .... 0.0%
Under 20.00 per week
2.9%
16.5%
Under 25.00 per week
47.6%
32.3%
Under 30.00 per week
67.3%
37.9%
Under 35.00 per week
82.8%
58.87o
Under 40.00 per week
87.4%
61 .2%
Undar 45.00 per week
96.4%
86.2%
Under 50.00 per week
97.0%
95.1%
From $10.00 to $14.99 per
week
0.0%
0.0%
From 15.00 fo 19.99 per
week
2.9%
16.5%
From 20.00 to 24.99 per
week
44.6%
16.5%
From 25.00 fo 29.99 per
week
19.6%
5.6%
From 30.00 to 34.99 per
week
15.5%
20.9%
From 35.00 to 39.99 per
week
4.5%
2.4%
From 40.00 to 44.99 per
week
9.0%
. 25.0%
From 45.00 to 49.99 per
week
0.6%
8.8%
From these tables it is clearly to be seen that the action of
June 4, 1937 was primarily for the benefit of the lower paid li-
brary v/orkers. Prior to June 4, 1937 one-third (31 .2%) of the
library workers were being paid under $20.00 per week; there-
after only 2.9%. Prior to that date slightly over one-half
(54.7%) of the library workers were being paid under $25.00
per week; thereafter slightly less than one-half (47.6%). Prior
to then 78.4% of the library workers were being paid under
$30.00 per week; thereafter 67.3%.
On the other hand the library workers as a group were after
June 4, 1937 still in an unfavorable position as compared with
the mechanical workers. Whereas nearly one-half (47.6%) of
the library workers were still receiving under $25.00 per week,
only one-third (32.3%) of the mechanical workers were re-
ceiving under that amount. Whereas tw^o-thirds (67.3%) of
the library workers v/ere still receiving under $30.00 per week,
only two-fifths (37.9%) of the mechanical workers were re-
ceiving under that amount.
The remaining need for salary improvement is for the middle
paid group of library workers. Most of them are entirely inade-
quately remunerated considering the nature of their work and
the training necessary for it. And now, through the substantial
raising of the beginning rate for library workers, the relative
[47]
progression of steps in remuneration has been thrown far out of
balance. Many individuals who began at $12.00 or $15.00 per
week and are finally receiving as much as $22.00 or so per week
find that now after several years of experience in the Library
their remuneration is only a dollar or two more per week than
that of the newest member of the staff who has entered the library
service at $20.00 per week.
CLASSIFICATION OF PERSONNEL AND STAFF EXAMINATIONS
Perhaps the m.ost substantial accomplishment for the Library
and for the members of its staff for the long period ahead was
the announcem_ent on June 1 , 1937 of new arrangements for the
classification of personnel and for staff examinations, to go into
effect as of January 1 , 1 938. These new arrangements were in-
tended to provide a basis upon which to achieve a classification
of personnel which would be uniform in its application through-
out the entire library system. They v/ere to provide also for the
further development of the incomplete examination system which
had been previously in effect in the Library.
The new arrangements are based on two fundamental assump-
tions. The first of these is that individuals are not naturally equal
in their respective capacities and accomplishments, that some
can and wil! progress faster and farther than others, that there
must therefore be provided a ladder with easily recognizable
steps up which individuals may climb, thus achieving a classify-
ing and grading of themselves largely through their own efforts.
In other words, the belief is that in general the personal quali-
fications of an individual are likely to afford a better basis for
financial recognition than does the relative standing of a par-
ticular position in which the individual happens to find himself
and to which a particular rate of pay happens to be attached
at the moment.
The second fundamental assumption is that, beyond the pos-
session of the common background which all librarians ought to
have of the ordinary tools and techniques of their work, they
ought also to be possessed of specific excellence in some particular
direction or directions. The discovery of such competence or ex-
cellence in the members of the library staff is of the highest im-
[48]
portance in the further development of a staff adequate to the
needs and standing of the Boston Public Library.
With these two fundamental assumptions as background there
has been set up a framework with ten steps. The first five steps
are those of the Probationary Service, the second five are those
of the Permanent Service. With these steps the system of staff
examinations has been articulated. Five Qualifying Examinations
are provided for the five steps of the Probationary Service, by
which Probationary Assistants will qualify for appointment to
the Permanent Service. Five Promotional Examinations are
provided for the five steps of the Permanent Sei"vice, by which
Assistants in the Permanent Service will qualify for promotion
and increased remuneration. With these steps and these exami-
nations a system of promotional increases in pay is to be articu-
lated. The promotional increases will take the place of the
automatic step rate increases which have been heretofore in
effect in the Library.
The five Qualifying Examinations will test the Probationary
Assistant's knowledge of the ordinary tools and techniques of
library work at the elementary level. They will be offered in the
three fields of General Book Selection, Cataloging and Classi-
fication, and General Reference Work. In addition two others
will be offered to test the Probationary Assistant's knowledge
of the Boston Public Library system — one treating of the Cen-
tral Library and the other of the Bramch Libraries. A limited
period will be allowed for meeting the requirements of the five
Qualifying Examinations. The Probationary Assistant will pro-
gress in his remuneration step by step as rapidly as he meets
successfully individual Qualifying Examinations. Upon success-
ful completion of the requirements of all five of the Qualifying
Examinations, and after successful meeting also of the additional
requirement of favorable executive evaluation and recommenda-
tion, the Probationary Assistant will be eligible for appoint-
ment as an Assistant in the Permanent Service.
Likewise in the Permanent Service there will be five Promo-
tional Examinations. These will test the individual Assistant's
possession of a competence or excellence in som.e specific direction
or directions. They will progress ordinarily from the general
[49]
to the special. For the first step there will be a Promotional Ex-
amination which will be comm.on to all departments of the Li-
brary. This will attempt to assay the understanding which the
individual Assistant possesses of the nature of the public library
as an institution. For want of a better name its field will be desig-
nated as The Public Library as an Institution. With the second
and third steps the fields of the appropriate Promotional Exami-
nations will begin to differ, varying as the individual Assistant
may be employed (or may be interested in eventual employment)
in the branch libraries and related units or in the special subject
departments of the central library. For the branch libraries the
Promotional Examination fields for the second and third steps
will be the general fields of the Social Sciences and History and
of Literature respectively. In the central library the Promotional
Examination fields will be in most cases an advanced knowledge
of the French and German languages for the second step and
a general knowledge of a subject field (such as the Fine Arts,
Music, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and History,
Literature, etc., etc.) for the third step. For the fourth and fifth
steps in all units of the library service the two Promotional Ex-
aminations will have to do respectively on the one hand with
the subject knowledge and the bibliographical knowledge of a
special field to be selected from within the subject field chosen
for the third step or on the other hand with similar aspects of a
specialized library activity (such as Cataloging, Classification,
Extension Work, Work with Schools, Children's Work, Library
Administration, etc., etc.). The Assistant will progress in his
remuneration through the first three steps as rapidly as he meets
successfully the required Promotional Examinations. As he meets
thereafter the Promotional Examination requirements for the
fourth and fifth steps he will become eligible for promotion and
for corresponding promotional increases in remuneration when
and as there are vacancies to be filled in the group positions of
the fourth and fifth step levels.
The salary schedules with which these Qualifying Exami-
nations and Promotional Examinations are to be articulated are
as follows:
[50]
SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THE GRADED SERVICE
(To be effective when and as financial conditions permit.)
The Technical Library Service (Grades B & C)
probationary service (crade c)
Probationary Assistant,
Beginning .
. $20.00
Probationary Assistant,
1st Step
21.00
Probationary Assistant,
2nd Step
22.00
Probationary Assistant,
3rd Step .
23.00
Probationary Assistant,
4th Step .
24.00
Probationary Assistant,
5th Step .
. 25.00
NENT SERVICE (cRADE
B)
Assistant, Beginning
. 25.00
Assistant, 1st Step .
29.00
Assistant, 2nd Step .
33.00
Assistant, 3rd Step .
37.00
Second Assistant
44.00
First Assistant .
45.00
The Professional Library Service (Grade A)
CHIEFS OF DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCH LIBRARIANS
Basic rate . . $2610 per annum ($50.00 per week)
Upper rate . . 3 1 30 per annum ($60.00 per week)
OTHER OFFICERS
Rate of remuneration to be determined for each case in-
dividually.
Complete dependence upon examinations is to be avoided by
requiring at certain points executive evaluation and recommenda-
tion in addition to examination accomplishment. These points
will be as follows : ( 1 ) in the original instance of employment,
after passing of the Entrance Examinations and before the in-
dividual is taken into the library service; (2) after the passing
of the Qualifying Examinations and before the individual be-
comes eligible to be appointed to the Permanent Service; and
(3) particularly before an individual becomes eligible to be
appointed to the positions of Second Assistant, First Assistant,
and all positions of equal or higher rank. For appointment to
the positions of chiefs of departments, branch librarians, and all
general officers, the examination system will not be used at all.
For these a choice will be made primarily upon executive evalu-
ation and recommendation, though generally the individual can-
[51]
didates will have undergone the competition of examinations in
earher stages of their Hbrary careers.
The new classification of personnel and the new examinations
will be effective for all individuals entering the library service
beginning January 1 , 1 938. Such individuals must meet the re-
quired Qualifying Examinations and Promotional Examinations
in the order and under the conditions specified, in order to qualify
for appointment, promotions, and increases in remuneration. The
proposed new arrangements will not affect individuals already
in the library service prior to January 1 , 1938 unless they them-
selves elect to take advantage of the new arrangements. For
them the taking of the new examinations will be on a voluntary
basis, except in the case of qualifying for promotion to positions
of the fourth and fifth step levels.
A detailed description of the new arrangements was published
under the title Classification of Personnel and Staff Examinations
on June I, 1937.
