Inventory of the Susan Grey Akers Papers, 1899-1984

Collection Number 4774

unc seal
Manuscripts Department, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Creator
Akers, Susan Grey, 1889-
Title
Susan Grey Akers Papers, 1899-1984
Call Number
4774
Language of Materials
Materials in English
Extent
Items: About 1,200
Linear Feet: 4.0
Abstract
Susan Grey Akers was dean of the School of Library Science at the University of North Carolina from 1932 until 1954. In 1950-1951, Akers served as a library science consultant in Tokyo, Japan. In 1954-1955, she was visiting lecturer in library science at the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
The collection includes correspondence and related papers, diaries, books and articles, biographical material about Akers, picture postcards, clippings, and photographs documenting Akers's education and career as a librarian, library science professor, and dean of the School of Library Science at the University of North Carolina. Also documented is Akers's scholarly research on library cataloging and her travels in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Iran. The diaries Akers kept while in Japan, 1950-1951, and Iran, 1954-1955, describe her social life and her work in libraries and library schools, as well as her travels. The collection contains many postcards, about half of which are picture postcards of library buildings.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions
Acquisitions Information
Received from Arthur Akers of Durham, N.C., in October 1995 (Acc. 95123) and May 1996 (Acc. 96058).
Processing Information
Processed by: Manuscripts Department Staff
Encoded by: Jackie Dean, March 2006
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Susan Grey Akers Papers #4774, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Akers, Susan Grey, 1889-
Americans--Iran--Social life and customs--20th century.
Americans--Japan--Social life and customs--20th century.
Cataloging--Study and teaching--United States.
Diaries.
Europe--Description and travel.
Iran--Description and travel.
Japan--Description and travel.
Librarians--United States--History--20th century.
Libraries--Japan--History--20th century.
Library buildings--Pictorial works.
Library education--Iran--History--20th century.
Library education--United States--History--20th century.
Library schools--United States--History--20th century.
Library science teachers--United States.
Postcards.
University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Faculty--History--20th century.
University of North Carolina (1793-1962). School of Library Science.
Women college administrators--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Women college teachers--North Carolina.
Women--Diaries--History--20th century.
Women librarians--United States--History--20th century.
Women travelers--Diaries--History--20th century.
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Biographical Note

Susan Grey Akers was dean of the School of Library Science at the University of North Carolina from 1932 until 1954. A native of Kentucky, Akers received a Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago in 1932. She had worked in public libraries and in college and university libraries before receiving her Ph.D. and her appointment to the faculty at the University of North Carolina. In 1950-1951, Akers served as a library science consultant in Tokyo, Japan. In 1954-1955, she was visiting lecturer in library science at the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

1889 Born on 3 April in Richmond, Ky. Parents: Clara Elizabeth Harris and James Tazewell Akers
1909 A.B., University of Kentucky
1909-1911 Taught in public schools in Murray, Ky., and Birmingham, Ala.
1911-1912 Assistant librarian, public library, Louisville, Ky.
1913 Certificate, Library School, University of Wisconsin
1913-1920 Librarian, Department of Hygiene, Wellesley College
1920-1922 Cataloger, University of North Dakota Library
1922-1928 Instructor and assistant professor, Library School, University of Wisconsin, and visitor, Wisconsin Library Commission
1932 Ph.D., Graduate Library School, University of Chicago
1931-1932 Associate professor, University of North Carolina School of Library Science
1932-1935 Professor and acting director, University of North Carolina School of Library Science
1942-1954 Professor and dean, University of North Carolina School of Library Science
1954-1984 Professor and dean emeritus, University of North Carolina School of Library Science
1950-1951 American Consultant to Library Science Workshop, Civil, Information, and Education Section, Department of the U.S. Army, Tokyo, Japan
1954-1955 Visiting lecturer in Library Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
1984 Died in Chapel Hill, N.C., on 30 January.
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Collection Overview

Papers of Susan Grey Akers include correspondence and related papers, diaries, books and articles, biographical material about Akers, picture postcards, clippings, and photographs. The collection chiefly documents Akers's education and career as a librarian, library science professor, and dean of the School of Library Science at the University of North Carolina. The books and articles are mostly scholarly works on library cataloging. Also documented are Akers's travels in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Iran.

The diaries Akers kept while in Japan, 1950-1951, and Iran, 1954-1955, describe her social life and her work in libraries and library schools, as well as her travels. The collection contains many postcards, about half of which are picture postcards of library buildings.

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Arrangement of Collection

Series 1. Correspondence and Related Papers
Series 2. Writings
Series 3. Biographical and Family Historical Material
Series 4. Postcards
Series 5. Clippings
Series 6. Pictures
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Items Separated

Oversize papers (OP-4774)
Photographs (P-4774)
Photograph albums (PA-4774/1-3)
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Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence and Related Papers, 1902-1984.

About 300 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence and related items, such as school records, of Susan Grey Akers. Most of the papers found here are related to Akers's education or career. There are also a few family letters and personal letters from friends and colleagues.
Folder 1
1902-1905
Folder 2
1909-1911
Folder 3
1912-1914
Folder 4
1920-1931
Folder 5
1933-1947
Folder 6
1950-1953
Folder 7
1954-1959
Folder 8
1962-1984
Folder 9
Undated

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2. Writings, 1920-1983.

