Indiana University Libraries Director's records, 1932-1977, bulk
1950-1970
A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Allison Haack
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Indiana University.
Libraries.
TitleIndiana University Libraries Director's
records, 1932-1977, bulk
1950-1970
Collection No.
C540
Extent
6.2 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
Robert A. Miller served as the Director
of Libraries at Indiana University from March 1942 to August 1972. Under his
administration, the Lilly Library and Main Library [now Herman B Wells Library] were
built. Miller had a significant impact upon the design of both libraries, completely
designing the interior of the Lilly. The collection consists of administrative
records and correspondence related to Miller's tenure as director.
Access Restrictions
Select files are closed to researchers. These are indicated in the folder list.
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Biographical Note/Administrative History
The library has long been an important institution at Indiana University, with
Theophilus A. Wylie served as the first librarian of the university. It was located
within the classroom buildings, Wylie Hall, and Maxwell Hall before the Main Library
was opened in 1969 in order to meet the growing needs of students, staff, and
faculty at the Bloomington campus. The library was originally built to house
2,600,00 volumes. In 2005, the library was renamed the Herman B Wells Library to
honor the long-time support and dedication of IU president and chancellor Herman B
Wells to the library. The Wells Library, however, is only one entry point to an
entire system. Indiana University is home to eight campuses, including Bloomington,
all of which who's materials can be accessed by IU faculty, students, and residents
of the state of Indiana alike.
Robert A. Miller was born on April 19, 1907 in Elk Horn, Iowa. He earned his B.A.
from the University of Iowa in 1929 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then
attended the Columbia University School of Library Service as a Lydia Roberts
Fellow, earning his B.S. in 1930. Beginning in 1934 he attended the Graduate Library
School at the University of Chicago as an American Library Association Fellow. He
earned his Ph.D. in 1936.
Before coming to Indiana University, Miller had experience in several library
positions. During his undergraduate education, he worked as an administrative
assistant in the libraries at the University of Iowa. After his graduation from
Columbia University, he worked as a classifier at the New York Public Library. From
1931-1936, he again worked at the University of Iowa libraries, this time as a
supervisor of departmental libraries (the last two years he was on leave while he
earned his Ph.D). Upon competition of his Ph.D. in 1936, Miller became an assistant
librarian at the University of Nebraska. The next year he was appointed Director of
Libraries at the University of Nebraska. Starting on March 1st of 1942 Miller became
the library director at Indiana University. He served in this position until his
retirement in August of 1972.
Miller is credited with creating the structure for the Indiana University Libraries
system that exists today. He was responsible for the interior design and space
arrangements of the Lilly Library on the Bloomington campus. He was also responsible
for working closely with architects and building planners to design the Main
Library, now named the Herman B Wells Library.
Outside of his professional duties at IU, Miller was actively involved in the library
profession. In 1944, Miller was asked to serve as chief consultant for a program of
aid to the libraries of Europe which had been destroyed or damaged during World War
II. The consulting job was undertaken within the division of cultural affairs under
the U.S. State Department. For the year 1948, Miller served as the president of the
Indiana Library Association. Miller spent one year teaching in the Library School
and officially retired from the University on June 15, 1973.
He passed away in Santa Barbara, California, on March 11, 1989. In a memorial
resolution from October 1989, the Bloomington Faculty Campus described Robert A.
Miller as "without exaggeration...the first modern
librarian to serve Indiana University."
Arrangement
Collection is organized into two series: Administrative files and Correspondence.
Scope and Content Note
The collection is organized into two series, Administrative files and Correspondence.
A few items date from the tenure of William Alexander, the previous director, and
account for the extended date ranges. The bulk of the materials are from 1950 to
1970.
The Administrative files series, 1942-1977, consists of files related to the
administration and functioning of the Indiana University Libraries. Included is
information related to committees, alumni trustees, various library departments such
as circulation and Slavic studies, buildings, regional campuses, equipment, and
library issues such as copyright. Of interest are materials about other university
libraries which relate to the building of the Main Library [now Herman B Wells
Library].
The Correspondence series spans 1932-1971 and is made up of correspondence between
Robert A. Miller and various library professionals and Indiana University professors
and administrators. A large portion of the correspondence is between Miller and the
Indiana University librarians. Correspondence is organized alphabetically.