Much faith is held for the successful working out of these
new arrangements because of their being based on fundamental
assumptions which recognize qualities inherent in human beings
as such. The individual members of the library staff will in
reality be achieving a classifying and a grading of themselves
largely through their own efforts and in terms of their individual
abilities. Further they will be having an opportunity to indicate
their eligibility for promotional advancement through demon-
strating their possession of specific excellence or competence in
some particular direction or directions.
TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
Five years ago, in anticipation of the time when there could
be put into effect a classification of personnel and a system of
staff examinations on a wide basis such as that just described,
there was a recasting along enlarged lines of the activities of
the Library's Training Class which had existed since 1927. In
the place of the single class affording instruction to a limited
group of fifteen or so individuals throughout the year, there was
[52]
instituted an extensive and wide program of single courses, open
to all full^ime members of the library staff.
This extended program of training courses entered upon its
fourth academic year in October 1936. During the academic
year 1936-37 there were 151 members of the staff enrolled in
thirteen full courses (three terms of ten weeks each) and two
one-term courses. These individuals took 1 66 courses, of which
133 were completed satisfactorily. This enrollment of 151 in-
dividuals taking a total of 166 courses is to be compared with
194 individuals taking 207 courses in 1935—36, 192 persons
taking 260 courses in 1934-35, and 261 individuals taking 268
courses in 1933—34. Over the four years 433 different persons
have been enrolled. The percentage of courses passed was 80%
in 1936-37, 74% in 1935-36, 83% in 1934-35, and 77%
in 1933-34.
Enrollment in the courses is voluntary. The individual has to
undertake the work on his own, not in library time. Courses are
offered in all five of the fields which are to be covered by the
new Qualifying Examinations and also in certain of those to be
covered by the new Promotional Examinations.
It is a fact of no Httle importance to the Library and to the
public at large that each year as many as from 1 50 to 200 mem-
bers of the library staff are engaged in courses of study and
training such as these.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
TTie following appointments to titular positions were made
during the year: Rebecca E. Willis, to be Branch Librarian,
Jamaica Plain Branch Library; Edith H. Bailey, to be Branch
Librarian, Phillips Brooks Branch Library; M. Florence Cuf-
flin, to be Branch Librarian, Allston Branch Library; Mary
A. C. Kavin, to be Branch Librarian, South Boston Branch
Library; Dorothy F. Nourse, to be Branch Librarian, Tyler
Street Branch Library; William B. Gallagher, to be Chief of
the Printing Department; Elizabeth L. Wright, to be Chief of
the Periodical and Newspaper Department; Christine Hayes,
[53]
to be Chief of the Book Selection Department in the Reference
Division ; and Edna G. Peck, to be Chief of the Book Selection
Department in the Circulation Division.
Under the provisions of the Boston Retirement Act the fol-
lowing individuals retired from the library service: George H.
Connor, Assistant, after 45 years service; Joseph A. Maier,
Assistant, after 45 years service; Francis W. Lee, Chief of the
Printing Department, after 43 years service; Frederic Serex,
Assistant in Charge, Nev/spaper Department, after 42 years
service; Katherine F. Muldoon, Branch Librarian, Allston
Branch Library, after 41 years service.
As of the date of retirement the honorary title of Chief of the
Printing Department, Emeritus v/as bestow^ed upon Francis W.
Lee and the honorary title of Branch Librarian, Emeritus upon
Katherine F. Muldoon.
By death the Library lost the services of William N. Gould,
Carpenter, David G. F. Schromm, Elevator Attendant, and
Ella M. Keenan, Unclassified Assistant.
CONCLUSION
The year 1937 was one of substantial accomplishment. Some
of the more important developments are chronicled in the above
reports. Others are set forth in statistical form in the Appendix
which follows immediately after this Report. More have to be
read between the lines since they are not of the sort which can
be put into the written record. They are best known to the count-
less users of the Library who have profited from them.
To the members of the library staff the Director is deeply
appreciative for constant aid and cooperation. For them and for
himself he offers grateful thanks to the Trustees for continuing
friendly support and interest.
Respectfully submitted,
Milton E. Lord
Director, and Librarian
[54]
APPENDIX
USE OF BOOKS
Comparative Circulation Statistics, 1933-1937
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
Central Library
793,121
756,018
737,396
757363
748,21 1
Business Branch
17,614
18,410
17.921
1 7.822
18309
Branch Libraries:
AUston
192331
186.413
182.203
172,835
160,973
Andrew Square
145,801
138,638
130.777
127.827
128,590
Boylsfon
143.764
138.595
137.179
138.532
124.069
Brighton
147,666
134388
130,741
121,152
113.169
Charlestown
144,676
127.866
117,525
116,034
110.377
City Point
150,036
144.762
140.006
129,289
124.505
Codman Square
199.786
185.451
168,412
164.553
157.174
Dorchester
140,344
132.104
135.821
137,759
130.130
East Boston
214.789
188.819
161.227
150340
130370
Faneuil
130.252
138,234
138,561
133,787
120,908
Fellowes Athenaeum
109.077
98,118
89,857
91.436
84.090
Hyde Park
149.875
144,011
141,763
129,807
126.043
Jamaica Plain
131,903
126.702
119.760
116,604
118,819
Jeffries Point
92,499
80.460
76.500
73.593
71.440
Kirstein
65,149
63,388
64,045
56,536
46,204
Lower Mills
81.017
74,990
70,928
64371
60,635
Mattapan
219,300
205,498
196311
188,382
177.013
Memorial
246,757
222.975
211.971
192,100
173,279
Mt. Bowdoin
158.667
149341
143,823
137.889
128,668
Mt. Pleasant
102.914
94,640
89.924
84,102
80,752
Neponset
78.579
69,638
64.409
60.117
59.535
North End
163.735
143351
123.174
125,656
121.927
Orient Heights
84.233
92.801
81.189
68.932
60.255
Parker Hill
125.524
119.139
112.165
108.933
102314
Phillips Brooks
51,870
46.258
45397
44,859
40387
Roslindale
173.078
167.562
154.640
151.971
146.992
Roxbury Crossing
76,023
75,062
72,839
71.037
44,576
South Boston
168326
141,046
128.979
124.228
117,161
South End
155.575
154.604
153,478
150.728
138.298
Tyler Street
72334
52,578
47.979
51,364
53.301
Uphams Corner
228.490
211.399
199.564
188,437
175,918
West End
218,721
208.003
201 373
200,444
181,642
West Roxbury
174,457
163.089
161,864
157.918
155,144
5.548,283 5,194351 4,949,701 4,806.737 4.531378
[55]
The net gains and losses in circulation are presented, apart
from the totals, in the following form:
1933 loss from preceding year ........ 19,398
1934 loss from preceding year ........ 353,932
1935 loss from preceding year ........ 244,650
1936 loss from preceding year ........ 142,964
1937 loss from preceding year ........ 275,359
Distribution of Total Circulation
Central Library
a. Direct , . , .
b. Through Branch Libraries
1 . Deposit Collection .
2. General Collections .
c. Schools and Institutions through
Branch Department
Business Branch
Branch Libraries:
Allston
Andrew Square
Boylston
Brighton
Charlestown
City Point
Codman Square
Dorchester
East Boston
Faneuil
Fellowes Athenaeum
Hyde Park
Jamaica Plain
Jeffries Point
Kirstein
Lower fvlills
Mattapan
Memorial
Mt. Bowdoin
Mt. Pleasant
Neponset
North End
Orient Heights
Parker Hill
Phillips Brooks
Roslindale
Roxbury Crossing
South Boston
South End
Tyler Street
Uphams Corner
West End
West Roxbury
HOME
USE
391,280
49,340
28,181
schools and
institutions
279,410
748,211
18309
160,973
160,973
125,149
'3,*44l"
128,590
124,069
124.069
1 1 1 ,433
1736
113,169
102.946
7,431
110,377
124,505
124.505
146329
l"o!845
157,174
129,547
583
130,130
125,977
4,593
130,570
120,908
120,908
70,560
l'3!536
84,090
126,043
126,043
113,994
*4;825
118.819
71,440
71.440
46,204
46,204
60,635
60,635
175,933
'lioso
177,013
173,159
120
173.279
128,668
128,668
80,752
80,752
59,535
59,535
121,517
' VlO
121.927
60.255
60,255
102,314
102314
40,387
40,387
137,920
'9;072
146,992
44.576
44,576
102,301
1 41860
117.161
133,588
4,710
138,298
53,301
53301
1 75,740
' 178
175.918
163,702
17,940
181,642
144,696
10,448
155,144
3.659.056
105,802
3,764,858
[56]
These figures are condensed into the following:
Books Lent for Home Use, Including Circulation Through
Schools and Institutions
From Central Library (including Central Library books issued through
the Branch Libraries) 748,21 1
From Business Branch . . . . . • • • • • 18,309
From Branch Libraries (excluding books received from Central Library) 3,764,858
4,531,378
Under the inter-library loan system with other libraries the
following use of books for the purpose of serious research is
shown for two successive years:
1936 1937
Volumes lent from this library to other libraries in Massachusetts 1,592 1,436
Lent to libraries outside of Massachusetts 430 342
2,022 1,778
Applications refused:
From libraries in Massachusetts ...... 693 843
From libraries outside of Massachusetts . . . . . 219 205
912 1,048
The classified direct circulation of the branch libraries for
two successive years was as follows:
1936 1937
VOLUMES PERCENTAGE VOLUMES PERCENTAGE
Fiction for adults . . . 1,815,704 46.3 1,667,651 45.6
Non-fiction for adults . . 583.624 15.0 552,208 15.1
Juvenile fiction .... 1,045,093 26.6 1,000.823 27.3
Juvenile non-fiction . . . 474,603 12.1 438.374 12.0
At the Central Library the classified direct circulation shows
the following percentages:
1936 1937
Fiction 47.6 413
Non-fiction 52.4 58.7
BOOK ACCESSIONS
Books Acquired By Purchase
For the Central Library:
From City appropriation
From trust funds income
13.476 15.114
For Branch Libraries:
From City appropriation . . . 30,260 41,461
From trust funds income . . . 2320 1,292
32,580 42.753
1936
1937
3,634
5.681
9,842
9.433
[57]
The following statement includes the accessions by purchase
combined with books received by gift or otherwise :
TOTAL
CEiNTRAL
BRANCHES
VOLUMES
Accessions by purchase
Accessions by gift ....
