Preliminary Inventory to the American Library Association War Service records

Finding aid prepared by Revised by Diana Kohnke
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 1999, 2006
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu


Title: American Library Association War Service records
Date (inclusive): 1917-1923
Collection Number: 73025
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 1 manuscript box, 33 envelopes (3.7 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Photographs, postcards, blueprints, insignia, and reports, relating to the work of the American Library Association War Service in providing library buildings, books, and librarians, for American military servicemen in the United States and overseas during World War I.
Creator: American Library Association. Library War Service
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], American Library Association War Service records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Historical Note

In June 1917, shortly after the United States entered into World War I, the American Library Association (ALA) convened a War Service Committee to distribute library materials to American soldiers. This committee oversaw what was to become known as the Library War Service program. Under the leadership of Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam, the program effectively demonstrated the importance of ALA membership, while at the same time showing the value of collaboration with other military and welfare agencies, such as the YMCA, YWCA, and the Red Cross. Moreover, it successfully raised more than five million dollars in public donations, as well as securing Carnegie Corporation funds. With these funds and donations, the Library War Service program established thirty-six camp libraries, distributed approximately ten million books and magazines, and sponsored 1,100 library workers for the war effort.
The ALA's war work had lasting legacies: the formation of the American Library in Paris, the establishment of the American Merchant Marine Library Association, the garnering of greater concern with international library development, and the assimilation of the wartime programs by the military departments and other government agencies. Additionally, the Library War Service instituted new library services, such as Braille text and books by mail.
After World War I, the program continued to operate under the auspices of the Enlarged Program, which focused on three areas: (1) continuation of war-related activity, (2) constitutional revision, and (3) new programs, which included increased expenditures for publicity, promotion of higher salaries for librarians, initiation of special services to immigrants, and creation of a board to set standards for library schools. The Enlarged Program never fully came to fruition; however, the ALA made inroads for the library profession as a whole during this period, particularly in terms of its visibility.
The ALA was founded in Philadelphia in 1876, and later chartered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was established to promote the profession of librarianship, to improve library and information services, and, more generally, to enhance learning and access to information for all people. The ALA is comprised of an elected council, which makes policies, and an executive board, which enforces policies. In addition, the ALA functions through a network of affiliates, chapters, and other organizations, such as the Merritt Humanitarian Fund, the National Forum on Information Literacy, and the Sister Libraries.

Scope and Content of Collection

Photographs, postcards, blueprints, insignia, and reports, relating to the work of the American Library Association War Service in providing library buildings, books, and librarians, for American military servicemen in the United States and overseas during World War I.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War, 1914-1918 -- United States
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work
Libraries
United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces

box 1

Miscellany

Scope and Contents note

Information sheet; plans for book carrying case, book truck, and book unit for military purposes; specifications for library buildings; list of picture files; ALA logo artwork; and other material.
 

Photographs: List of military camps and hospitals represented

 

I. Military Camps and Camp Locations in the United States

envelope A-K

Cody, N.M.

envelope A-K

Quantico, Va.

envelope A-K

Cambridge, Mass.

envelope A-K

Newport, R.I.

envelope A-K

Pelham Bay, N.Y.

envelope A-K

Norfolk, Va.

envelope A-K

Great Lakes, Ill.

envelope A-K

Atlanta, Georgia

envelope A-K

Newport News, Va.

envelope A-K

Jackson, S.C.

envelope A-K

Linda Vista, Cal.

envelope A-K

Kelly Field, Tex.

envelope A-K

Camp Lee, Va.

envelope A-K

Camp Lewis, Wash.

envelope A-K

Ft. Bliss, Tex.

envelope A-K

Beauregard, La.

envelope A-K

Camp Bowie, Tex.

envelope A-K

Camp Custer, Mich.

envelope A-K

Camp Devens, Mass.

envelope A-K

Camp Dix, N.Y.

envelope A-K

Camp Dodge, Iowa

envelope A-K

Eagle Pass, Tex.

envelope A-K

Edgewood, Md.

envelope A-K

Camp Eustis, Va.

envelope A-K

Camp Hancock, Ga.

envelope A-K

Camp Funston, Kansas

envelope A-K

Camp Greene, N.C.

envelope A-K

Camp Grant, Ill.

envelope A-K

Camp Gordon, Ga.

