Harvard College Library Catalogue Department subject files: Thomas Franklin Currier, 1894-1952
Overview
Thomas Franklin Currier (1873-1946), Harvard A.B. 1894, began his career as an assistant in the Harvard College Library's Catalogue Department in 1894, and was placed in charge of cataloging in 1902. Currier organized the Library catalog in preparation for the opening of Widener Memorial Library in 1915 and continued to refine the classification process throughout his career, uniting the tasks of shelf classification and cataloging. This collection is comprised of correspondence, a card catalog index, rules and documentation, and other material produced or kept by Thomas Franklin Currier as part of the Catalogue Department at the Harvard College Library.
Dates
- Creation: 1894-1952
Creator
- Harvard College Library (Organization)
Researcher Access
The Harvard College Library Catalogue Department subject files: Thomas Franklin Currier are open for research with the following exceptions: Harvard University records pertaining to individuals in this collection are restricted for 80 years from the date of creation. Specific restrictions are noted in the inventory.
Access to fragile original documents may be restricted. Permission of the University Archives is required for photocopying or publishing.
Extent
16.98 cubic feet (45 document boxes, 4 card boxes, 1 pamphlet binder)This collection is comprised of correspondence, a card catalog index, rules and documentation, and other material produced or kept by Thomas Franklin Currier as part of the Catalogue Department at the Harvard College Library. Most dates are approximate, based on Currier's term at Harvard. Material is arranged alphabetically.
Biographical Note
Thomas Franklin Currier (1873-1946), Harvard A.B. 1894, began his career as an assistant in the Harvard College Library's Catalogue Department in 1894, and was placed in charge of cataloging in 1902. Currier organized the Library catalog in preparation for the opening of Widener Memorial Library in 1915 and continued to refine the classification process throughout his career, uniting the tasks of shelf classification and cataloging. In 1913 he was appointed Assistant Librarian, and in 1937 he was named Associate Librarian, a position which he held until his retirement in 1940.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in three series according to previously grouped records (superseded call numbers noted below). Files are arranged alphabetically within series.
- Subject files, [1894-1940]
- Index to correspondence file, [1894-1940]
- Cataloging Rules, 1914-1952
Acquisition information
The documents in this collection are University records and were presumably acquired in the course of University business.
Separated Materials
In the Harvard University Archives:
- "Permanent file" - letters to which reference is made in the Official Catalogue (UAIII 50.8.113.2.1)
- T.F. Currier General files:
- ___1913-1925 (UAIII 50.8.113.2.2)
- ___1926-1935 (UAIII 50.8.113.2.3)
- ___1935-1939 (UAIII 50.8.113.2.4)
- Departmental correspondence and papers, 1937-1952 (chiefly 1939-1945) (A-Z) (UAIII 50.8.113.3.3)
- Index to the correspondence of T.F. Currier (on cards) (UAIII 50.8.113.3.4)
- Correspondence with Harvard classes about publications of members. Classes of 1894-97. (UAIII 50.8.113.3.5)
- Special gifts correspondence, c. 1922-1946 (A-Z) (UAIII 50.8.113.3.6)
- Correspondence regarding jobs in the Library, 1918-29, 1930-1946 (UAIII 50.8.113.3.7)
- Correspondence with staff members, 1929-1946 A-L, M-Z (UAIII 50.8.113.3.8)
References
- Bentick-Smith, William. Building a Great Library: The Coolidge Years at Harvard. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1976.
- Carpenter, Kenneth E. The First 350 Years of the Harvard University Library: Description of an Exhibition. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2016 July 1.
General note
People
- Currier, Thomas Franklin, 1873-1946.
General note
Groups
- Harvard College Library.
General note
Topics
- Academic librarians.
- Academic libraries--Massachusetts--Cambridge.
- Cataloging.
- Classification.
- Harvard University--Libraries.
- Library employees.
- Universities and colleges--Libraries.
General note
Places
- Cambridge (Mass.)
General note
Formats and genres
- Administrative records.
- Catalog cards.
- Correspondence.
Processing Information
The processing of this material involved a survey of legacy data about this collection; intellectual arrangement, including integration of two child collections (see superseded call numbers); and the creation of this finding aid. Material was not examined. Titles transcribed by the archivist from legacy data.
This finding aid was created by Leah Edelman in June 2016.
Preservation and description of the Harvard College Library Catalogue Department subject files: Thomas Franklin Currier was supported by the Harvard Library's Hidden Collections initiative.
Creator
- Harvard College Library (Organization)
- Title
- Harvard College Library. Harvard College Library Catalogue Department subject files: Thomas Franklin Currier, 1894-1952: an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua30016
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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Cambridge MA 02138 USA
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archives_reference@harvard.edu