Accessions by exchange .
Accessions by continuations bound .
15.114
3.273
5
6.097
42,753
864
21
57.867
4,137
5
6,118
Accessions by newspapers bound
28
—
28
24,517
43,638
68,155
THE
CATALOGS
1936
1937
VOLS. AND
VOLS. AND
PARTS TITLES
PARTS
TITLES
Cataloged (new)
Central Library Catalog
Serials ....
Branch Libraries ...
Recataloged
22,926 19,550
10,696 —
31,225 29,875
6,719 4,311
21,750
11.185
36,846
8,215
17,608
34,869
1.758
Totals
71,566 53.736
77.996 54.235
The number of volumes shelved and thus made available for
public use is:
Placed on the Central Library shelves during the year:
General collection, new books (including continuations) . . . 20.815
Special collections, new books and transfers ..... 2,484
Books reported lost or missing in previous years but now found,
transfers from Branch Libraries, etc. ...... L697
24,996
Removed from Central Library Shelves during the year:
Books reported lost or missing, condemned copies not yet replaced,
transfers, etc. 15,890
Net gain at Central Library 9,106
Net loss at Branch Libraries 3,930
Placed in Business Branch ......... 2,170
Net gain entire library system ......... 7,346
[58]
BOOK STOCK
The total number of volumes in the library at the end of each
year since its formation is shown in the following statement:
1852-53
1853-54
1854-55
1855-56
1856-57
1857-58
1858-59
1859-60
1860-61
1861-62
1862-63
1863-64
1864-65
1865-66
1866-67
1867-68
186&-69
1869-70
1870-71
1871-72
1872-73
1873-74
1874-75
1875-76
1876-77
1877-78
1878-79
1879-80
1880-81
1881-82
1882-83
1883-84
1884-85
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
9.688
1895
16.221
1896-97
22.617
1897-98
28.080
1898-99
34.8%
1899-1900
70.851
1900-01
78,043
1901-02
85.031
1902-03
97,386
1903-04
105,034
1904-05
110.563
1905-08
116.934
1906-07
123,016
1907-08
130.678
1908*09
136.080
1909-10
144.092
1910-11
152.796
1911-12
160,573
1912-13
179,250
1913-14
192,958
1914-15
209.456
1915-16
260.550
1916-17
276.918
1917-18
297,873
1918-19
321.010
1919-20
345,734
1920-21
360.963
1921-22
377,225
1922-23
390.982
1923-24
404.221
1924-25
422.116
1925
438,594
1926
453.947
1927
460.993
1928
479.421
1929
492,956
1930
505,872
1931
520.508
1932
536.027
1933
556,283
1934
576.237
1935
597.152
1936
610.375
1937
628,297
663,763
698,888
716,050
746383
781,377
812,264
835.904
848.884
871,050
878.933
903.349
922,348
941.024
961 .522
987.268
1.006.717
1,049.011
1.067,103
1,098,702
1,121.747
1,139.682
1.157326
1.173.695
1.197.498
1.224.510
1.258,211
1.284,094
1308.041
1.333,264
1,363.515
1388,439
1,418.489
1.442.802
1,475,743
1,526.951
1.572.802
1.631.422
1,654,017
1,673,609
1,682,848
1.693335
1,700.681
Volumes in the Central Library 1.195.704
Volumes in the Business Branch ........ 20.695
Volumes in the Branch Libraries ........ 484,282
Volumes in entire library system ........ 1,700.681
[59]
These volumes are located as follows:
Central Library
.
1.195.704
Business Branch
,
.
20.695
Branch Libraries:
AUslon
13.489
Memorial
16,571
Andrew Square
11.941
Mt. Bowdoin .
13,041
Boylston
10,808
Mt. Pleasant .
8,460
Brighton
20.755
Neponset
7,007
Charlestown
17.515
North End .
11,823
City Point
11.861
Orient Heights
9,607
Codman Square
16,805
Parker Hill .
13.101
Dorchester
16,292
Phillips Brooks
5,549
East Boston
17,947
Roslindale
1 5,806
Faneuil
14,334
Roxbury Crossing
7,038
Fellowes Athenaeum
41,563
South Boston .
1 7.780
Hyde Park .
30,569
South End
1 1 .796
Jamaica Plain .
15.435
Tyler Street .
7.919
Jeffries Point .
7.806
Uphams Corner
17,727
Kirstein
7.365
West End .
21,829
Lower Mills
8.682
West Roxbury
19,971
Mattapan
16.090
THE BINDING DEPARTMENT
Number of volumes bound in various style
Magazines stitched ....
Volumes repaired ....
Volumes guarded ....
Maps mounted ....
Photographs and engravings mounted
Library publications folded, stitched and trimmed
1936
1937
66,014
65,822
69
66
1.900
2,502
644
537
77
62
2,521
3,209
130,504
151.990
THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT
1936 1937
Requisitions received and filled 220 494
Card Catalog (Central Library) :
Titles (Printing Depariment count) 23.861 15.637
Cards finished (exclusive of "extras") .... 140.640 124,609
Card Catalog (Branch Libraries) :
Titles (Printing Department count) 1,010 932
Cards finished (exclusive of "extras") .... 66,731 81,240
Signs 60 944
Blank Forms (numbered series) . . . . . . 4,210,220 4,250,440
Forms, circulars and sundries (outside the numbered series) . 43.275 169,826
Catalogs, pamphlets, bibliographical programs .... 40.615 162,799
[60]
NOTABLE PURCHASES. 1937
Printed Books — Manuscripts — Reproductions
ABC Lesetafel. Leipzig, V. Bapst. c. 1544.
Accolti.
Lo inganno de gl'occhi. Florenz, 1625.
Albertus Magnus.
De Natura Locorum. Vienna, Victor & Singrenius, 1514.
Alexander de Villa Dei.
Doctrinale puerorum. Nuremberg, Friedrich Creussner, 1487.
S. Ambrosius.
De officiis ministrorum (with other tracts) . Milan, Valdarfer, 1 474.
The American Pioneer. 2 v. Cincinnati, 1 843—4.
The American Revolution.
Letters from a Midshipman in the Royal Navy. Plymouth, c. 1 800.
Narratives, Memoirs, and Journals. 8 v. New York, 1 860-6.
Andreae, Johannes.
Arbor consanguinitatis. Nuremberg, Creussner, c. 1476.
Angelus de Clavasio.
Summa de casibus conscientiae. Chivasso, Jacobinus de Suigo, 1 486.
Aristophanes.
Comoediae novem. Venice, Aldus Manutius, 1 498.
Aristoteles.
Liber de moribus. Paris, Jean Higman, 1488.
Politica. Rome, Eucharius Silber, 1492.
Arnold, Matthew.
Essays in Criticism. London, 1865—1888. 2 v,
Aspinwall, William.
A Premonition of Sundry Sad Calamities. London, 1655.
Auctoritates Aristotelis. Senece, etc. Cologne, Johann Guldenschaff,
1487.
Aus America das ist auss der Newen Welt. Augsburg, I 620.
Bacon, Sir Francis.
History Natural! And Experimentall. London, 1 638.
Of the Advancement and Proficience of Learning. Oxford.
1640.
Bandellus.
De Conceptione. Milan, C. Valdarfer, 1475.
Beaumont, Francis, & John Fletcher.
The Wild-Goose Chase. London, 1 652.
Benlowes, Edward.
Theophila. London, 1652.
[61]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Berchorius.
Liber Bibliae moralis. Ulm, Johann Zainer, 1474.
S. Bernardus Claraevallensis.
Epistolae. Strassburg, Eggestein, c. 1475.
& Gilbertus de Hollandia. Sermones. Strassburg, Flach, 1497.
S. Bernardus Senensis.
Quadragesimale. Basle, Johann of Amerbach, not after 1 490.
Bevier, The Rev. Johannes H.
The Indians. Rondout, N. Y., 1846.
Bircardus, Ariel.
Quaestiones novae in libellum de sphaera. Frankfurt, Brubach,
1549.
Blondus.
Romae instauratae, libri III. Verona, Boninus de Boninis, 1481.
Boethius.
De consolatione philosophiae. Lyon, Guillaume Le Roy, 1 486.
Boswell, James.
Life of Samuel Johnson. London, 1 79 1 . 2 v.
Brathwaite, Richard.
The Schollers Medley. London, 1614.
Breazeale, J. W. M.
Life as it is. Knoxville, 1 842.
Breidenbach.
Peregrinationes in Terram Sanctam. Mainz, E. Reuwich, 1 486.
Bridges, Robert.
Demeter. Oxford, 1905.
Brome, Alexander.
Songs and Other Poems. London, 1 66 1 .
Brown, Samuel R.
Views of the Campaigns of the Northwestern Army. Troy, 1814.
Bulla Canonisationis Sancti Leopoldi. Vienna, Stephan KobHnger, c.
1484.
Bumaby, Andrew.
Travels through the Middle Settlements in North America. London,
1798.
Bumaby, Charles.
The Modish Husband. London, 1 702.
Calchum.
Zusamfassung etl. Geometr. Bremen, 1 629.
Castiglioni, Luigi.
Viaggio negli State Uniti dell' America. Milan, I 790.
[62]
Notable Purchases. 1937 (continued)
Chapman, George.
Andromeda Liberata. London, 1614.
Chrysostomus.
Homiliae XLIV. Urach, Conrad Fyner, c. 1 483.
Cicero.
De officiis. Venice, Philippus Pincius, 1 496.
