The 1876 Conference – American Library Association Archives

Melvil Dewey, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, folder: Melvil Dewey, 1890-1891, 1892-1893.

R. R. Bowker, found in Record Series 13/6/15, Box 5.

Charles A. Cutter, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, folder: Charles Ami Cutler, 1887-1889.

It was March 18, 1876, in the London-based periodical The Academy, when an anonymous correspondent wrote to advocate the need for a congress of librarians to support public and private librarianship.

The First Identified Suggestion for an 1876 Librarians Conference, found in The Academy, March 18, 1876, on Page 261, via Hathi Trust Digital Library.

The First Identified Suggestion for an 1876 Librarians Conference, found in The Academy, March 18, 1876, on Page 262, via Hathi Trust Digital Library.

On April 22, 1876, Frederick Leypoldt’s Publishers’ Weekly reprinted the letter and Boston Athenaeum librarian Charles Cutter March 1876.

The Second Identified Suggestion for an 1876 Librarians Conference, found in The Nation, April 20, 1876, on Page 264, via Hathi Trust Digital Library.

The Third Identified Suggestion for an 1876 Librarians Conference, found in Publishers Weekly, April 22, 1876, on Page 528, via Hathi Trust Digital Library.

May

Early professional library organizers include Frederick Leypoldt (editor and publisher of Publisher’s Weekly), Melvil Dewey (librarian of Amherst), and Richard Rogers Bowker (Leypoldt’s business partner). While Mr. Leypoldt and Mr. Bowker had been planning an editorial to urge a professional library conference, independently, Mr. Dewey had been arranging a professional library journal. It was middle May when the three men met and their interests converged. Together, they sought the signatures of leading librarians to endorse the call for a conference at an undetermined date in 1876.

June

Weeks later, the first printed call was published, followed by waves of supportive letters sent to Dewey. An Executive Committee and an Arrangements Committee were formed to coordinate. Committee Members: Lloyd P. Smith (of Philadelphia Library Company), Justin Winsor (of Boston Public Library), and William F. Poole (of Chicago Public Library).

Lloyd P. Smith, found in Record Series 18/1/57, Box 27, Folder: SI-SR, c. 1886 (reproduction) -1991.

Justin Winsor, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, Folder: Justin Winsor, 1987-1885, 1897.

William F. Poole, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, Folder: William Frederick Poole, 1885-1887.

July

In July, the October conference date would be agreed upon, and prospective paper topics were proposed by committed participants. At the end of the month, the second printed call included a long list of supportive, eminent librarians.

The Second Conference Call, found in Record Series 5/60/76.

August

In August, a United States federal government report on librarianship, Public Libraries in the United States of America, was under production and planned for release in conjunction with the conference.

September

In September, as final preparations were made, the program was released. On October 4, 1876, 103 librarians attended the first day of the conference at the Historical society of Pennsylvania. Justin Winsor was elected president, with Ainsworth R. Spofford, James Yates, William F. Poole, and Lloyd P. Smith elected as vice presidents. Melvil Dewey, Charles Evans, and Reuben A. Guild served as secretaries.

The Articles of Organization, found in Record Series 2/1/11, Box 1.

The 1876 conference successfully organized the American Library Association. The 1877 conference was the first official A.L.A. conference. Then it was just two more years when the ALA officially incorporated in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 6, 1879.

In the Archives: the 1876 Conference