Dean of University Libraries Records, 1905-2011

            The Martha Blakney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives invites researchers to come learn about the unique and extensive history of the library at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) by looking through the recently processed records of the Dean of University Libraries.  The history of the first library at the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG) began in 1892 and was confined to one small room in the Main building (now the Foust building). The collection of the library was relatively small, consisting of only several hundred books. Over the next century, the library would grow dramatically in to a collection of over 1 million volumes.  During this time, the library would also transition from a one room operation to a large nine story building.

Jackson Library, 1988

One of the best ways to learn more about the library’s history is reading through official records of the Dean which reflects their duties as the senior administrative officer of the libraries on campus. These records contain material related to a variety of topics including, but not limited to, annual reports, budgets, collection management, computer technology, construction, donations and gifts, equipment, faculty affairs, correspondence with other academic departments on campus, statistics, and students. In addition, there is correspondence to and from the Dean to various departments within the library as well as correspondence with the Provost and outside community. There is also a considerable amount of material related to committees operated within the library and the ones the Dean sat on as part of their university responsibilities. Materials related to the Friends of the Library are also included in the collection. Formats include correspondence, memorandums, minutes, notes, publications, and reports.

More information about the collection can be found though the collection’s finding aid at: https://libapps.uncg.edu/archon/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=490

The Martha Blakney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives is open Monday through Friday, 9am until 5pm.  The collection is open to the public.  We encourage researchers to make appointments ahead of time by contacting us at 336-334-5246 or at SCUA@uncg.edu.