Orationes Philippicae. Venice, Joannes Tacuinis de Tridino,
1494.
Tusculanae disputationes. Venice, Antonius de Strata, de
Crem.ona, 1 49 1 .
Clare, John.
The Converted Jew. Douay, Permissu Superiorum, 1 630.
Cornelius Nepos.
Vitae imperatorum. Brescia, Jacobus Britannicus, 1 498.
Cornwallis, Lord.
Examination before a Committee of the House of Commons.
London, 1779.
Cowley, Abraham.
Anacreon. London, 1683.
Crabbe, George.
The Village. London, 1 783.
Cumings, Samuel.
The Western Pilot. Cincinnati, 1825.
Davilla, Gil Gonzalez.
Theatro Ecclesiastico. 2 v. Madrid, 1649—1655.
Dictys et Dares.
Historia Troiana. Venice, Christopher de Pensis, 1499.
Directorium Breviarii Salisburgensis. Nuremberg, Georg Stuchs, c.
1497.
Doddridge, Dr. Joseph.
Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania. Wellsburgh, Va., 1824.
Donne, John.
Biathanatos, London, 1 644.
Drake, Sir Francis.
Third Voyage. London, 1 626.
Dunsany, Lord.
Plays of Gods and Men. London, 1917.
Unhappy Far-Of f Things. London, 1919. 2v.
Eastburn, Robert.
A Faithful Narrative of his Dangers and Sufferings during his
Captivity among the Indians. Boston, 1 758.
[63]
iNoTABLE Purchases, 1937 (continued)
England's Helicon. London, Richard More, 1614.
S. Ephrem Syrus.
Libri de compunctione cordis de judicio dei. Freiburg, Kilian Fi-
scher, c. 1491.
Epistola de miseria curatorum. Strassburg, Johann Priiss, c. 1 489.
Epistola diversorum philosophorum oratorum Rhetorum sex et viginto.
Venice, Aldus Manutius, 1499.
Esquemeling, Alexander O.
Histoire des Avantures. Paris, 1 686.
Eyb, Albertus de.
Margarita Poetica. Rome, Ulrich Han, 1475.
Fielding, Henry.
Amelia. Lxindon, 1 752.
The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon. London, 1755.
Miscellanies. London, I 743.
Fletcher, John.
The Bloody Brother. London, I 639,
Forbes, Alexander.
California. London, 1 839.
Fulgosus.
Anteros. Milan, L. Pachel, 1496.
Galilei-Sarsio.
Libra astronomica. Perusia, 1619.
Galvano-Hakluyt.
The Discoveries of the World. London, 1601.
Gellius, Aulus.
Noctes Atticae. Venice, Andreas de Paltasichis, 1477.
Gerstinger, Hans.
Die Wiener Genesis. Filser Verlag, 1931. 2 v.
Goldsmith, Oliver.
Essays. London, 1765.
Gregg, Josiah.
Commerce of the Prairies. New York, 1845.
S. Gregorius I. Magnus.
Epistolae. Augsburg, Zainer, c. 1476.
Guillermus Avernus.
Rethorica divina. Freiburg, Kilian Fischer, c. 1491.
Hall, John.
Poems. Cambridge, 1 646.
Hobbes, Thomas.
Philosophicall Rudiments. London, 1 65 1 .
Hudson, William H.
The Land's End. London, 1 908.
[64]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Hues, Robert.
Tractatus de Globis. London, 161 1.
Hutchins, Thomas.
A Topographical Description of Virginia. London, 1 778.
Indian Anecdotes and Barbarities. Barre, Mass., 1837.
Indian Treaty. A Conference Held at the Fort at St. George's. Boston.
1742.
Johnson, Mrs. Susannah.
A Narrative of her Captivity. Glasgov^^, 1797.
Killigrew, Mrs. Anne.
Poems. London, 1 686.
Landor, Walter S.
The Hellenics. London, 1 847.
Leigh, Richard.
The Copie of a Letter to the Ambassador in France for the King
of Spain, declaring the State of England. London, 1588.
S. Leo I.
Sermones. Basel, Michael Wenssler, c. 1474—5.
Lesley, John.
De Ttitulo et Jure Serenissimae Principis Mariae Scotorum Reginae ;
and De Illustrium Foeminarum. Rheims, 1580.
Lewis, Hannah.
Narrative of her Captivity. Boston, 1818.
Lochmaier.
Sermones de Sanctis. Hagenau, Heinrich Gran, 1 500.
Locke, John.
An Essay concerning Humane Understanding. London, 1 690.
Luther, Martin.
Adversus Execrabilem Antichristi Bullam. Wittemberg, 1520.
Confitendi Ratio. Augsburg, 1520.
Ein Sermon iiber das Evangelion Johannis. Wittemberg, 1531.
Summa des Christlichen lebens. Wittemberg, 1533.
Mancinellus.
Scribendi Orandique Modus. Venice, Bernardinus Benalius, c.
1494.
Versilogus. Leipzig, Wolfgang Stoeckel, 1 496.
Manuscript letters to Mrs. James T. Fields from Sophia Hawthorne,
Celia Thaxter, Louise Imogen Guiney, and others.
Marvell, Andrew.
Miscellaneous Poems. London, 1 68 1 .
Massachusetts Views. Boston, Pendleton, 1 833.
[65]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Maurocenus.
De aeterna et temporali generatione Christi in judaicae improba-
tionem. Padova, Bartholomaeus de Valdezoccho, 1473.
May, Thomas.
The Victorious Reigne of King Edward the Third. London, 1 635.
Mayne, Jaspar.
The Citye Match. Oxford, 1 639.
Medina.
L'Arte del navegar. Venice, 1554.
Mill, Humphrey.
A Nights Search. London, 1640.
— The Second Part of the Nights Search. London, 1 646.
Milton, John.
Of reformation. London, 1641.
M'llvane, William.
Sketches in California and Mexico. Philadelphia, 1850.
Mizaldus.
Harmonia coelestium corporum et humanorum. Paris, Kerver, 1555.
The Muse of New-Market. London, 1 680.
A New Voyage to Georgia. By a Young Gentleman. London, 1 737.
Niavis.
Latinum Ideoma pro parvulus editum. Nurnberg, Creussner, 1 494.
Nider.
Formicarius. Cologne, Ulrich Zell, c. 1475.
Praeceptorium divinae legis s. expositio Decalogi. Reutlingen,
Michael Greyff, c. 1479.
Nonius Marcellus.
De proprietate latini sermonis. Brescia, Boninus de Boninis, 1 483.
Otway, Thomas.
Windsor Castle. London, 1685.
Paulding, James K.
Chronicles of the City of Gotham. New York, 1 830.
Pernambuco.
Eygentlicher Abirs. 1530.
Perottus, Nicolaus.
De generibus Metrorum. Venice, Maximus de Butricis, 1491.
Petrus Lombardus.
Liber sententiarum. Basel, Nicolas Kessler, 1488.
Peurbach.
Elementa arithmetices. Wittenberg, 1534.
Pike, Zebulon M.
Explanatory Travels. London, 181 I.
[66]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Plautus.
Comoediae. Venice, Simon Bevilaqua, 1499.
Plenarium, Deutsch. Augsburg, Anton Sorg, 1 478.
Plinius Secundus (Caius).
Historia Naturalis. Parma, Andreas Portilia, 1481.
Pontanus.
De fortitudine bellica. De principe. Naples, Mathias Moravus,
1490.
Pope, Alexander.
An Essay on Man. London, 1 732—4.
Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men. London, 1 733.
The Rape of the Lock. London, 1714.
Privilegia et Litterae indulgentiarum Ordinis Fratrum Minorum. Leip-
zig, Wolfgang Stockel, 1498.
Proba, Anicia Faltonia.
Cento Virgilianus. Poitiers, Jean Bouyer, [1500>]
Psalterium Latino-Germanicum. Augsburg, Erhard Ratdolt, 1 499.
Quarles, Francis.
Hadassa. London, 1 62 1 .
The Historic of Samson. London, 1 63 1 .
Job MiHtant. London, 1 624.
Observations concerning Princes and States. London, 1 642.
The Shepheards Oracles. London, 1 646.
Sions Elegies. London, 1 624.
Quinlan, James E.
Tom Quick, the Indian Slayer. Monticello, N. Y., 1851.
Quintilianus.
Declamationes. Venice, L. Dominici, 1482.
Radcliffe, Ann.
The Italian. London, 1 797.
Raulin.
Oratio. Basle, Johann Bergmann, 1498.
Regiomontanus.
Almanach ad annos XVIII accuratissime calculata. Augsburg,
Erhard Ratdolt, 1488.
Kalendarius. Augsburg, Hans Miller, 1518.
Revere, Paul,
Engraving of the Boston Massacre. 1 770.
Rov/lands, Richard.
A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence. Antwerp, Robert Bruney,
1605.
[67]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Sabellicus.
Rerum Venetarum decades. Venice, Andreas Torresanus, de Asula,
1487.
Sacrobusco.
Sphaere textum. Paris, Jean Petit, 1515.
Samuel, Rabbi
Epistola contra Judaeorum errores. Metz, Caspar Hochfeder, 1 498.
Sandeus.
Lectura super titula de fide instrumentorum. Pavia, Michael de
Geraldis, 1497.
Scarron, Paul.
Comical Romance. London, 1676.
Scott, Thomas.
A Tongue-Combat. London, 1623.
Seneca.
Opera philosophica et epistolae. Venice, Bernardinus de Choris,
1492.
Tragoediae. Venice, Lazarus de Soardis, de Saviliano, 1492.
Settle, Elkanah.
Ibrahim; The Female Prelate; The City-Ramble. London, 1677—
1712.
A Narrative; A Letter to Mr. Settle; An Heroick Poem on
the Coronation. London, 1683—5.
Seutter.
Recens elaborata mappa. Ausburg, 1 730.
