Not Tantamount To Rarity: Fifty Years of Collecting

UCLA Collecting History / References | University Librarians | Heads of Special Collections | Curators | Current Curatorial Assignments

Ackerman, Page, interviewee. As luck would have it oral history transcript, 1990-91: Page Ackerman / interviewed by Dale E. Treleven. [Los Angles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1995.

Aroeste, Jean. Engaging the Viewer's Mind. Los Angeles: University of California Library, 1968. Reprinted from Wilson Library Bulletin (1965 June), 1020 - 1026. A history of Ms. Aroeste's experiences as chair of the UCLA Library Exhibitions Committee. Many, but not all, materials were from Special Collections.
Murphy, Franklin D, 1916- , My UCLA chancellorship oral history transcript: an utterly candid view / Franklin D. Murphy; interviewed by James V. Mink, [1973]. [Los Angeles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1976.
Powell, Lawrence Clark, 1906- . Looking back at sixty oral history transcript: recollections of Lawrence Clark Powell, librarian, teacher, and writer / interviewed by James V. Mink, [1969 and 1970] [Los Angeles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1973.
Smith, Wilbur J., interviewee. Collecting rare books and manuscripts for UCLA oral history transcript / Wilbur J. Smith; interviewed by Alan H. Jutzi, [1974] [Los Angeles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1974.
Vosper, Robert Gordon, 1913 - . Books at UCLA: The University of California Library, Los Angeles. [Los Angeles:] UCLA Library, 1961.
Vosper, Robert Gordon, 1913 - , interviewee. Libraries and the inquiring mind oral history transcript, 1990-1991: Robert G. Vosper / interviewed by Dale E. Treleven. [Los Angeles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1994.
Zachary, Claude Ben. A History of the UCLA Library Department of Special Collections: 1945-1971. Thesis (M.L.I.S.) - UCLA, 1998. URL LD 791.8.L5 Z11

Zeitlin, Jake, 1902- , interviewee. Books and the imagination oral history transcript: fifty years of rare books / Jake Zeitlin; interviewed by Joel Gardner, [1978 and 1979] [Los Angeles]: Oral History Program, University of California, Los Angeles, c1980.

John Goodwin (founder of the UCLA Library), 1923 - 1943
Lawrence Clark Powell (founder of the Department of Special Collections). 1944 - 1961
Robert Vosper, 1961 - 1973
Page Ackerman, 1973 - 1977
Russell Shank, 1977 - 1989
Gloria L. Werner, 1989 - present

University Librarian Lawrence Clark Powell founded the Department in 1946 and appointed its first head in 1947.

1947 - 1950

Neal Harlow
Harlow is shown as Los Angeles newspaperman and writer Matt Weinstock gives the manuscript of his book Muscatel at Noon. They seem to be in the first quarters of the Department in what is now the Powell Library Building. Early 1950s

1950 - 1951
Andrew H. Horn
Horn, who would succeed Powell as dean of the Library School, is shown center, with staff member J. Gregg Layne, left, and staff member Ralph Lyon Jr., right. In the exhibits area, Powell Library Building quarters. ca. 1951.

1951 - 1971
Wilbur Jordan Smith
Smith is shown at the podium possibly in Special Collections. Seated is W.W. Robinson, first president, Friends of the UCLA Library. Early 1950s.

1971 - 1973

Everett T. Moore
(not pictured)
Associate University Librarian for Public Service
Acting Department Head

1973 - 1983

James V. Mink
Mink held positions in the Department before being made head. He is shown, standing, with historian Allan Nevins at the Huntington Library. Mink would also be head, Oral History Program, and Nevins was instrumental in developing oral history as a discipline. 1967.

1983 - 1984

Ruth B. Gibbs
(not pictured)
Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services
Acting Department Head

1984 - 1996

David S. Zeidberg
Zeidberg is shown with teachers of the Institute on Primary Resources, looking over materials in the Department's Wilbur Jordan Smith Room. 1993

1996 - 1997

Charlotte B. Brown
(not pictured)
Assistant Department Head and University Archivist
Interim Department Head

1997 - 1999

Susan M. Allen, 1997 - 1999
Allen is shown in the Department's reading room in 1997.

1999 - 2000

Charlotte B. Brown
(not pictured)
Assistant Department Head and University Archivist
Interim Department Head

2000 -

Victoria Steele
The current head of Special Collections is not only a UCLA alumna, but also knows the UCLA library well, having previously held several positions in the library. An art historian, she is a former Fulbright Fellow to the United Kingdom.

The curators of rare books, manuscripts, maps, and photographs have had various titles and sometimes various combined responsibilities.

Mary De Wolfe, 1948 - 1952, curator of collections
Andrew H. Horn, 1948 - 1950, manuscripts
H. Richard Archer, 1952 - 1953, books
Ralph Lyon Jr., 1951 - 1952 and 1953 - 1955, manuscripts, newspapers (and archives)
F. Brooke Whiting, 1957 - 1983, books and literary manuscripts (and assistant head)
Ralph Johnson, 1958 - 1964, rare maps, prints, and graphic arts
Evert Volkerz, 1964 - 1968?, rare maps, prints, and graphic arts
Saundra B. Taylor, 1968 - 1974, historical manuscripts (and archives)
Hilda Bohem, 1969 - 1986, maps, prints, and graphic arts, then also photographs
James G. Davis, 1983 - 1997, literary manuscripts and books, then books

Anne Caiger, 1975 - present, historical manuscripts (and archives), then all manuscripts, maps, and graphic arts and photographs
Charlotte B. Brown, faculty papers (and Assistant Head and University Archivist), 1991 - 2001
University Archivist, 2001 - present
Daniel J. Slive, 1998 - present, books

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1947 - 1950
Neal Harlow Harlow is shown as Los Angeles newspaperman and writer Matt Weinstock gives the manuscript of his book Muscatel at Noon. They seem to be in the first quarters of the Department in what is now the Powell Library Building. Early 1950s

1950 - 1951
	Andrew H. Horn Horn, who would succeed Powell as dean of the Library School, is shown center, with staff member J. Gregg Layne, left, and staff member Ralph Lyon Jr., right. In the exhibits area, Powell Library Building quarters. ca. 1951.

1951 - 1971
	Wilbur Jordan Smith Smith is shown at the podium possibly in Special Collections. Seated is W.W. Robinson, first president, Friends of the UCLA Library. Early 1950s.

1971 - 1973
Everett T. Moore (not pictured) Associate University Librarian for Public Service Acting Department Head

1973 - 1983
	James V. Mink Mink held positions in the Department before being made head. He is shown, standing, with historian Allan Nevins at the Huntington Library. Mink would also be head, Oral History Program, and Nevins was instrumental in developing oral history as a discipline. 1967.

1983 - 1984
Ruth B. Gibbs (not pictured) Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services Acting Department Head

1984 - 1996
	David S. Zeidberg Zeidberg is shown with teachers of the Institute on Primary Resources, looking over materials in the Department's Wilbur Jordan Smith Room. 1993

1996 - 1997
Charlotte B. Brown (not pictured) Assistant Department Head and University Archivist Interim Department Head

1997 - 1999
Susan M. Allen, 1997 - 1999 Allen is shown in the Department's reading room in 1997.

1999 - 2000
Charlotte B. Brown (not pictured) Assistant Department Head and University Archivist Interim Department Head

2000 -
	Victoria Steele The current head of Special Collections is not only a UCLA alumna, but also knows the UCLA library well, having previously held several positions in the library. An art historian, she is a former Fulbright Fellow to the United Kingdom.