Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Vosper, Robert
- Abstract:
- Robert Vosper (1913-1994), born in Portland, Oregon, was an educator and librarian at the University of Kansas and UCLA. He served as library director for UCLA from 1961 to 1973. After retiring in 1973, Vosper taught courses at UCLA's School of Library Service, now known as the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. This collection contains his papers, including correspondence and notes relating to professional meetings, committee work, teaching, and writing, as well as personal files containing photographs, a transcript of his oral history, and correspondence.
- Extent:
- 19.2 Linear Feet (14 cartons and 13 boxes)
- Language:
- English and Materials are primarily in English and French, with small amounts of material in German and Japanese.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Robert Vosper papers (Collection 1024). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains the papers of Robert Vosper, including correspondence and notes relating to professional meetings, committee work, teaching, and writing. Additional materials include newsletters, meeting minutes and agendas, reports, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, course materials, photographs, and publications written by Vosper. These materials are related to Vosper's involvement in the American Library Association, Council on Library Resources, International Federation of Library Association and Institution, and the Association of Research Libraries, his directorship of the libraries of UCLA, University of Kansas and Clark Library, and his teaching at UCLA's School of Library Service. The personal files contain photographs, a transcript of his oral history, materials related to his employment throughout his career, correspondence, a loyalty oath, civil service exam, transcripts, master's degree exam results, a certificate for Order of the Crown from Belgium, and letters of condolence sent to Loraine Vosper after his passing.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert Gordon Vosper was born on June 21, 1913 in Portland, Oregon. He was director of the libraries of the University of Kansas and UCLA. Vosper received his BA and MA in Classics from the University of Oregon in 1937 and 1939, respectively, and his library certificate from UC Berkeley in 1940. He worked as a junior librarian at UC Berkeley (1940-1942) and assistant reference librarian at Stanford University (1942-1944) before coming to UCLA in 1944, where he served as head of the library's acquisitions department (1944-1948), assistant librarian (1948-1949), and associate librarian (1949-1952). He also served as directory of libraries for the University of Kansas (1952-1961), after which he returned to UCLA. Vosper served as UCLA library director until his retirement in 1973. He then taught courses at the UCLA School of Library Service and was director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA (1966-1981).
During his career, Vosper received numerous awards and served on a number of committees. He was director of the Association of Research Libraries' Farmington Plan Survey (1957-1958), which was a plan developed by research libraries to ensure access to materials regardless of war or other extreme circumstances. Vosper was also known for his opposition to the banning of books during the McCarthy era and for pushing for multilingual sources. In May 1970, Vosper came under pressure to shut down the library due to anti-war protests, but he refused and posted a notice stating the libraries must remain sanctuaries for free access to information. His writings focus on building library collections and various aspect of library planning, as well as improving international cooperation between libraries. He passed away on May 14, 1994 in Los Angeles, CA.
- Acquisition information:
- Stephen Vosper; Gift; 1991. Addition; Loraine Vosper; Gift; 2003.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé, UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Additions processed by Krystell Jimenez in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), under the supervision of Angel Diaz, 2018. This collection was processed at the box level.
Collection includes one unprocessed audiocassette.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection has been arranged at the box level and subjects are arranged in alphabetical order.
- Physical / technical requirements:
-
COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIO MATERIALS: Audio materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Robert Vosper papers (Collection 1024). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988