Shelley, Percy Bysshe.
Hellas. London, I 822.
Sibylla, Bartholomaeus.
Speculum peregrinarum. Strassburg, Johann Griininger, 1499.
Smith, Mrs. Mary.
An Affecting Narrative of her Captivity. Williamsburg, 1818.
Smith, William, provost.
An Historical Account of the Expedition against Ohio Indians.
Philadelphia, I 765.
Southerne, Thomas.
The Fatal Marriage. London, 1 694.
Speculum Exemplorum. Deventer, Richardus Pafraet, 1481.
Stanley, Thomas.
Poems. London, 1 65 I .
Statius.
Opera. Venice, Bartholomaeus de Zanis, 1 494.
[68]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Stephens, James.
Typewritten manuscript of "Theme and Variations," with numerous
autograph corrections, etc. in author's hand. With first edition of
the work. N. Y., 1930.
Swift, Jonathan.
A Complete Key to the Tale of a Tub. London, 1710.
The History of the Four Last Years of the Queen. London,
1758.
Memoirs of the G)urt of Lilliput. London, 1 727.
Tate, Nahum.
Elegies. London, 1 699.
Poems. London, 1677.
Taylor, John, "The Water-Poet."
An humble Desired Union. London, 1 642.
Mad Fashions. London, 1 642.
Mercurius Aquaticus. N.p., 1643.
Tennyson, Alfred.
Poems. London, 1 830.
Poems. London, 1857.
Terrasse, Petrus.
Oratio de divina profidentia. Rome, Stephan Plannck, 1483.
Thackeray, William.
The Adventures of Philip on his Way through the World. London,
1862.
The Book of Snobs. London, 1 848.
Comic Tales and Sketches. London, 1 84 L
An Essay on the Genius of George Cruikshank. London, 1 840.
The History of Pendennis. London, 1 848—50.
The House of Henry Esmond. London, 1852.
A.n Interesting Event. London, 1 849.
The Irish Sketch-Book. London. 1 843.
"Our Street." London, 1848.
The Newcomes. London, 1853—5.
Mrs. Perkins's Ball. London, 1847.
The Snob ; The Gownsman. Cambridge. 1 829—30.
Vanity Fair. London. 1 848.
The Virginians. London, 1858—9.
Theramo, Jacobus de.
Consolatio peccatorum. Cologne, Printer of Augustinus de Fide
(Goiswin Gops?). c. 1473.
Thesaurisatio in coelis. Nuremberg. Friedrich Creussner. 1488.
[69]
Notable Purchases, 1937 (continued)
Thorius, Raphael.
Hymnus Tabaci. London, 1 65 1 .
Thucydides.
De bello Peloponnesiaco. Treviso, Joannes Vercellensis, c. 1 483.
Tortellius.
Orthogiaphia dictionum. Venice, Hermann Lichtenstein, 1 484.
Tritheim.
De proprietate monachorum. Mainz, von Friedberg, 1495.
Urbanus Bolzanius.
Institutiones Graecae Grammatices. Venice, Aldus Manutius,
1497.
Vaughan, Henry.
Olor Iscanus. London, 1 65 I .
Villa-Senor y Sanchez, Joseph Antonio.
Theatro Americana. 2 v. Mexico, 1 746—1 748.
Walton, "William.
A Narrative of the Captivity of Benjamin Gilbert. Philadelphia,
1784.
Whitman, Walt.
Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, N. Y., 1855.
Wimpheling.
Oratio. Augsburg, Froschauer, c. 1 496.
Woodcuts from Books of the 1 6th century. Portfolio, with an introduc-
tion by Max Geisberg.
[70]
A SELECTION OF INTERESTING GIFTS OF BOOKS IN 1937
Allen, Rosamond
A collection of one hundred and nineteen volumes of fiction and non-
fiction.
American Association for Adult Education
Seven volumes on adult education in America, published by the
American Association for Adult Education. 1937.
Baker Library
One hundred and eighty-one volumes, including technical works and
bound periodicals, several volumes of the American Almanac for 1831
to 1861, and A Classification of Business Literature.
Bang, Mrs. A. C.
Seventy-six volumes of Danish books, including unbound volumes of
the American Scandinavian Review for 1924-1929 and 1931, and
"Denmark i skildringer og billeder . . . udgivet af M. Galschit, Koben-
havn, Philipsens, 1 888."
Bates, Van Ness
A collection of sixty-two volumes, including t^venty volumes of Punch,
1841-1860, several issues of the Boston Social Register and the
Summer Social Register, and several volumes in the Badminton Library.
Dran, Annie S., Estate of
A collection of five hundred and twelve lantern slides of scenes and
buildings in England, France, Wales and China, and of Chinese art
subjects, about 400 of which are colored slides.
Dun & Bradstreet, Inc.
Behind the scenes of business. By Roy A. Foulke.
Revised edition, 1937. New York, Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. Ten
copies.
Faxon, Frederick W., Estate of
A collection of 853 latern slides, including views of historical places,
buildings, monuments, parks, etc., in America, the British Isles and
Europe.
Gaines, Samuel R.
Forty volumes of recent fiction and non-fiction, and two pieces of
music arranged by Samuel Richards Gaines.
Godoy, Armand
Rome. By Armand Godoy. Paris, Grasset (1936).
Le brasier mystique, by Armand Godoy. Paris, Grasset (1937).
Trois poemes de Saint Jean de la Croix. Adaptes en frangais par Ar-
mand Godoy. Paris, Grasset (1937).
Goldstein, Fanny
A collection of forty-five volumes, for the Judaica Collection.
Lewis, Mrs. D.
Fifty-six volumes and 222 numbers, mainly technical journals and
periodicals, and several numbers of Punch and the National Geographic.
[71]
McKibbin, Miss E. W.
A collection of thirty-four, principally unbound, volumes of French
fiction.
Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Massachusetts
Sibley's Harvard Graduates, Volumes V, ! 701—1 712. Biographical
sketches of those who attended Harvard College in the classes 1 701 -
1712, with bibliographical and other notes. By Clifford K. Shipton.
Boston, Massachusetts Flistorical Society, 1937.
Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Twenty-eight volumes of the Rural New Yorker, to help complete the
file in the Boston Public Library.
Morris, Mrs. Ira Nelson, New York, N. Y.
Maria Theresa, the last conservative. By Constance Lily Morris.
New York, Knopf, 1937. (Autographed, for the Galatea Collection.)
Noyes, James B.
A collection of forty-five volumes, many with fine bindings, including
a ten-volum.e set of Carlyle's Works, a limited edition in two volumes
of "Quo Vadis," a four-volume set of "The Memorial History of
Boston," and other unusual and rare books.
Rowlands, Walter
A collection of forty-nine volumes, principally books on art. art cata-
logs, several volumes of fiction and children's books.
Stechert & Co., G. E.
One hundred and thirty-eight volumes of French fiction.
Underbill, Francis Jay
Thirty-four volumes and twenty-eight pamphlets on various subjects
from the library of Francis Jay Underbill.
University of Pennsylvania
Forty-nine theses presented to the University of Pennsylvania, and
"The story of Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection in the History
of Chemistry."
Viets, Dr. Henry R., Boston, Massachusetts
A brief history of medicine in Massachusetts. By Henry R. Viets,
M.D. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1930.
A Brief Rule to guide the Common-People of New-England how to
order themselves and theirs in the Small Pocks, or Measels. By Thomas
Thacher. Edited by Henry R. Viets, M.D. Johns Hopkins University.
1937.
LECTURES — CONCERTS
In the Central Library Lecture Hall the Library presented 1 1 0 pro-
grams in its annual series of free concerts, lectures, and entertainments.
PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS OF 1937
Exhibitions arranged by the Library were on view in the Exhibition
Room, the Treasure Room, and the Children's Room throughout the year.
[72]
LIST OF TRUST FUNDS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1937
The figures listed are for the par values of investments as of December
31 , 1937 , except in the following cases in which the hook values are given
instead as of var}^ing dates: the Children's Fund, book value as of De-
cember 31, 1937 ; the Benton Book Fund, hook i^a/ue as of January 21 ,
1937 ; and the Benton Building Fund, book value as of January 21 , 1937 .
Artz Fund — Donation from Victoria Thomas Artz, of Chicago:
the income of this sum to be employed in the purchase of valuable,
rare editions of the writings, either in verse or prose of American
and foreign authors. These books are to be known as the "I_ong-
fellow Memorial Collection." Received in 1896. $10,000.00
Bates Fund — Donation made by JoSHUA Bates, of London, in March,
1853.
"The income only of this fund is to be each and every year expended
in the purchase of such books of permanent value and authority as
may be found most needful and most useful." $50,000.00
Benton Book Fund — Extract from the will of JosiAH H. BentoN:
"Twelfth: All the rest and residue of my property and estate I give
and devise ... to the TRUSTEES OF THE PuBLIC LIBRARY OF
THE City of Boston . . . and I Direct that the same be held
and used in the manner following . . .
"First: — One-half of the net income of such residue and remainder
to be applied by the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of
Boston for the purchase of books, maps and other library material
of permanent value and benefit for said Library; meaning and in-
tending hereby that such income shall be applied for books desirable
for scholarly research and use . . .
". . . It is my desire that . . . the income given by the Twelfth Clause
of my will for the purchase of books, maps and other library material
of permanent value and benefit, shall be in addition to the sums
appropriated by the City for the maintenance of the Boston Public
Library, and that the same shall not be taken into account in any
appropriation by the City for that purpose,
"I, therefore, hereby provide that . . . such income as is given by
the Twelfth Clause of my will for the purchase of books . . . shall be
applied for those purposes only in years when the City appropriates
for the maintenance of the Boston Public Library at least three per
cent (3 per cent) of the amount available for department expenses
from taxes and income in said City.
