George W. Cole Papers, 1885-1906

Title: George W. Cole Papers, 1885-1906

ID: 2/3/20

Creator: Cole, George W. (1850-1939)

Extent: 0.1 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: Chronological

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Papers of George W. Cole (1850-1939), treasurer of ALA (1893-1896), including correspondence about his beginnings in library work, his year at the Columbia School of Library Economy, the school after it moved to Albany, New York, his inquiries concerning payment of ALA dues (1893-1896) and articles to appear in Library Journal (1901-1906).

Correspondents include E.H. Anderson, Martha H.G. Banks, R.R. Bowker, William Brett, Arthur N. Brown, Henry J. Carr, Charles A. Cutter, William Cutter, H.E. Davidson, Melvil Dewey, Theresa West Elmendorf, R.P. Hayes, Helen E. Haines, Frank P. Hill, Annie B. Jackson, Ada A. Jones, Alice B. Kroeger, Josephus N. Larned, Mrs. E.S. Lewis, George T. Little, Margaret D. McGuffey, Sarah H. Minor, W.E. Parker, Annie Parsons, Frank Patten, Mary W. Plummer, J. Herbert Senter, Thorvald Solberg, Lucy Stevens, Mabel Temple, A.W. Tyler, Henry M. Utley, Beatrice Winser, and Ernest D. Worth.

Biographical Note

George Watson Cole was a librarian and bibliographer born in 1850 in Warren Connecticut. He worked in libraries at Fitchburg, Massachusetts and the Pratt Institute before attending Melvil Dewey's library school at Columbia College in 1888. He later worked for the Newberry Library in Chicago and then the Free Public Library of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1891-1895. He then served as librarian of the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery from 1915-1924. He died on Octoboer 10, 1939.

Administrative Information

Accruals: 9/11/73

Related Materials: George Watson Cole Papers, Huntington Institutional Archives, HIA 30.1.1-2: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8h41vmb/; George Watson Cole Papers, Yale University Archives, MS 143: https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/12/resources/3031

Finding Aid Revision History: Original finding aid by Francis Miksa, September 1969. Edited in December 2024.

Other Note: 11 Pages

Other URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/0203020a.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1885-1889

Digitized

Item 1: H. E. Davidson, Library Bureau, Boston, January 28, 1885
Item 2: H. E. Davidson, February 13, 1885
Item 3: G. B. Tillinghast, Boston, January 5, 1886
Item 4: A. N. Brown, Library Bureau, Boston, July 19, 1886
Item 5: A. N. Brown, August 13, 1886: About Brown leaving Library Bureau.
Item 6: A. N. Brown, August 23, 1886: With enclosure of item #3 above and 2 small covering cards.
Item 7: H. E. Davidson, November 27, 1886
Item 8: Mary W. Plummer, St. Louis Public Library, June 1, 1888: Asking for Columbia Library School Class of 1888 dues.
Item 9: Frank C. Patten, Columbia School of Library Economy, June 15, 1888: News of activities at the Columbia School of Library Economy.
Item 10: Frank C. Patten, July 16, 1888
Item 11: Mary W. Plummer, July 29, 1888: Class news.
Item 12: H. E. Davidson, August 28, 1888
Item 13: H. E. Davidson, October 4, 1888: About a possible position in Indianapolis. With Cole’s shorthand reply.
Item 14: H. E. Davidson, November 2, 1888
Item 15: H. E. Davidson, December 21, 1888
Item 16: Frank C. Patten, January 14, 1889: On Melvil Dewey’s move to Albany.
Item 17: W. T. People, New York Mercantile Library, January 18, 1889: On future of Library School. Clipping attached.
Item 18: H. E. Davidson, February 5, 1889: Information on an opening for a librarian at Salem, Mass.
Item 19: Mary W. Plummer, February 10, 1889: Class of 1888 News.
Item 20: Publishers Weekly, March 7, 1889
Item 21: H. E. Davidson, March 7, 1889
Item 22: H. E. Davidson, March 7, 1889: Shorthand reply attached.
Item 23: C. A. Cutter, Boston Athenaeum, May 1, 1889: Accepts offer of a paper for the St. Louis meeting.
Item 24: Frank C. Patten, State Library, Albany, New York, May 4, 1889: Library School development.
Item 25: Frank C. Patten, May 15, 1889: Library School development.
Item 26: H. E. Davidson, September 13, 1889
Item 27: H. E. Davidson, September 18, 1889