-
Indexing Terms
-
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries'
online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by
searching the catalog using these terms.
-
-
Separated Material
Library photographs pulled from Box 3. Contact the Archives Photographs Curator for
additional information.
Related Material
Additional records such as newsletters, annual reports, bulletins, and publications
may be accessed in the
Archives of Institutional Memory
Related photographs may be available in the
University Archives
Photographs Database
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
97/050
Usage RestrictionsCopyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by
the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for
non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility
for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials.
Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these
materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.
Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational
and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its
inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Indiana University Libraries Director's records, Collection C540, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
Transferred from the Lilly Library to the University Archives, July 2 and
September 12, 1997.
Processing InformationProcessed by Allison Haack.
Completed in 2014.
Folder List
Series:
Box 1
Administrative files,1942-1977,
undated
Academic Departments Statements, Received Prior to Drawing Plans,
1962-1968
Academic Review, 1964
Admissions Policy, 1960
Alumni Trustee Election,
1942-1943
1943-1948
1948-1949
1949-1951
1952
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
American Camping Association, 1956-1960
Archives Committee, 1944-1945
Area Program on Stack Floors – Documents Relating to Library
Committee Decision, 1966-1967
Artwork in Library, 1970-1972
Automation, Tech, 1970-1972
Block Gift, 1958
Book Collectors, 1951-1952
Book Sale, 1950
Building Budget, Etc., 1963-1977
Bulliet, C.J., deceased, Art Collection, 1953-1954
Bureau of Institutional Research, 1932-1977
Burns Collection (James Whitcomb Riley), 1946
Catalog Department, 1942-1950
Circulation Department, An Analysis of and Recommendations for
the Main Library Circulation Department, 1962
Circulation Department, 1962-1967
Collector's Luncheon, June 20,
1947
College, Community College, Library Resource Centers, 1971
Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), 1963-1964
Committee to Identify, Collect, and Preserve Historical Objects,
1963
Computers, Technology, Etc., 1971-1972
Copyright,
1945-1963
1962
Dean of Faculties, 1967
Deans' Council, 1966
Departmental Libraries, 1944-1961
Documents Department, 1962-1966
Dormitory Libraries, 1958
Dorson, Richard M. Folklore, 1960-1961
Ellison Books, 1946-1951
English Biographer, 1962
Equipment not Ordered, 1970
Essential Information on the University Libraries, 1967
Exchanges, 195
Faculty, New, 1961-1962
Finance, Costs, Budgets, (Program), Etc., 1959-1969
Fire - Losses,
February 17, 1969
May 1, 1969
Fire Instructions, undated
Fires – Final Claim, 1969-1970
Ford Proposal (Old), undated
Ford Foundation (Buehrig), 1961-1962
Fort Wayne Extension Library, 1961
Geology Library, 1963
Gifts,
(Restricted)
General,
1946-1949
1950-1956
Report Forms, 1944-1945
Great Books, 1948-1949
Greenly Collection, 1956
Higher Education, 1970-1972
Higher Education Bill (H.R. 3220), 1965
Honors Reading Room, 1961-1962
Hospital Library, 1943-1946
Human Relations Area Files, 1956-1959
IBM School, April
1967