"In any year when the City does not thus appropriate at least three
per cent (3 per cent) of the amount available for department ex-
penses from taxes and income in said City, the income given in said
will for the purchase of books shall be paid to the Rector of Trinity
[73]
Church in the City of Boston to be by him disbursed in relieving the
necessities of the poor."
By an Agreement of Compromise entered in the Probate Court
of Suffolk County on January 15, 1935, the Benton Book
Fund was established" ... as a permanent fund, the income and
interest thereon to be applied annually by the Library Trustees,
without regard to the amounts appropriated by the City of Boston
for the maintenance of the Boston Public Library in any year, as
follows: — (a) Six-tenths (6/10) of such income is to be applied an-
nually by the Library Trustees for the purchase of books, maps and
other library material of perm.anent value and benefit for said li-
brary; meaning and intending hereby that such income shall be
applied for books desirable for scholarly research and use; (b) The
remaining four-tenths (4/10) of such income is to be paid over an-
nually to the Rector of Trinity Church to be by him disbursed, either
directly, or in his discretion, through charitable organizations or
agencies, whether incorporated or unincorporated, in relieving the
necessities of the poor." Received in 1936. $1,138,539.00
Benton Building Fund — Extract from the will of JosiAH H. Benton :
''Twelfth: All the rest and residue of my property and estate I give
and devise ... to the TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC Library of
THE City of Boston . . . and I Direct that the same be held
and used in the manner following . . .
". . . Second: — To hold the other one-half of said residue and
remainder as an accumulating fund, the income and interest to be
added to the principal and reinvested as principal, until the total
amount thereof shall be two million dollars ($2,000,000). And
then I Direct such total sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000)
to be applied to the enlargement of the present central library build-
ing in Boston, or to the construction of another central library build-
ing in such part of the City as may be then most desirable for the
accommodation of the people of said City ; such new building to be
constructed under the advice of the Librarian of the Library at that
time in such manner as may be most desirable for efficient practical
working of a library therein." Received in 1936.
$1,594,006.38
Charles H. L. N. Bernard Fund — Bequest of Charles H. L. N.
Bernard. Received in 1 930. $2,000.00
Bigelow Fund — Donation made by the HoN. John P. BiGELOW in
August, 1 850, when Mayor of the City.
The income from this fund is to be appropriated for the purchase of
books for the increase of the library. $1,000.00
Robert Charles Billings Fund — Bequest of Robert Charles Bil-
lings.
"The sum to constitute a permanent fund for said library, to be
[74]
called the Robert Charles Billings Fund, the income only to be used
for the purpose of the purchase of books for said library." Re-
ceived in 1903. $100,689.26
Bowditch Fund — Bequest of J. Ingersoll BowditCH. Received in
1 890.
The whole income in each and every year to be expended in the
purchase of books of permanent value and authority in mathematics
and astronomy. $10,000.00
Bradlee Fund — Bequest of the Rev. Caleb David Bradlee to the
Boston Public Library. Received in I 897. $1,000.00
Joseph H. Center Fund — Bequest of Joseph H. Center, the income
thereof to be at all times applied to the purchase of books and other
additions to the library. Received in 1905. $39,908.89
Central Library Building Fund — Donations in response to an appeal by
the Trustees in April, 1925, setting forth the needs of the Library,
from:
Percy Lee Atherton $ 25.00
William York Peters 25.00
John T. Spaulding 100.00
$150.00
Children's Fund — Bequest of JOSIAH H. BenTON of $100,000, to be
held as "1 he Children's Fund," and the income applied to the pur-
chase of books for the use of the young, to be applied for those pur-
poses only in years when the City appropriates for the maintenance
of the Library at least three per cent of the amount available for
department expenses from taxes and income in said City. In any year
when the City does not thus appropriate at least three per cent of the
amount available for department expenses from taxes and incom.e in
said City, the income given in said will for the purchase of books
for the young shall be paid to the Rector of Trinity Church in the
City of Boston to be by him dispensed in relieving the necessities of
the poor. $100,000.00
Clement Fund — Bequest of FRANK CLEMENT, of Newton, to be known
as the "Frank Clement Fund," the income to be applied to the pur-
chase of books. Received in 1915. $2,000.00
Henry Sargent Codman Memorial Fund — This is a contribution from
the friends of Henry Sargent Codman, to be used to perpetuate
the memory of Mr. Codman by the purchase of books upon land-
scape gardening. It is the desire of the subscribers that a special
book plate shall be inserted in each of the volumes purchased, identi-
fying it as part of their memorial collection. Received in 1 898.
$2,854.41
[75]
Cutter Fund — Bequest of Abraham E. Cutter of four thousand dol-
lars and his library of books, the income of the fund to be expended
for the purchase of books, and for binding. Received in 1901.
$4,270.00
Elizabeth Fund — Bequest of Sarah A. Matchett, late of Brookline.
who died October 6, 1910, the object of which is stated in the fol-
lowing extract from her will:
"I give and bequeath to the Trustees of the Public Library of the
City of Boston, twenty-live thousand dollars, to be called the Eliza-
beth fund, to be received, held and securely invested, and only the
net income therefrom expended every year in the purchase of such
books of permanent value and authority as may be most useful in
said Library." $25,000.00
Daniel Sharp Ford Fund — Bequest of Daniel Sharp Ford to the
Public Library of the City of Boston, to be used for the purchase
of books for the young until otherwise ordered by the Board. Re-
ceived in 1900. $6,000.00
Daniel Sharp Ford Trust Fund — Bequest of Daniel Sharp FoRD
to the Public Library of the City of Boston, to be used for general
purposes. Received in 1935. $5,017.65
Franklin Club Fund — Donation made in June, 1 863, by a literary asso-
ciation of young men in Boston, who, at the dissolution of the asso-
ciation, authorized its trustees, Thomas Minns, John J. French and
J. Franklin Reed, to dispose of the funds on hand in such manner
as to them should seem judicious. They elected to bestow them on
the Public Library, attaching thereto only the following conditions:
"In trust, that the income, but the income only, shall, year by year, be
expended in the purchase of books of permanent value, for the use
of the free Public Library of the city, and as far as practicable of
such a character as to be of special interest to young men." The trus-
tees expressed a preference for books relative to government and
political economy. $1,000.00
Isabella Stewart Gardner Fund — Bequest of ISABELLA StewART
Gardner.
"To the Trustees of the Boston Public Library, for the Brown
Musical Library, for a memorial to B. J. Lang," Received in 1924.
$5,000.00
Morris Gest Fund — Donation made by Morris Gest in December
1925, the gross receipts from a benefit performance for the Library
of "The Miracle", — $2,652.50, the income to be used in the in-
terest of dramatic art. $2,652.50
Green Fund — Donations of Dr. Samuel A. Green of $2,000, the
income of which is to be expended for the purchase of books relating
to American history. Received in 1878 and 1884. $2,037.17
[76]
Charlotte Harris Fund — Bequest of CHARLOTTE Harris, the object
of which is stated in the following extract from her will: "I give to
the Charlestown Public Library $10,000, to be invested on interest,
which interest is to be applied to the purchase of books published
before 1850. I also give to said Public Library my own private li-
brary and the portrait of my grandfather, Richard Devens." Be-
quests accepted by City Council, July 31, 1877. $10,000.00
Thomas B. Harris Fund — Bequest of THOMAS B. HARRIS, of Charles-
town, for the benefit of the Charlestown Public Library. Received
in 1884. $1,138.31
Alfred Hemenway Fund — Bequest of ALFRED HemENWAY. Received
in 1928. $5,000.00
Heloise E. Hersey Fund — Bequest of Heloise E. Hersey, the in-
come to be expended for the purchase of books, preferably those of
recent issue that have real literary value. Received in 1 936.
$3,542.00
Hyde Fund — Bequest of FrankLIN P. Hyde, to be knovm as the
"Franklin P. Hyde Fund," the income to be applied to the purchase
of books and other library materiail. Received in 1915. $3,632.40
David P. Kimball Fund — Bequest of David P. KiMBALL.
"I give to the Public Library of the City of Boston, the income to
be used for the purchase of books, $10,000." Received in 1924.
$10,271.58
Louis E. Kirstein Fund — Donations of $1 ,000 each made by LouiS E.
Kirstein, "to be used for any purpose of the Library that the
Trustees see fit to put it to."
October, 1925 $1,000.00
October, 1926
November, 1927
October, 1928
October, 1929
1 ,000.00
1 ,000.00
1 ,000.00
1 ,000.00
$5,000.00
Arthur Mason Knapp Fund — Extract from the will of Katherine
Knapp: "To the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of
Boston, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), to be knovm
as the Arthur Mason Knapp Fund, of which the income only shall
be used for the purchase of books for said library. And I hereby
request that such books be designated with an appropriate label or
inscription, bearing the name of the Fund." Received in 1914.
$10,002.50
Helen Lambert Fund — Bequest of HeleN Lambert, in memory of
Frederic and Louise Lambert. The income of this fund to be ex-
pended for the purchase of books and other library material until
otherwise ordered by the Trustees. Received in 1931. $1,394.57
Abbott Lawrence Fund — Bequest of Abbott Lawrence. The in-
terest on this fund to be exclusively appropriated for the purchase of
books having permanent value. Received in 1860. $9,950.53
Edward Lawrence Fund — Bequest of Edward LawreNCE, of Charles-
town. The following clause from his will explains its purpose:
"To hold and apply the income and so much of the principal as they
may choose, to the purchase of special books of reference to be kept
and used only at the Charlestown branch of said Public Library."
