Theresa Elmendorf
Encyclopedia
Theresa West Elmendorf was a prominent American
librarian of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
, and raised in Milwaukee
after the family moved there in 1861. She had three siblings. After attending Milwaukee public schools, she went to a higher education school for girls, graduating in 1874.
, working her way up to deputy librarian in 1880 and finally head librarian in 1892.
In 1896, at age 41, Elmendorf resigned her position to marry Henry Livingston Elmendorf. He was librarian of the public library in St. Joseph, Missouri, and vice-president of the American Library Association
. Henry Elmendorf soon took a position in Buffalo, New York
, as the librarian of the Buffalo Public Library, where he worked until his death nine years later.
During these nine years Theresa Elmendorf acted as his silent partner and was an administrative advisor. She worked on many library programs, including the Buffalo Plan, a program to help the city schools with library services, and the Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library. Most notable in this collection was Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn manuscript. She was also editor in 1904 for the American Library Association's Catalogue of Books for Small Libraries and an author of Classroom Libraries for Public Schools.
Elmendorf became president of the New York Library Association
in 1903 and 1904. When her husband died in 1906, the board of trustees of the Buffalo Public Library made Elmendorf vice-librarian, a position she held for the next 20 years. In 1911 she was elected president of the American Library Association, the first woman ever to be nominated for this position. She was in this position from May 24, 1911, to July 2, 1912.
selected Elmendorf for its Library Hall of Fame.
Mary E. Hazeltine of the University of Wisconsin Library System wrote of Elmendorf, "Many librarians in important positions today have carried on because she awakened their appreciation of books and opened up for them insight into new realms. She was a stimulating guide and a vitalizing teacher, as well as a great librarian."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
librarian of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
Early life
Elmendorf was born in 1855 in Pardeeville, WisconsinPardeeville, Wisconsin
Pardeeville is a village in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,982 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Pardeeville is located at ....
, and raised in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
after the family moved there in 1861. She had three siblings. After attending Milwaukee public schools, she went to a higher education school for girls, graduating in 1874.
Career
Elmendorf began her library career in 1877 working for the Young Men's Association of Milwaukee. To develop a basic knowledge of library theory and practice, she read the 1876 report of the U.S. Bureau of Education, Public Libraries in the United States of America. About 1878 she started working at the Milwaukee Public LibraryMilwaukee Public Library
Milwaukee Public Library is the public library system in Milwaukee, Wisconsin consisting of a central library and 12 branches, all part of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System...
, working her way up to deputy librarian in 1880 and finally head librarian in 1892.
In 1896, at age 41, Elmendorf resigned her position to marry Henry Livingston Elmendorf. He was librarian of the public library in St. Joseph, Missouri, and vice-president of 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....
. Henry Elmendorf soon took a position in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, as the librarian of the Buffalo Public Library, where he worked until his death nine years later.
During these nine years Theresa Elmendorf acted as his silent partner and was an administrative advisor. She worked on many library programs, including the Buffalo Plan, a program to help the city schools with library services, and the Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library. Most notable in this collection was Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn manuscript. She was also editor in 1904 for the American Library Association's Catalogue of Books for Small Libraries and an author of Classroom Libraries for Public Schools.
Elmendorf became president of the New York Library Association
New York Library Association
The New York Library Association was founded in 1890 to promote New York libraries. NYLA was the first state-wide organization of librarians in the United States. One of its founders was Melvil Dewey, who has had a lasting impact on libraries in the United States...
in 1903 and 1904. When her husband died in 1906, the board of trustees of the Buffalo Public Library made Elmendorf vice-librarian, a position she held for the next 20 years. In 1911 she was elected president of the American Library Association, the first woman ever to be nominated for this position. She was in this position from May 24, 1911, to July 2, 1912.
Later life and death
Elmendorf retired in 1926. After this she wrote, edited and published many bibliographies and reading lists, including some specifically on poets and poetry. She worked on these until her death in 1932. In 1951 the Library JournalLibrary Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
selected Elmendorf for its Library Hall of Fame.
Mary E. Hazeltine of the University of Wisconsin Library System wrote of Elmendorf, "Many librarians in important positions today have carried on because she awakened their appreciation of books and opened up for them insight into new realms. She was a stimulating guide and a vitalizing teacher, as well as a great librarian."