Indiana Library Association, 1965
Box 2
Indiana Library Buildings, 1932-1977
Indiana Newspapers, 1942-1943
International Activities – Crabbs, 1965
Introduction, undated
Kokomo Tribune, 1950-1952
Kress Duplicates, 1944-1946
Latin America Library Materials, 1960-1967
Law Library,
1957
1963-1968
Lending Code, undateds
Library Building,
General,
1948-1950
1957
July 1950
1951-1952
1954-1955
1957-1958
Stack Addition,
1954-1956
1956
Storage, 1961
Miscellaneous, 1970-1972
Library Buildings,
John Hopkins, 1963
Miami (FLA), undated
Michigan UGL, undated
Northwestern, 1964
Notre Dame, 1964
Oregon State, Corvallis, 1962-1963
St. Louis, 1959
UCLA, 1961-1964
Washington University, undated
Yale, Beineke, 1964
Library Committee,
General,
1942-1959
1942-1943
1943-1944
1951-1952
1952-1953
1953-1954
1954-1955
1955-1956
1956-1957
1958-1959
1959-1960
1960-1961
1961-1962
1962-1963
Meetings,
1944-1945
1945-1946
1947-1948
Box 3
1948-1949
1949-1950
1950-1951
1957-1958
June 12, 1958
Reorganization, October 20,
1958
Policies and Actions, 1969
Library Council, 1951-1952
Library Dedication, 1970
Library Hours,
1962-1968
1969
Library Photos
(Transferred to Archives Photo Collection)
Library Review and Planning Committee,
Documents, 1961-1962
Library Science Committee, 1965
Library Security, 1969
Library Staff Publications, 1961
Library School Plans, Rufsvold - Sealock, 1946-1947
Library Studies,
First Semester, 1961-1962
Second Semester, 1962
Summer, 1962
Fall, 1962
Second Semester, 1962-1963
Lilly Endowment,
1950-1956
1957-1958
Lilly release and congratulations, 1956-1957
Lowell Courses, 1970-1971
Magazines, Little, 1954-1955
Management - Library, 1970-1971
Management - Manager, 1969
Management - Participation, 1970-1973
Manuscripts - Policy, 1952
Medical Library,
Indianapolis, 1958-1968
Reports, 1942-1944
Memorabilia Committee, 1963
Midwestern Research Institutions, 1943
Midwest Universities Consortium, 1969-1970
Miller - Sabbatical Leave, 1966
Box 4
Miscellaneous Library Buildings,
General,
1956-1966
1959-1964
1960-1964
1963
1963-1964
1965-1966
1969-1972
Brown, 1964
Conveyors, 1964
Cornell, 1961-1964
Harvard - Lamont, 1964-1967
Moriarty Library Trends Article, 1965
Library Referral Center for Science and Technology, 1965
New Harmony Memorial Commission, 1945
Newspapers, 1962-1964
Notre Dame Library, 1965
Oral History Research Project, 1953-1955
Order Department,
General, 1970
Ryan, 1962
Organization Pattern Charts, 1969-197_
Personnel, 1972
Planning, undated
Policy and Procedure, undated
Poole Collection, 1958
Reference Department, 1962-1963
Regional Campuses, 1962-1968
Regional - Southeast - Building, 1968
Research, 1968-1972
Russian and East European Institute, 1962-1963
Rutgers Course, 1959
Safety, 1962-1968
Seats, 1962-1967
Self-Study,
Final Report, 1965
Questionnaire, 1965
Slavic Room, 1965
Slavic Studies, Joint Committee On, 1950-1956
Smoking, 1962-1968
Somat, undated
Swiggett-Bain Collections, 1944-1961
University Library Committee Meeting, November 20,
1969-August 1970
University Library Committee, 1968-1971
Box 5
University-Wdie Library Committee, 1971
Washington Article, 1961
Series:
Box 5
Correspondence, 1932-1971
A, 1962-1968
Ashford, Douglas E., 1961-1962
Ashton, J.W. - Vice President and Dean of Students and Education
Services, 1954-1963
Armour, Gordon C. - Study of Circulation Department, 1962
B, 1962-1968
Bain, W.C. - School of Music, 1948-1962
Banta, R.E., 1949-1962
Barber, C.L. - English Chairman, 1962
Barber, C.L. - English Chairman, 1953-1961
Black, C.J.,
General, 1960-1961
Sales and Credits, 1960-1962
Purchasing,
1953-1954
1957-1960
1954-1957
Purchasing Agent, 1951-1952
Blackwell, Basil H. 1946