About 50 items.
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2.1. Diaries, 1933-1983.
8 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Diaries kept by Susan G. Akers when she was traveling and living abroad and a record, 1957-1983, of family Christmases. The copy filed after each diary is a photocopy on acid-free paper.
Folder 10
Diary, 27 July-10 September 1933
Folder 11
Copy of Diary, 27 July-10 September 1933
Folder 12
Diary, 11 July 1950-3 April 1951, 15 April 1952, 20 March 1953, and family Christmas record, 1957-1983
Folder 13
Copy of diary, 11 July 1950-3 April 1951 and family Christmas record, 1957-1983
Folder 14
Diary, 28 September 1954-17 April 1955
Folder 15
Copy of Diary, 28 September 1954-17 April 1955
Folder 16
Diary, 18 April-1 September 1955
Folder 17
Copy of Diary, 18 April-1 September 1955
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2.2. Books and Articles, 1920-1969
About 40 items.
Arrangement: by genre.
Books and articles written by Susan Grey Akers, chiefly relating to library cataloging.
Folder 18
Relation Between Theory and Practice of Cataloging, Ph.D. thesis, 1932
Folder 19
Relation Between Theory and Practice of Cataloging, Essential Portion Thereof, 1932
Folder 20
"Relation of Professional and Clerical Division of Cataloging to Cataloging Courses", Reprinted from The Library Quarterly, Vol V, No. 1, January 1934
Folder 21
Articles by Susan Grey Akers, 1920-1965
Folder 22
Reports by Susan Grey Akers as director or dean of School of Library Science, University of North Carolina
Folder 23
Talks by Susan Grey Akers
Folder 24
Simple Library Cataloging: Letters, reviews
Folder 25
Simple Library Cataloging (1927)
Folder 26
Simple Library Cataloging (1933)
Folder 27
Simple Library Cataloging (1944)
Folder 28
Simple Library Cataloging (1954)
Folder 29
Simple Library Cataloging (1969)
Folder 30
Simple Library Cataloging (Chinese, 1929)
Folder 31
Simple Library Cataloging (Chinese, 1961)
Folder 32
Simple Library Cataloging (Japanese, 1951)
Folder 33
Simple Library Cataloging (Korean, 1959)
Folder 34
Simple Library Cataloging (Spanish, 1962)

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3. Biographical and Family Historical Material, 1900-1984.

About 100 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Material about Susan Grey Akers and other members of her family.
Folder 35
Articles about Susan Grey Akers
Folder 36
Clippings about Susan Grey Akers's career
Folder 37
Obituaries
Folder 38
Obituaries
Folder 39
Cream and Crimson of 1900, Central University of Kentucky
Folder 40
University of Kentucky, 1909-1917
Folder 41
University of North Carolina School of Library Science, 1931-1955
Folder 42
Diplomas and Certificates
Folder 43
Japan, 1949-1953
Folder 44
Passports, 1933 and 1954-1955
Folder 45
Travel Memo Book--England
Folder 46-47
Programs, including talks by Susan Grey Akers
Folder 48
Susan Grey Akers Scholarship
Folder 49
Southeastern Library Association

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4. Postcards, 1909-1960s and undated.

About 600 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Picture postcards collected by Susan Grey Akers. About half are pictures of library buildings. The rest are mostly pictures of places Akers lived or visited.
Folder 50-51
Pictures of libraries
Folder 52
Chicago
Folder 53
Japan and Korea
Folder 54
Kentucky
Folder 55
New York and New Jersey
Folder 56
North Carolina
Folder 57
Pacific Northwest
Folder 58
Virginia
Folder 59
Other places

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5. Clippings, 1940s-1970s.

About 100 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Newspaper clippings collected by Susan Grey Akers. Most of the clippings on Chapel Hill history are from the Chapel Hill Weekly; most of those on North Carolina history are from the Greensboro Daily News.
Folder 60
Chapel Hill History
Folder 61-62
North Carolina
Folder 63
World War II

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6. Pictures, 1897-1983.

About 50 items.
Arrangement: by subject.
Photographs and other pictures of Susan Grey Akers, members of her family, colleagues in the University of North Carolina School of Library Science, friends, and places she visited. There are six folders of loose pictures, two albums of pictures from her year in Japan, and one album from her year in Iran and further travels in the Middle East and southern Europe.
Image Folder P-4774/1
Akers, Susan Grey
Image Folder P-4774/2
Family Pictures
Image Folder P-4774/3
UNC Library School
Image Folder P-4774/4
Akers and others in Japan
Image Folder P-4774/5
People
Image Folder P-4774/6
Places
Photograph Album PA-4774/1
Album of pictures from Japan
Photograph Album PA-4774/2
Album of pictures from Japan
Photograph Album PA-4774/3
Album containing photographs, picture postcards, greeting cards, maps, clippings, and other material collected during Akers's travels in Iran, Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Italy in the 1950s.

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