Folder 2: Correspondence, 1891-1893

Digitized

Item 1: Ada Alice Jones, Albany, New York, April 1, 1891
Item 2: George Cole to Editor, Library Journal, New York City, April 2, 1891: Circular from P. L. Force of Library Journal is attached asking for literary contribution to Library Journal. Letter contains Cole’s comments. At the end is one page of shorthand by Cole.
Item 3: H. E. Davidson, July 23, 1891
Item 4: Frank P. Hill (ALA Secretary), Newark Public Library, April 30, 1892: Concerning K. A. Linderfelt’s trouble.
Item 5: Henry J. Carr (ALA Treasurer), Scranton, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1892
Item 6: W. E. Parker, Library Bureau, Boston, February 1, 1893
Item 7: Melvil Dewey, New York State Library, Albany, February 4, 1893: Circular letter to ALA committee on Library School inviting them to visit Albany.
Item 8: R. R. Bowker, Publishers Weekly, New York City, February 16, 1893
Item 9: Melvil Dewey (ALA President), Albany, New York, June 30, 1893: Enclosure gives Cole’s topic for Chicago Meeting
Item 10: George Cole to Frank P. Hill, June 30, 1893: Cole to Frank P. Hill with a reply from Hill written on an attached circular.
Item 11: Library Journal, per H. E. Haines, New York City, July 6, 1893
Item 12: Henry Preserved Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio, September 29, 1893
Item 13: Mrs. E. S. Lewis, Topeka Free Public Library, Kansas, October 9, 1893
Item 14: R. R. Bowker, Publishers Weekly, October 9, 1893
Item 15: J. N. Larned, Buffalo Public Library, October 12, 1893
Item 16: T. W. ?, Tufts Library, Weymouth, Massachusetts, October 13, 1893
Item 17: T. T. Dawley, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, October 15, 1893
Item 18: Mrs. E. S. Lewis, October 27, 1893
Item 19: Miss Mabel Temple, Brown University Library, Providence, November 3, 1893
Item 20: J. W. Wing (?) Scribner’s, New York City, November 3, 1893
Item 21: Frank P. Hill, December 8, 1893: With a nondescript card attached.
Item 22: R. G. Clarke, New York City Manager for Library Bureau, December 9, 1893
Item 23: W. E. Parker, Library Bureau, Boston, December 12, 1893
Item 24: Charles C. Soule, Boston Book Company, December 13, 1893
Item 25: A. W. Whelpley, Cincinnati Public Library, December 15, 1893: Card.
Item 26: George Cole to Henry J. Carr (copy), December 18, 1893: About P W bill for printing ALA proceedings.
Item 27: Henry J. Carr, Scranton Public Library, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1893: With a scrap of shorthand answer.

