Rutgers University Librarian (George A. Osborn) Records
Dates
- 1880-1955
Scope and Content Note
The papers of George A. Osborn are divided into four series. Series I. Library Correspondence, Reports, and Records, contains various documents including annual reports, notes of committees on library care, and information on donations made to the library. Endowment Funds and Budgets make up the bulk of Series II. Also included in this series is a list of departments, staff, and student assistants. Friends of Rutgers Library includes more in-depth information about persons involved with the welfare of Rutgers Library at the time. It includes information on group meetings, occasions and celebrations, and donations. It also includes some scrapbooks and journal or newspaper clippings. The Accession Books are contain information on the books ordered by Rutgers.
Extent
5.6 Cubic Feet (14 manuscript boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection contains papers generated by George A. Osborn during his career as a Rutgers Librarian. The folders contain information about his actions as librarian including the expansion of the Voorhees Library due to serious space constraints of the library at the time. Also included are various committee papers, budget and funding information. Series III is dedicated specifically to "Friends of Rutgers Library."
Administrative History of the Office of the University Librarian
The Rutgers library was originally established as a collection of theology books for what was mainly a theological institution. By 1827, the library, modest when compared to the libraries of the Peithossophian and Philoclean literary societies, filled a small room in the old Queen's Building. Irving S. Upson, Osborn's predecessor as Rutgers Librarian, became the first nonfaculty librarian in 1884. In 1890, the library held 26,000 volumes, and by 1903, when it moved into a new building, the Voorhees Library, it held 46,000 books.
After the move, George A. Osborn, Upson's assistant since 1897, took over as acting librarian in 1904, and was appointed librarian in 1907. In 1916, the library held 85,000 volumes; in 1919, 100,000 volumes; and in 1925, 128,000 volumes. The Voorhees Library was expanded in 1926, but by the time of a federal survey of the university in 1927, it was obvious that the library still desperately needed more space.
The library's relationships with the libraries of other Rutgers colleges is not clearly defined in these records. However, some information about these bureaucratic ties can be gleaned from the files.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical Chronology for George A. Osborn
- 1874
- August 18, George Augustus Osborn is born in Jersey City, NJ
- 1893
- Osborn, as a freshman, starts working in the library as a student assistant (member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity)
- 1897
- Osborn receives his B.Sc., in chemistry, from Rutgers College and becomes assistant in charge of the library
- 1903
- Osborn marries Edith Octavia Tye, a Canadian, they have two daughters
- 1905
- Appointed Acting Librarian
- 1907
- Osborn becomes College Librarian
- 1914
- Osborn starts the Rutgers Alumni Quarterly
- 1922
- Receives honorary A.M. degree from Rutgers University
- 1928
- Elected president of the New Jersey Library Association
- 1932
- Osborn becomes an appointed professor
- 1935
- Receives Rutgers award of merit ("Rutgers University Award")
- 1937
- Publishes "The Use of the Library" in the first Journal of the Rutgers University Library (Vol. 1, no. 1, Dec. 1937)
- 1944
- Osborn receives a honorary degree from Rutgers University
- 1945
- Resigns as University Librarian on June 25
- 1947
- George Augustus Osborn dies at his home on May 1
Arrangement Note
The Records of the Office of the Rutgers University Librarian (George A. Osborn) are arranged into four series:
- I. Library Correspondence, Reports, and Records, 1880-1944
- II. Endowment Funds and Budgets, 1922-1942
- III. Friends of Rutgers Library, 1926-1948
- IV. Accession Books
Series I and III are arranged alphabetically. Series II is organized with the bulk of content being listed first, in chronological order with the last few folders arranged alphabetically. Series IV is arranged by accession numbers which are also in chronological order.
Bibliography
- A Skeleton Sketch of Queen's Rutgers Library. (typescript: undated)
- Johns, Francis A. Rutgers University Library: A Survey of the Main Library at New Brunswick. New Brunswick: Graduate School of Library Service, April 1938.
- "Making Rutgers Library Kindly, Forty Year Aim of G .A. Osborn." Newark Sunday Call, June 13, 1937.
- McCormick, Richard P. Rutgers, A Bicentennial History. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1966.
- (Obituary) "Unique Librarian." Rutgers Alumni Monthly, June 1947.
- Randall, William E. Report on the Library Situation at Rutgers University. (typescript) November 7, 1937.
- "Retirement." Rutgers Alumni Monthly, September 1945
- Rutgers University Library. (typescript: c. 1937)
- Silvers, Earl Reed. "Bookworm." Rutgers Alumni Library, March 1939.
- Testimonial Dinner to George A. Osborn. (typescript of transcript) December 14 1943.
- United States, Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior. Survey of Rutgers University. New Brunswick, 1927. ("Chapter VII: The library and library service")
- A Skeleton Sketch of Queen's Rutgers Library. (typescript: undated)
- Johns, Francis A. Rutgers University Library: A Survey of the Main Library at New Brunswick. New Brunswick: Graduate School of Library Service, April 1938.
- "Making Rutgers Library Kindly, Forty Year Aim of G .A. Osborn." Newark Sunday Call, June 13, 1937.
- McCormick, Richard P. Rutgers, A Bicentennial History. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1966.
- (Obituary) "Unique Librarian." Rutgers Alumni Monthly, June 1947.
- Randall, William E. Report on the Library Situation at Rutgers University. (typescript) November 7, 1937.
- "Retirement." Rutgers Alumni Monthly, September 1945
- Rutgers University Library. (typescript: c. 1937)
- Silvers, Earl Reed. "Bookworm." Rutgers Alumni Library, March 1939.
- Testimonial Dinner to George A. Osborn. (typescript of transcript) December 14 1943.
- United States, Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior. Survey of Rutgers University. New Brunswick, 1927. ("Chapter VII: The library and library service")
- Title
- Inventory to the Records of the Rutgers University Librarian (George A. Osborn), 1880-1955 RG 40/A1/02
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Jennifer Schaffner and Christine Otto
- Date
- February 2008
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Part of the Rutgers University Archives Repository
Rutgers University Libraries
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