Received in 1886. $500.00
Mrs. John A. Lewis Fund — Bequest of ELIZABETH LeWIS, to be
known as the Mrs. John A. Lewis Fund: "I give and bequeath to the
Boston Public Library the sum of $5,000 as a fund, the income of
which is to be used for the purchase of such old and rare books as
shall be fitly selected to augment the collection known as the John
A. Lewis Library." Received in 1903. $5,000.00
Charles Greely Loring Memorial Fund — Donation from the family of
Charles Greely Loring, the income of which is to be expended
for the purchase of books for the West End Branch. Received in
1896. $500.00
Charles Mead Fund — Bequest of CHARLES Mead, to constitute the
Charles Mead Public Library Trust Fund for the promotion of the
objects of the Public Library in such manner as the government of
said library shall deem best, and so far as the government shall
deem consistent with the objects of the library to be used for the
benefit of the South Boston Branch Library. Received in 1 896.
$2,530.51
Francis A. Morse Library Fund — Bequest of FraNCIS A. MoRSE, of
West Roxbury; the income only to be expended annually for the
purchase of books for the West Roxbury Branch Library suitable
for children of school age. Received in 1936. $1,000.00
Gardner O. North Fund — Bequest of GARDNER O. NoRTH. Received
in 1928. $2,000.00
The Oakland Hall Trust Fund — By an interlocutory decree of the
Probate Court for the County of Suffolk, the amount of$l 1 ,781 .44
was received, the same being one-half of the net amount received
from the disposition of certain property held by the Trustees, under
an indenture between Amor HoUingsworth, Sumner A. Burt and
Amor L. Kollingsworth, all of Milton, Mass., and John H. Mc-
Kendry, of Boston, Mass., entered into the sixth day of August,
1870. The above amount was accepted by the City, January 2,
1924, and the Trustees of the Public Library voted to invest the
same under the name of "The Oakland Hall Trust Fund." the
income to be applied to the purchase of books and other library
material for the Mattapan Branch. $1 1,781.44
[78]
John Boyle O'Reilly Fund — Donation received from the PapyrUS
Club to estabhsh a fund in memory of John Boyle O'Reilly, late
member of said club, the income of said fund to be devoted to the
purchase of books for the Boston Public Library. Received in 1 897.
$1,085.02
Phillips Fund — Donation made by JONATHAN PHILLIPS, in April,
1853.
The interest of this fund is to be used exclusively for the purchase
of books $10,000.00
Also a bequest by Mr. Phillips in his v^ill dated September 20,
1 849. The interest on which is to be annually devoted to the main-
tenance of a free Public Library. $20,000.00
Pierce Fund — Donation made by the HoN. Henry L. Pierce, Mayor
of the City, November 29, 1 873, and accepted by the City Council,
December 27, 1 873. $5,000.00
Sarah E. Pratt Fund — Bequest from Sarah E. Pratt, under the
1 4th clause of her will, for the benefit of the Dorchester Branch,
$500.00. Received in 1922 and 1924. $1,494.18
Guilford Reed Fund — Bequest of FIelen Leah Reed, as a m.emorial
to Guilford S. Reed; the income to be applied to the purchase of
books of non-fiction. $1,000.00
John Singer Sargent Fund — Balance remaining in hands of surviving
trustees of fund originally raised to install in the Library decorations
by John Singer Sargent; the income to be used for the care and
preservation of the Sargent decorations, etc. $3,858.24
Scholfield Fund — Bequest of ARTHUR ScHOLFiELD, who died in New
York, January 1 7, 1 883. The interest to be paid to certain heirs
during their lives, and then to be used for the purchase of books of
permanent value. The last heir, Joseph Scholfield, died November
1 8, 1 889, and by his will bequeathed to the City of Boston the sum
of $1 1,766.67, which represents the income of said fund received
by him up to the time of his death, to which was added $33.33
accrued interest on deposit up to the time of investment, to be added
to the fund given by his brother. $62,242.45
Sewall Fund — Extract from the will of RiCHARD Black SewalL:
*' Tenth: — I bequeath the following pecuniary legacies clear of
legacy tax, namely. To the Trustees of the Public Library of the
City of Boston $25,000 to be added to their funds and the income
to be used for the purchase of books." Received in 1918.
$25,000.00
Skinner Fund — Extract from the will of Francis Skinner:
"Eleventh. — All my books and library I give and bequeath to my
son, to be enjoyed by him during his life and after his death to be
distributed as he shall appoint among such public libraries, as he shall
[79]
judge fit, and in case he makes no such appointment then to the
Trustees of the PubHc Library of the City of Boston.
"Sixteenth. — All the rest and residue of my said property of what-
ever kind, I give and bequeath to Augustus P. Loring and J, Lewis
Stackpole in trust to pay the net income to my son Francis Skinner,
Jr., during his life, or to apply the same to his maintenance and sup-
port, or the maintenance and support of any issue of his, as they shall
think best during his life ; and at his death to apply the income to the
maintenance and support of his issue until his youngest child shall
reach the age of 2 1 years and then to distribute said property among
said issue, the issue of a deceased child to take the share a parent
would have if living.
"If there shall be no issue surviving at the time of my son's death,
then to turn the said property into cash and to divide it equally
among the following legatees: The Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Medical School
of Harvard University, and the Free Hospital for Women, Brook-
line, Massachusetts." Received in i 9 1 4. $51 ,732. 1 4
South Boston Branch Library Trust Fund — Donation of a citizen of
South Boston, the income of which is to be expended for the benefit
of the South Boston Branch Library. Received in 1879.
$100.00
Mary Elizabeth Stewart Fund — Bequest of MarY ELIZABETH STEW-
ART of $3,500 to the Trustees of the Boston Public Library. The
Trustees voted under date of June 29, 1923, that the income be
applied to the purchase of books and other library material.
$3,500.00
James Jackson Storrow (Harvard '57) Fund — Gift of Helen Stor-
Row and Elizabeth Randolph Storrow as a memorial to
James Jackson Storrow, Senior; income to be used for the purchase
of Italian books. $25,000.00
Ticknor Bequest — By the will of GEORGE TiCKNOR, of Boston, he
gave to the City of Boston, on the death of his wife, all his books
and manuscripts in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, about
four thousand volumes, and also the sum of four thousand dollars.
After the receipt of said sums the City is required to spend not less
than one thousand dollars in every five years during the twenty-five
years next succeeding (i.e., the income of four thousand dollars, at
the rate of five per cent per annum) in the purchase of books in the
Spanish and Portuguese languages and literature. At the end of
twenty-five years the income of said sum to be expended annually in
the purchase of books of permanent value, either in the Spanish or
Portuguese languages, or in such other languages as may be deemed
[80]
expedient by those having charge of the library. The books be-
queathed or purchased are always to be freely accessible for refer-
ence or study, but are not to be loaned for use outside of the library
building. If these bequests are not accepted by the City, and the
trusts and conditions faithfully executed, the books, manuscripts and
money are to be given to the President and Fellows of Harvard
College. In order that the City might receive the immediate benefit
of this contribution, Anna Ticknor, widow of the donor, relinquished
her right to retain during her life tlie books and manuscripts, and
placed them under the control of the City, the City Council having
previously accepted the bequests in accordance with the terms and
conditions of said will, and the Trustees of the Public Library re-
ceived said bequests on behalf of the City, and made suitable ar-
rangements for the care and custody of the books and manuscripts.
Received in 1871. $4,106.71
William C. Todd Newspaper Fund — Donation by WiLLIAM C. TODD,
of Atkins, N. H., accepted by order of the City Council, approved
October 30, 1897, the income to be at least two thousand dollars
a year, to be expended by the Library Trustees for newspapers of
this and other countries. $50,000.00
Townsend Fund — Donation from William Minot and William Minot,
Jr., executors of the will of Mary P. ToWNSEND, at whose dis-
posal she left a certain portion of her estate in trust for such chari-
table and public institutions as they might think meritorious. Said
executors accordingly selected the Public Library of the City of
Boston as one of such institutions, and attached the following con-
ditions to the legacy: "The income only shall, in each and every
year, be expended in the purchase of books for the use of the library;
each of which books shall have been published in some one edition
at least five years at the time it may be so purchased." Received in
1879. $4,000.00
Treadwell Fund — By the will of the late Daniel Treadwell, of
Cambridge, late Rumford Professor in Harvard College, who died
February 27, 1872, he left the residue of his estate, after payment
of debts, legacies, etc., in trust to his executors, to hold during the
life of his wife for her benefit, and after her decease to divide the
residue then remaining in the hands of the Trustees, as therein pro-
vided, and convey one-fifth part thereof to the Trustees of the Public
Library of the City of Boston.
By order of the City Council, approved May I 7, I 872, said be-
quest was accepted and the Trustees of the Public Library authorized
to receive the same and invest it in the City of Boston Bonds, income
of which is to be expended by said Trustees in such manner as they
may deem for the best interests of the Library. $13,987.69
[81]
Tufts Fund — Bequest of Nathan A. TuFTS, of Charlestown, to be
kno\A'n as the "Nathan A. Tufts Fund," the income to be appHed
at all times to the purchase of books and other additions to the library
to be placed in the Charlestown Branch. Received in 1906.
$10,736.68
Twentieth Regiment Memorial Fund — Donation on account of the
Twentieth Regiment Memorial Fund, the income to be used
for the purchase of books of a military and patriotic character, to be
placed in the alcove appropriated as a memorial to the Twentieth
Regiment. Received in 1897. $5,000.00
Horace G. Wadlin Fund — Bequest of HoRACE G. WadLIN, of
Reading, former Librarian, to the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston of $2,000 to be permanently funded and the
income thereof used for the purchase of books. Received in 1932.
$2,030.51
Also a bequest by Ella F. Wadlin ; to be added to the Horace G.
\Vadlin Fund, and the income to be used for the purchase of books.
Received in 1936. $1,725.84
Wales Fund — Extract from the will of George C. Wales:
"AJter the foregoing bequests I direct that the sum of five thousand
dollars be paid to the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of
Boston, the same to be held, managed and invested by them, so as
to produce an income, and the said income to be applied to the pur-
chase of such books for said Library as they may deem best." Re-
ceived in 1918. $5,000.00
Whitney Funds — Bequests of James LymAN Whitney, who died Sep-
tember 25, 1910.