Folder 3: Correspondence, 1894

Digitized

Item 1: Sarah H. Minor, Muskegon, Michigan, January 8, 1894
Item 2: W. E. Parker, Library Bureau, Boston, January 10, 1894: On printing catalog cards.
Item 3: Mrs. A. B. Minor, Muskegon, Michigan, January 15, 1894
Item 4: Thorvald Solberg, Valldemosa, Spain, January 22, 1894
Item 5: W. E. Parker, February 6, 1894
Item 6: R. R. Bowker to Melvil Dewey (copy), February 8, 1894: About who pays for the proceedings.
Item 7: Publishers Weekly, New York City, February 10, 1894
Item 8: Library Journal per H. E. Haines, February 13, 1894: With enclosure of a postal card and a letter to C. A. Cutter, both September 1893 (from H. J. Carr) about final form of membership list.
Item 9: Melvil Dewey to Frank P. Hill (copy), February 16, 1894
Item 10: George Cole to Melvil Dewey (copy), February 19, 1894
Item 11: George T. Little, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine, February 22, 1894
Item 12: H. H. Cooke, Hinsdale, Illinois, February 24, 1894
Item 13: W. T. Peoples, New York Mercantile Library, February 24, 1894
Item 14: Martha H. G. Banks, Newark, New Jersey, February 26, 1894
Item 15: Artemus Martin, U. S. Coast Survey Office, Washington, D. C., February 26, 1894
Item 16: Edward G. Mason, Chicago Historical Society, February 26, 1894
Item 17: Lucy Stevens, Toledo, Ohio, February 26, 1894
Item 18: Josephine P. Cleveland, Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, February 27, 1894
Item 19: K. G. Forsythe, Albany, New York, February 27, 1894
Item 20: George T. Little, February 27, 1894
Item 21: William E. Foster, Providence Public Library, February 28, 1894
Item 22: Alice G. Chandler, Lancaster, Massachusetts, March 1, 1894
Item 23: Luther (?), General Theology Library, Boston, March 5, 1894
Item 24: B. A. Finney, University of Michigan Library, Ann Arbor, March 6, 1894
Item 25: Mittie Belcher Fairbanks, Farmington, Maine, March 7, 1894
Item 26: Annie F. Parsons, Bay City, Michigan, March 19, 1894
Item 27: A. V. Milner, Librarian, Illinois State Normal University, Bloomington, Illinois, April 8, 1894
Item 28: D. C. Hasbrouck, Field Library, Peekskill, New York, April 13, 1894
Item 29: Thorvald Solberg, April 19, 1894: Postcard.
Item 30: Mrs. M. H. G. Banks, Paterson, New Jersey, May 16, 1894
Item 31: Emma J. Bean, Andover Theology Seminary, Andover, Massachusetts, May 18, 1894
Item 32: Mrs. Mary W. Loomis, Cherokee, Iowa, May 18, 1894
Item 33: George W. Harris, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, New York, Mary 22, 1894
Item 34: Louisa Scautlin (?), Willard Library, Evansville, Indiana, May 23, 1894: Cole’s note says answered 5/26/94.
Item 35: W. E. Frisse (Lawyer), St. Louis, Missouri, May 31, 1894
Item 36: J. Herbert Senter, New York City, to Frank P. Hill, June 1, 1894: Forwarded to Cole.
Item 37: J. Herbert Senter, June 1, 1894
Item 38: R. C. Woodward, Springfield Public Library, June 2, 1894
Item 39: Melvil Dewey, June 10, 1894: A note written on circular.
Item 40: George Cole to James L. Whitney, Boston Public Library, June 20, 1894: With enclosure, a Finance Committee signed authorization.
Item 41: J. N. Larned (ALA President), Buffalo Public Library, June 26, 1894
Item 42: Melvil Dewey to James L. Whitney, June 28, 1894
Item 43: W. E. Parker, Library Bureau, Boston, July 16, 1894
Item 44: W. E. Parker, July 16, 1894
Item 45: W. E. Parker, July 16, 1894
Item 46: Richard T. Lancefield, Hamilton Public Library, Ontario, July 23, 1894
Item 47: Joseph Heydrich, Pequot Library, South Port, Connecticut, to Frank P. Hill, August 1, 1894: Forwarded to Cole.
Item 48: A. W. Tyler, Beverly, Massachusetts, August 23, 1894
Item 49: Theresa West, Milwaukee Public Library, September 5, 1894
Item 50: Ernest D. Worth, Bibliographical Society, Scribners, New York City, September 8, 1894
Item 51: J. Y. W. MacAlister (Secretary, LAUK) London?, September 8, 1894
Item 52: B. F. Stevens, London, September 12, 1894
Item 53: Ernest D. Worth, September 21, 1894
Item 54: Alfred B. Page, Dedham, Massachusetts, September 29, 1894
Item 55: Mary L. Whitall, Woodbury, New Jersey, October 2, 1894
Item 56: Beatrice Winser, Newark Free Public Library, October 9, 1894
Item 57: H. M. Utley, Detroit Public Library, October 9, 1894
Item 58: A. W. Whelpley, Cincinnati Public Library, October 15, 1894
Item 59: A. L. Peck, Gloversville Free Library, New York, October 16, 1894
Item 60: Alford Zigluig (?), Pennsylvania Library Club-Franklin Institute Library, Philadelphia, October 17, 1894
Item 61: John Thomson, Free Library of Philadelphia, October 19, 1894
Item 62: B. F. Stevens, London, December 1, 1894
Item 63: Theresa West, Milwaukee Public Library, December 6, 1894
Item 64: William H. Tillinghast, December 1894