envelope A-K

Ft. Greble, R.I.

envelope A-K

Ft. Benjamin Harrison

envelope A-K

Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

envelope A-K

Camp Johnston, Fla.

envelope A-K

Ft. Myer, Va.

envelope A-K

Ft. MacArthur, Tex.

envelope A-K

Ft. McClellan, Tex.

envelope A-K

Camp Mead, Md.

envelope A-K

Camp Mills, N.Y.

envelope A-K

Chickamauga Park, Ga.

envelope A-K

Ft. Oglethorpe, Tenn.

envelope A-K

Paris Island, S.C.

envelope A-K

Camp Perry, Ill.

envelope A-K

Camp Pike, Ark.

envelope A-K

Plattsburg

envelope A-K

Richfield, Tex.

envelope A-K

Camp Sevier, S.C.

envelope A-K

Camp Shelby, Miss.

envelope A-K

Camp Sheridan, Ala.

envelope A-K

Camp Sherman, Ohio

envelope A-K

Camp Doniphan, Okla.

envelope A-K

Syracuse, N.Y.

envelope A-K

Camp Taylor, Ky.

envelope A-K

Ft. Thomas

envelope A-K

Camp Travis, Tex.

envelope A-K

Camp Upton, N.Y.

envelope A-K

Vancouver Barracks, Wash.

envelope A-K

Camp Wadsworth, S.C.

envelope A-K

Spruce Camp, Wash.

envelope A-K

Ft. Weatherhill, R.I.

envelope A-K

Camp Wheeler, Ga.

envelope A-K

Camp Logan, Tex.

 

II. Military and Other Hospitals in the United States

envelope L-Q

St. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Insane, Washington, D.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Embarkation Hospital, Newport News, Va.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Lakewood, N.J.

envelope L-Q

Sioux City, Iowa Public Library Service

envelope L-Q

State Hospital for the Insane, Ingleside, Neb.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Debarkation Hospital, Hampton Roads, Va.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Greenville, S.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Debarkation Hospital, Grand Central Palace, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp MacArthur, Waco, Tex.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Logan, Tex.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Jackson, S.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Devens, Mass.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Dix, N.J.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Dodge, Iowa

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. McPherson, Ga.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Rahway, N.J.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Carlisle, Pa.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Dansville, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Detroit, Mich.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Denver, Colo.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Biltmore, N.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Greene, N.C.

envelope L-Q

New York Debarkation Hospital, N.Y.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Grant, Ill.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Marine Hospital, Stapleton, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Vancouver Barracks, Wash.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital (Walther Reed), Washington, D.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital (Letterman), San Francisco, Calif.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Ft. Riley, Kansas

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Ft. Sam Houston, Tex.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. Sheridan, Ill.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. Snelling, Minn.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Bronx, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

Parker Hill Hospital, Boston, Mass.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Otisville, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Oteen, N.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Naval War College Hospital, Newport, R.I.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, National Soldiers' Home, Va.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, Md.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Naval Hospital, Ft. Lyon, Colo.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Ft. Bliss, Tex.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, Ellis Island, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Ft. Des Moines, Iowa

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Eastview, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Sherman, Ohio

envelope L-Q

U.S. General Hospital, Plattsburgh Barracks, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Wadsworth, S.C.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Travis, Tex.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Taylor, Ky.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Pike, Ark.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base, Hospital, Camp Mills, Yaphank, N.Y.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base, Hospital, Camp Lee, Na.

envelope L-Q

U.S. Base Hospital, Camp Meade, Md.

 

III. Military Camp Locations Overseas

envelope S-U

Trompeloup, France

envelope S-U

Aix-les-Baines, France

envelope S-U

Paris, France

envelope S-U

Andernach, Germany

envelope S-U

Aprecourt, France

envelope S-U

Bordeaux, France

envelope S-U

Brest, France

envelope S-U

London

envelope S-U

Chatillon-sur-Seine, France

envelope S-U

Chaumont, France

envelope S-U

Coblentz, Germany

envelope S-U

Dijon, France

envelope S-U

Flivy, France

envelope S-U

Is-sur-Tille, France

envelope S-U

Marseille, France

envelope S-U

Moutoire, France

envelope S-U

Meuchateau, France

envelope S-U

St. Aignam, France

envelope S-U

St. Nazaire, France

envelope S-U

Saveney, France