Borski, Lucia M. (Mrs.) - Analyst for Slavic Department,
1960
Braden, Samuel E. - Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate
Development, 1960-1961
Brooks, Howell, H. - Director of Physical Plant, 1959-1963
Brown, Malcom H., 1961-1962
Briscoe, H.T. - Vice President and Dean of Faculties, 1957-1958
Buehrig, Edward H. - Advisory Committee on International Studies,
1964
Byrnes, Robert, 1962-1968
Carr, James W. - James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association,
1947-1952
Cheremeteff, Serge, 1959-1960
Clark, Harry, 1966
Colburn, H. Trevor, 1960
Collins, Dr. Ralph L. - Dean of Faculties, 1960-1963
Collins, Ralph L. - Dean of Faculties, and Lynne Merrit,
1964
Correspondence, 1969-1972
Dawson, William & Sons, Ltd, England, 1956
Deam, Charles C., 1944
Derge, David R., 1968
E, 1962-1968
Edgerton, William B., Slavic Languages and Literature, 1959-1967
Epstein, Fritz T., Slavic, 1962-1967
Evans, Henry, The Peregrine Press, 1961-1962
Ewers, Joseph R., Assistant to President, 1962-1966
Field, Bernice, 1971
Fischel, H.A., Asian Studies, 1963
Franklin, J.A., Vice-President and Treasurer, 1948-1967
Good, Lara P., 1960
Gull, C.D., 1964-1967
Gunderson, R.G., 1962-1963
Hamm, Joseph J., Professor, 1962
Hammer, Darrell P., 1960-1962
Heffner, Hubert G., Speech and Theatre, 1963
Hicks, John W., 1961-1962
Higgins, Smith - University Extensions,
1960-1962
1963
Hill, Norman Mitchell, 1952
Hlavaty, Vaclav, Society for Art and Science, 1958
Horecky, Paul L., Did not accept position, 1961-1962
I, 1962-1968
Ivanusic, Milutin, Belgrade, 1961-1962
J, 1962-1968
Joensuu, Fil. Maist. Vaino, 1959-1962
Kaplan, G.M., Paris, France, 1960
Kelemen, Pal, 1970-1973
Khurshid, M.A. and Usmani, 1962
Box 6
L, 1962-1968
Library News-letter, 1949
Liebenow, J. Gus, 1963
Lowell, Mildred (Mrs.), Theses on Library, 1953
Luther, Frederick, 1961-1962
M, 1962-1968
McClain, George, 1961-1962
McClarren, Robert R., Director, Indiana State Library, 1963-1964
McClung, Leland S., 1960
Matthew, Alverta White (Mrs.), 1956
Meyer, Heinrich, 1962-1963
N, 1962-1968
Nelson, Alice (Mrs.), 1962
Noyes, Russell, B.B. Library, 1951-1960
Moore, Professor John Robert, Letters, 1945-1946
O, 1962-1968
Oinas, Felix J. and Lisbeth, 1961-1962
P, 1962-1968
Perlstein, Israel, 1962
Perry, Bernard B., University Press, 1954-1960
Priest, Robert M., Purchasing, 1962-1963
Q, 1962-1968
R, 1962-1968
Randall, David, 1960
Randall, T.E., Assistant Treasurer, 1960-1963
Rauch, John G., 1956-1957
Reed, F.T., Secretary Board of Trustees, 1950-1962
Rugenstein, John C., Kin Hubbard Collection, 1957-1960
Russell, John Dale, 1962
S, 1962-1968
Sebeok, Thomas A., 1955-1962
Shane, Harold G., School of Education, 1962
Shields, Margaret C., 1947
Sinor, Denis, 1960-1963
Smith, H.L., 1932-1944
Soulis, George C., History, 1961-1962
Stahr, Elvis J., Jr., President, 1963-1964
Statement of Program for all Undergraduate Library at Indiana
University, 1952
Stevens, Robert D., Library of Congress, 1962
Strauss, Gerald, 1962
Swayzee, Cleon, 1954-1960
T, 1962-1968
Teng, S.Y., History, 1951-1961
Terman, Howard D., 1959-1962
Thomson, S. Harrison, 1967
Tobenkin, Paul - Slavic Collection, 1958
Todd, Albert C. - Slavic, 1962-1963
U, 1962-1967
V, 1962-1968
Vatikiotis, P.J. - Cairo, Egypt, 1962
W, 1964-1968
Wallace, Leon, School of Law, 1951-1956
Wallace, Lew, 1955
War of 1812 materials, 1955
Wakins Wordsworth and Coleridge Library, 1942-1944
Wells,
1942-1944
1945-1949
1949-1950
1950-1951
1951-1954
1954-1957
1957-1960
Williams, Lloyd T., 1956-1959
Work, James T., 1951-1960
Wylie Collection, 1940-1945
XYZ, 1962-1968
Restricted Files
Items online