Alice Lincoln Whitney Fund — The twelfth clause of his will di-
rected that: One-tenth of said remaining income of the principal
fund, I direct to be paid to the Trustees of the Public Library of the
City of Boston, to be held and accumulated by said Trustees and
permanently invested and re-invested. The first five thousand dollars
of income so accumulated, including the income thereon arising
during the period of accumulation, I request to be funded in the
name of my sister, Alice Lincoln Whitney, and the income of said
fund after its accumulation or so much of said income as may be re-
quired, to be paid to such employees of the said Library, who are
sick and in need of help, as the Trustees may in their discretion deem
most worthy (there are often such cases). Any amount of income
from said accumulated fund not needed for the purpose just men-
tioned shall be used for the purchase of books and manuscripts.
$5,000.00
James Lyman Whitney Fund — The Alice Lincoln Whitney Fund
having been established, all amounts of income of the principal fund
[82]
paid to said Trustees, after the accumulation of said fund of five
thousand dollars shall be held as the James Lyman Whitney Fund,
and invested and re-invested and the income used in equal shares,
one shave for the purchase of rare and expensive books, and one share
for the purchase and care of manuscripts; one-half at least of the
share devoted to manuscripts to be expended for their cataloguing
and proper care. $29,294.09
In addition to the above Mr. Whitney created a trust, directing that
of the net income seven hundred dollars a year be paid to the Trus-
tees of the Public Library of the City of Boston, to be expended on
bibliographic w^ork for the benefit of the Library.
Mehitable C. C. Wilson Fund — Bequest of Mehitable C. C. Wil-
son, the income to be expended for the purchase of books. Received
in 1913. $1,000.00
GIFTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS
Besides the preceding, the following gifts have been made to the Public
Library, and the amounts have been appropriated for the purchase
of books, according to the intention of the donors, viz.:
Samuel Appleton, late of Boston
H. C. Bentley .
J. Ingersoll Bowditch .
Nathaniel 1. Bowditch .
James Brown, late of Cambridge
Andrew Carnegie
Dorchester and Milton Circulating Library, for
benefit of the Dorchester Branch Library
Sally Inman Kast Shepard
James Nightingale ....
Patrick F. Sullivan Bequest .
$1,000.00
220.38
6.800.00
200.00
500.00
980.75
335.13
1. 000.00
100.00
339.61
$11,475.87
[83]
RECAPITULATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS
Artz Fund ....
Bates Fund ....
Benton Book Fund
Benton Building Fund .
Charles H. L. N. Bernard Fund
Bigelow Fund
Robert Charles Billings Fund
Bowditch Fund
Bradlee Fund
Joseph H. Center Fund
Central Library Building Fund
Children's Fund .
Clement Fund
Henry Sargent Codman Memorial Fund
Cutler Fund
Elizabeth Fund
Daniel Sharp Ford Fund
Daniel Sharp Ford Trust Fund
Franklin Club Fund
Isabella Stewart Gardner Fund
Morris Gest Fund
Green Fund
Charlotte Harris Fund .
Thomas 3. Harris Fund
Alfred Heraenway Fund
Heloise E. Hersey Fund
Hyde Fund
David P Kimball Fund
Louis E. Kirstein Fund
Arthur Mason Knapp Fund .
Helen Lambert Fund
Abbott Lawrence Fund
Edward Lawrence Fund
Mrs. John A. Lewis Fund .
Charles Greely Loring Memorial Ft
Charles Mead Fund
Francis A. Morse Library Fund
Gardner O. North Fund
The Oakland Hall Trust Fund
John Boyle O'Reilly Fund .
Phillips Fund
Pierce Fund
Sarah E. Pratt Fund .
Guifford Reed Fund .
John Singer Sargent Fund .
Scholfield Fund .
Sewall Fund
Skinner Fund
South Boston Branch Library Trust Fund
Mary Elizabeth Stewart Fund
$10,000.00
50,000.00
1,138,539.00
1 ,594,006.38
2,000.00
l.OOO.OO
100,689.26
10,000.00
1,000.00
39,908.89
150.00
100,000.00
2,000.00
2.854.41
4,270.00
25.000.00
6,000.00
5.017.65
1.000.00
5.000.00
2.652.50
2,037.17
10.000.00
1.138.31
5,000.00
3.542.00
3.632.40
10,271.58
5,000.00
10,002.50
1 ,394.57
9,950.53
500.00
5.000.00
500.00
2,530.51
l.OOO.OO
2,000.00
11,781.44
1,085.02
30.000.00
5,000.00
1.494.18
1.000.00
3,858.24
62,242.45
25.000.00
51.732.14
100.00
3,500.00
[84]
James Jackson Sforrow (Harvard '57) Fund
Ticknor Fund ....
William C. Todd Newspaper Fund
Townsend Fund ....
Treadwell Fund ....
Nathan A. Tufts Fund
Twentieth Regiment Memorial Fund
Horace G. Wadlin Fund
Wales Fund ....
Alice Lincoln Whitney Fund
James Lyman Whitney Fund
Mehitable C. C. Wilson Fund .
Total ....
25.000.00
4,106.71
50,000.00
4.000.00
13.987.69
10,736.68
5.000.00
3,756.35
5,000.00
5.000.00
29,294.09
1,000.00
, $3,528,262.65
[85]
OFFICERS OF THE LIBRARY AS OF DECEMBER 31. 1937
Director's Office
Director, and Librarian: Milton E. Lord
Clerk of the Trustees: Elizabeth B. Brockunier
Supervisor of Training: Bertha V. Hartzell
Editor of Publications: Zoltan Haraszti
Reference Division
Chief Librarian of the Reference Division: Richard G. Hensley
Assistant Librarian, Emeritus Frank C. Blaisdell
Assistant Librarian, Emeritus Samuel A. Chevalier
Assistant Librarian, Emeritus Otto Fleischner
Book Selection Department: Christine Hayes, Chief
Cataloging and Classification Department: Lucien E. Taylor, Chief
General Reference Departments: Francis H. Hannigan, Supervisor
John H. Reardon, Deputy Supervisor
Bates Hall Centre Desk: William J. Mulloney, Assistant in Charge
Bates Hall Reference Department: Harry W. Mathev^s, First
Assistant
Issue Department: Thomas F. Brennan, Chief
Open Shelf Department: John H. Reardon, Chief
Periodical and Newspaper Department : Elizabeth L. Wright, Chief
Registration Department: A. Frances Rogers, Chief
Special Reference Departments: Edward H. Redstone, Supervisor
Frank N. Jones, Deputy Supervisor
Business Branch: Mary W. Dietrichson, Business Branch Librarian
Fine Arts Department: Priscilla S. MacFadden, Assistant, In
Charge
History Reference: Laura R. Gibbs, Assistant
Music Department: Richard G. Appel, Assistant in Charge
Science and Technology Department: Frank N. Jones, Chief
Statistical Department: Elizabeth G. Barry, Assistant in Charge
Teachers Department: Anna L. Manning, Assistant in Charge
Rare Books: Zoltan Haraszti, Keeper of Rare Books
Rare Book Department: Harriet Swift, Assistant in Charge
[86]
Circulation Division
Chief Librarian of the Circulation Division : Orlando C. Davis
Children's Work: Alice M. Jordan, Supervisor
Branch Libraries: Edith Guerrier, Supervisor
Branch Librarians:
Allston: M. Florence Cufflin
Andrew Square: Elizabeth H, McShane
Boylston: Margaret A. Calnan
Brighton: Katrina M. Sather
Charlestown : Katherine S. Rogan
City Point: Helen M. O'Leary
Codman Square: Elizabeth P. Ross
Dorchester: Marion C. Kingman
East Boston: Theodora B. Scoff
Faneuil: Gertrude L. Connell
Fellowes Athenaeum: Mary E. Ames
Hyde Park: Sara A. Lyon
Jamaica Plain: Rebecca E. Willis
Jeffries Point: Mary U. Nichols
Kirstein: Grace C. Loughlin
Lower Mills: Isabel E. Wetherald
Mattapan: Ada A. Andelman
Memorial: Beatrice M. Flanagan
Mount Bowdoin: Pearl B. Smart
Mount Pleasant: Margaret H. Reid
Neponset: Margaret 1. McGovern
North End: Mary F. Curley
Orient Heights: Catherine E. Flannery
Parker Hill: Mary M. Sullivan
Phillips Brooks: Edith H. Bailey
Roslindale: Annie M. Donovan
Roxbury Crossing: Elizabeth B. Boudreau, First Assistant
South Boston: Mary A. C. Kavin
South End: Clara L. Maxwell
Tyler Street: Dorothy F. Nourse
Upham's Corner: Beatrice C. Maguire
West End: Fanny Goldstein
West Roxbury: Geneva Watson
Book Selection Department: Edna G. Peck, Chief
Cataloging and Classification Department: Ethel Hazlewood, Cataloger,
In Charge
Branch Bindery Section: Marion McCarthy, Assistant, In Charge
Branch Issue Department: Alice V. Stevens, Chief
[87]
Young People's Room, Central Library: Mary C. Toy, Children's Li-
brarian
Branch Librarian, Emeritus: Katherine F. Albert
Branch Librarian, Emeritus: Carrie L. Morse
Branch Librarian, Emeritus: Katherine F. Muldoon
Branch Librarian, Emeritus: Margaret A. Sheridan
Division of Business Operations
Comptroller: James W. Kenney
Buildings Department: William F. Quinn, Superintendent
Auditing Department: Helen Schubarth, Auditor
Book Purchasing Department: William C. Maiers, Chief
Stock Purchasing Department: Timothy J. Mackin, Custodian
Binding Department: James P. Mooers, Chief
Printing Department: William B, Gallagher, Chief
Francis W. Lee, Chief, Emeritus
Shipping Department: Robert F. Dixon, Shipper
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
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3 9999 06314 677