Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Louise Darling Papers 1929-1999
174
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Louise Darling Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1929-1999
Collection number: 174
Creator: Darling, Louise.
1911-1999
Extent:
6 linear feet
(4 cartons
1 storage box)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections
Division
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: 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.
Physical location: Louise M. Darling History and Special
Collections Division, UCLA
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
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.
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.
[Identification of item], Louise Darling papers (Manuscript collection 174). Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History
and Special Collections Division, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
4430906
The papers were collected by Louise Darling, who sorted and weeded some after
her retirement. Following Darling's death her successor and executor, Alison
Bunting, added more materials and provided some further organization.
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.
Darling's name also loomed large beyond her own campus. She was active in
professional societies, published widely, served on many advisory committees.
She became president of the main national medical library society, The Medical
Library Association, and garnered all its main awards. Honors and awards were
also bestowed by other professional groups, by UCLA, and by the alumni
associations of two of her former schools. In addition, her professional acumen
was honored by the many consulting assignments that were offered, and the awards
named for her.
The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, reports, manuscripts,
and teaching materials, plus some newspaper clippings, reprints, and artifacts.
Materials span the years 1929-1999. The major portion deals with Louise
Darling's professional accomplishments aside from daily administration of the
UCLA Biomedical Library. This includes her publications, involvement in
professional organizations, speeches and lectures, teaching notes and reference
lists, and consultant projects. A smaller part of the collection pertains to
personal matters: education, positions, relations with staff and colleagues,
family.
The collection has been organized into ten main series and several
sub-series.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Professional Publications and Presentations, Except Meeting Presentations., 1940-1990. 26 folders (0.5 linear ft.)
- Series 2. Participation in Professional Meetings, Symposia, Congresses., 1953-1995. 28 folders (0.5 linear ft.)
- Series 3. Consulting Projects., 1962-1990. 21 folders (0.4 linear ft.)
- Series 4. Honors and Awards, Offices, Committee Assignments., 1961-1989. 19 folders (1 linear ft.)
- Series 5. Teaching Activities., 1960-1983. 11 folders (0.3 linear ft.)
- Series 6. Miscellaneous Professional Papers., 1954-1978. 2 folders (0.6 linear ft.)
- Series 7. L. Darling Biomedical Library Staff Development Fund., 1973-1985. 2 folders (0.1 linear ft.)
- Series 8. Personal Materials., 1929-1999. 30 folders (1 linear ft.)
- Series 9. Supporting Print Materials., 1979-1990. 3 folders (0.1 linear ft.)
- Series 10. Non-Document Materials.. 5 folders and 10 objects (1.5 linear ft.)
Materials dealing with Darling's administration of the Biomedical Library are
housed in the UCLA University Archives.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Louise M. Darling Biomedical
Library.
Medical Library Association.
National Network of Libraries of
Medicine (U.S.). Pacific Southwest Region.
Libraries, Medical--history--United States.