Louise Marie Darling (1911-1999) received degrees in Botany (B.A.) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Botany (M.A.) and Librarianship (Certification and Credential) from the University of California, Berkeley. As a civilian in the U.S. Army Library Service she supervised Army libraries for Hawaii and the Philippines (1944-1947). After returning to UCLA, she founded and headed, until her retirement in 1978, the Biomedical Library which was named for her in 1987. She received many major awards and honors in the profession of medical librarianship, and consulted widely. The papers contain correspondence, reports, publication drafts, teaching materials, plus newspaper clippings, reprints, photographs, and artifacts. The bulk focuses on Darling's professional accomplishments aside from administration of the UCLA Biomedical Library. A smaller part pertains to personal matters: education, positions held, and relations with staff, colleagues, and family.

Louise Darling received a B.A. in Botany from UCLA, and a General Secondary Credential, an M.A. in Botany, a Certificate in Librarianship, and a Special Secondary Credential in Librarianship, all from UC Berkeley. Her early library experience was conventional: an agricultural economics library at UC Berkeley, a high school library, and reference at the UCLA Library. Then she took an interesting detour: accepting a civilian position in the U. S. Army Library Service, eventually to become Supervisor for Hawaii and the Philippines (1944-1947). In 1947 Darling inquired about returning to UCLA; she was offered the opportunity to build a library for the new Medical School at UCLA and for the Zoology and Botany Departments, all of whose leaders wisely decided that a joint BIOmedical library would add strength to the campus. Darling fulfilled their vision superbly, leading her library and its staff to a pioneering, eminent position among U.S. academic health sciences libraries. Her achievements are documented by the national reputation of the library she founded and to which her name is attached, by the number of former staff members heading their own medical and university libraries, and by the wide love and respect evoked by her memory.

6 linear feet (4 cartons 1 storage box)

There are some restrictions on part of the oral history transcript produced by the Neuroscience History Program of UCLA [see notes for Box 3-F127 in the Container List]. Contact the History and Special Collections Division, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, UCLA, for more information.

The collection is open for research. Access to part of oral history transcripts is restricted. Contact the History and Special Collections Division, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, UCLA, for information.