Foster E. Mohrhardt
Encyclopedia
Foster E. Mohrhardt was a United States librarian
. He had a long an illustrious career in library and information science as a scholar, organizer and diplomat, and was listed by American Libraries
among "100 Leaders we had in the 20th Century".
in 1929 while working as an assistant to the University Librarian. He then earned a B.S. Degree in 1930 from Columbia University
and subsequently received a diploma from the University of Munich in 1932. He completed his M.A. in 1933 at the University of Michigan
and was enrolled in the Ph.d program at Columbia University in 1934–35.
from 1935 to 1937. During this time he traveled the country extensively meeting various school representatives of junior college libraries with the purpose of compiling a list of books for junior colleges. His compilation was published as List of Books for Junior College Libraries by the American Library Association
(ALA) in 1937.
From 1938 to 1946 he served as Librarian of Washington and Lee University
. During his tenure there he was responsible for completing renovations to the Library building as well as developing special collections.
was interested in protecting some of their more valuable collections and Mohrhardt offered surplus space available at Washington and Lee University for this purpose. Mohrhardt also performed his military service during this time; serving in both the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Navy.
In 1946 he served as chief of the Library and Reports Division, Office of Technical Services. This agency was responsible for collecting, disseminating, and indexing various civiliam and military documents and evaluating their use in the public and private sector.
and visiting professor at Columbia University from 1947 to 1948. His activities at Brookhaven National Laboratory are unknown due to a lack of records. While at Columbia University, Mohrhardt taught courses in library management and collection development until autumn 1948 when he returned to federal service.
Mohrhardt served as director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library until his retirement from federal service in 1968. During his time there he helped accomplish the redesignation of the USDA Library to the National Agricultural Library, remarking that it had been a truly national library since its inception. Ever the organizer, Mohrhardt also set about reorganizing and streamlining the administration. He placed the functions of the library into four categories: Public Services, Technical Services, Field and Special Services, and Management Services. He then used these changes to facilitate coordination with various national and international agricultural libraries.
, 1966, President of ALA, 1967-68, Vice President of the International Federation of Library Associations, 1965-71, President of the National Federation of Science Abstracting and Indexing Services
, 1964-65, and chairman of the U.S. National Commission for FID in 1965. His work with these associations, particularly the International Federation of Library Associations, demonstrated his reputation as an international diplomat. This can be characterized by one incident that occurred during a board meeting when an Eastern-bloc representative became distraught at the course of dialogue. Mohrhardt reportedly left the room and returned with a flower for the woman and was able to defuse the tense situation with his charm.
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
. He had a long an illustrious career in library and information science as a scholar, organizer and diplomat, and was listed by American Libraries
American Libraries
American Libraries is the official news and features magazine of the American Library Association. Published six times per year, along with four additional digital-only supplements, it is distributed to all members of the organization...
among "100 Leaders we had in the 20th Century".
Birth and education
Mohrhardt was born in Lansing, Michigan, on March 7, 1907, to Albert Mohrhardt and Alice (Bennet) Mohrhardt. He earned his A.B. degree from Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1929 while working as an assistant to the University Librarian. He then earned a B.S. Degree in 1930 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and subsequently received a diploma from the University of Munich in 1932. He completed his M.A. in 1933 at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and was enrolled in the Ph.d program at Columbia University in 1934–35.
Early career
Upon completing his formal education, Mohrhardt worked with William Bishop on an advisory group on junior college libraries for the Carnegie Corporation of New YorkCarnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
from 1935 to 1937. During this time he traveled the country extensively meeting various school representatives of junior college libraries with the purpose of compiling a list of books for junior colleges. His compilation was published as List of Books for Junior College Libraries by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
(ALA) in 1937.
From 1938 to 1946 he served as Librarian of Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
. During his tenure there he was responsible for completing renovations to the Library building as well as developing special collections.
Military career
In December 1941 the U.S. was drawn into World War II. During this time the Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
was interested in protecting some of their more valuable collections and Mohrhardt offered surplus space available at Washington and Lee University for this purpose. Mohrhardt also performed his military service during this time; serving in both the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Navy.
In 1946 he served as chief of the Library and Reports Division, Office of Technical Services. This agency was responsible for collecting, disseminating, and indexing various civiliam and military documents and evaluating their use in the public and private sector.
Teaching librarianship
Mohrhardt then simultaneously served as a consultant at Brookhaven National LaboratoryBrookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base...
and visiting professor at Columbia University from 1947 to 1948. His activities at Brookhaven National Laboratory are unknown due to a lack of records. While at Columbia University, Mohrhardt taught courses in library management and collection development until autumn 1948 when he returned to federal service.
Library directorships
Arriving at the Library Services for the Veteran's Administration, Mohrhardt worked as assistant director briefly until taking over as director. From 1948 to 1954 his responsibilities included 450 collections located domestically and overseas. He established a reputation for skillfully organizing and streamlining the procurement and cataloguing systems that endeared him for assignment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library.Mohrhardt served as director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library until his retirement from federal service in 1968. During his time there he helped accomplish the redesignation of the USDA Library to the National Agricultural Library, remarking that it had been a truly national library since its inception. Ever the organizer, Mohrhardt also set about reorganizing and streamlining the administration. He placed the functions of the library into four categories: Public Services, Technical Services, Field and Special Services, and Management Services. He then used these changes to facilitate coordination with various national and international agricultural libraries.
Associations
During Mohrhart's time at the National Agricultural Library he was also active in numerous associations and commissions. Some positions he held included President of Association of Research LibrariesAssociation of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries is an organization of the leading research libraries in North America. As of October 2006, it comprises 123 libraries at comprehensive, research-intensive institutions in the US and Canada that share similar missions, aspirations, and achievements...
, 1966, President of ALA, 1967-68, Vice President of the International Federation of Library Associations, 1965-71, President of the National Federation of Science Abstracting and Indexing Services
NFAIS
National Federation of Advanced Information Services is a United States non-profit institutional membership organization of content and technology providers, specifically those that support the authoritative information needs and activities of professionals across a spectrum of scholarly...
, 1964-65, and chairman of the U.S. National Commission for FID in 1965. His work with these associations, particularly the International Federation of Library Associations, demonstrated his reputation as an international diplomat. This can be characterized by one incident that occurred during a board meeting when an Eastern-bloc representative became distraught at the course of dialogue. Mohrhardt reportedly left the room and returned with a flower for the woman and was able to defuse the tense situation with his charm.