In the Archives: the 1926 ALA Conference – American Library Association Archives

A portrait photograph of George B. Utley, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, Folder: George Burwell Utley, 1922-1923.

A portrait photograph of Charles F. D. Belden, found in Record Series 99/1/13, Box 1, Folder: Charles F. D. Belden, President, 1925-1926.

The 1926 fiftieth anniversary was ambitious. It was the first ALA conference to also explicitly celebrate ALA history in its purpose. As a result, like Mr. Utley’s work, this anniversary supported the acquisition and access to materials produced during the previous conferences. The 1876 papers were bound and transferred to the ALA, and the 1926 papers would be bound too. The final proceedings are bound in a multi-volume set with correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and publications, in Record Series 5/1/26.

The exterior case and binding of the 1876 scrapbook. — The cover and case of the 1926 bound scrapbook of 1876 correspondence, found in Record Series 5/60/76, Box 1.

Bound Volumes 1 through 3, 5, and 6, of the 50th Anniversary Conference Records, found in Record Series 5/1/26.

Today, binding historical papers is not usually practiced because it creates preservation issues later. The lack of preservation-centered binding design, like blank sheets between documents, resulted in image transfer and light damage between documents for both 1876 and 1926. Archivists have identified preservation needs and materials are under examination for treatment, to be ready for the next great ALA anniversary.

An 1853 Correspondence scrapbook page with signatures.

A fading, taped letter from William F. Poole, found in the 1876 Correspondence scrapbook, Record Series 5/60/76.

The 1951 ALA Seventy-Fifth Anniversary and Conference