The 1951 ALA Conference

The 1951 anniversary chose to not highlight ALA or library history; instead, it defined and celebrated the idea of American Heritage. The seventy-fifth anniversary was celebrated in two events: first, at the annual conference hosted in Chicago from July 8 to 14; second, at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, on October 4.

Our Committee would like to see the energies, intelligence and drive of the 18,000 plus librarians used in a manner that will reflect credit upon the profession and that will contribute to the continuation of the tradition of freedom that we in the Western World have known.

Strangely enough, we as a group of librarians, are uniquely qualified to do a job which needs to be done – now – this year. For we are not persuaded to a belief in the juvenilism of the public mind. And our willingness to put our emotions on a project, a trait which is sometimes a weakness with us, is in this case in our favor.

Mr. Ellsworth Assembles a Committee

It was the September 29, 1949 ALA Executive Board Meeting that established the ALA Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Committee. [1] Following Clarence “Skip” Graham’s nomination, (ALA President, 1950-51), Mr. Ralph E. Ellsworth became chairman of the fourteen-member Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Committee.

The New Theme: The Heritage of the U.S.A. in Times of Crisis

Promoting the Conference

Independent of the Committee, multiple librarians wrote to the ALA and to propose the arrangement of a commemorative stamp or a cancellation stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office. Unfortunately, the cost for a hub and dies proved to be cost prohibitive. Instead, the Committee focused their efforts on other promotional programs.

It was February 5, 1951, when ALA President Skip Graham and John T. Skelton (of Jackson County Library in Independence, Missouri) met with President Truman to request two things: first, to speak in Chicago at the opening session of the conference; second, to issue a proclamation for October 4, 1951 to be National Library Day. Although the President could not agree to any commitments with more than three weeks in advance, he supported the ALA representatives’ plans. Later, unfortunately, President Truman was unable to speak at the conference.

National Library Day was officially proclaimed by mayors or governors representing at least twenty-four states. Locally, libraries organized radio announcements, interviews, programs, television broadcasts, local ALA Commemorative exhibits, and book clubs to discuss American heritage books. Across the country, libraries were invited to participate in National Library Day by organizing local exhibits too.

Exhibits

The Committee asked all libraries to contribute to the Conference locally by curating a local exhibit, resulting in many exhibits across the nation.

Publications

The conference supported two publications, Gerald Johnson’s This American People and Henry Steel Commager’s edited volume Living Ideas in America, to promote a year-long nationwide discussion program on American heritage. Both books were published by Harper and Brothers. The books were supported by a LOOK magazine donation, and the discussion program was supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation Fund for Adult Education. Conference planners wanted to foster a national discussion using both books.

Writing Contests

For the four writing contest categories, there were nine writing contest winners. Category 1 was “Statements in 2000 words or less that illustrate the power of books”; Category 2 was “Statements in 2000 words or less on What are the problems that worry the citizen enough to make him come to the library for help”.

For Best Statement from Librarians who are ALA Members: Elizabeth Hart, (Enoch Pratt Library), won, and Marie C. Corrigan, (Cleveland Public Library), tied with Margery Doud, (St. Louis Public Library). For Best Statement from Librarians who joined ALA at the time of submission: Edna Pearl Moody, (Cleveland Public Library), and Gretchen Conduitte (of Hernando, Mississippi) won. For Best Statement from non-librarian citizens who joined ALA at the time of submission: E. R. Bowen, (Glenview, Illinois), and Mary Carey McAvoy (Worcester Massachusetts) won.

On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the first day of the 1876 conference, the ALA hosted a commemorative celebration in the morning, Drexel Institute of Technology, followed by a luncheon at the Warwick Hotel, and an afternoon tea at the Pennsylvania Historical Society. Invited attendees included representatives from sixty libraries and scientific organizations who attended the 1876 conference. This was organized by the Committee’s Historic Celebration at Philadelphia Subcommittee, chaired by Dr. Harriet D. MacPherson. The 1876 Scrapbook was brought to Philadelphia for the event, and ALA President (1951-1952) Loleta D. Fyan was a speaker.

In the Archives: the 1951 Conference

[1] Executive Board Minutes, September 28 to October 1, 1949, page 17.