Folder 4: Correspondence, 1895

Digitized

Item 1: W. Stetson Merrill, Newberry Library, Chicago, 1895
Item 2: William H. Tillinghast, Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 8, 1895
Item 3: Clara S. Sherwood, LaJunta, Colorado, January 12, 1895
Item 4: Theresa West, February 15, 1895
Item 5: Frank P. Hill, February 20, 1895
Item 6: Clara S. Sherwood, March 4, 1895
Item 7: Bernard C. Steiner, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, March 6, 1895
Item 8: H. M. Utley, March 14, 1895
Item 9: W. C. Lane, Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 27, 1895
Item 10: W. C. Lane, March 29, 1895
Item 11: W. B. Shaw, Assistant Editor, The Review of Reviews, New York City, April 8, 1895
Item 12: R. G. Twaites, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, April 9, 1895
Item 13: G. E. Wire, Newberry Library, Chicago, April 10, 1895
Item 14: Anderson H. Hopkins, Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 11, 1895: Asks for help in changing positions.
Item 15: Norman Williams, Lawyer, Chicago, April 11, 1895: About his contribution to ALA Endowment Fund.
Item 16: Thorvald Solberg, April 12, 1895: About his new position and his ALA membership.
Item 17: Gardner M. Jones, Salem Public Library, Massachusetts, April 13, 1895: On ALA Subject Headings
Item 18: R. C. Woodward, Springfield Public Library, Ohio, April 13, 1895
Item 19: George Cole to Norman Williams, April 15, 1895: Shorthand reply to Willams' letter.
Item 20: Margaret D. McGuffey, Boston Public Library, April 19, 1895
Item 21: H. M. Utley (ALA President), April 20, 1895: On printed catalogs as a subject for ALA discussion.
Item 22: Norman Williams, April 20, 1895
Item 23: Ernest D. Worth, April 22, 1895
Item 24: Norman Williams, April 23, 1895
Item 25: H. M. Utley, April 24, 1895: Shorthand reply by Cole written on bottom.
Item 26: Irving S. Stanton, New Bedford, Massachusetts to H. M. Utley, April 22, 1895
Item 27: Annie B. Jackson, Strongs Sanitarium, Saratoga Springs, New York, April 27, 1895
Item 28: Daniel E. Pannepacker, Delphi Library, Philadelphia, May 30, 1895
Item 29: Mrs. Evelyn S. Lewis, Free Library, Topeka, Kansas, May 31, 1895
Item 30: Caroline V. McGuffey, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2, 1895
Item 31: Irving S. Stanton, New Bedford, Massachusetts, June 3, 1895: On the library movement.
Item 32: C. Alex Nelson, Columbia College Library, New York City, June 12, 1895
Item 33: Mrs. Mary Van Benschoten Woodward, Evanston, Illinois, June 24, 1895
Item 34: James C. Hanson, Madison, Wisconsin, June 26, 1895
Item 35: Charlotte Endicott Garth, Whitestone, June 29, 1895
Item 36: Miss Alma Rogers VanHoevenberg, Nahant, Massachusetts, July 14, 1895
Item 37: Erra (?) L. Moore, Withers Public Library, Bloomington, Illinois, July 15, 1895
Item 38: A. W. Whelpley to James L. Whitney, July 26, 1895: Postal card
Item 39: James L. Whitney, July 29, 1895
Item 40: C. Alex Nelson, Columbia College Library, New York City, August 1, 1895
Item 41: H. M. Utley (ALA President), August 3, 1895
Item 42: M. G. Dowden, Melbourne, Australia, August 30, 1895
Item 43: H. E. Davidson, September 18, 1895
Item 44: E. H. Anderson, Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1895
Item 45: C. Alex Nelson, September 23, 1895
Item 46: A. W. Tyler, Blackstone Library, Branford, Connecticut, September 24, 1895
Item 47: A. W. Tyler, September 25, 1895
Item 48: Miss Ellen E. Geary, Astoria Public Library, Oregon, September 26, 1895
Item 49: C. Alex Nelson, September 29, 1895
Item 50: Beatrice Winser (New Jersey Library Association Secretary) Newark Free Public Library, October 5, 1895
Item 51: William R. Cutter, Woburn, Massachusetts, October 18, 1895
Item 52: New York Times per T.D.W., October 19, 1895
Item 53: William M. Beekley, Philadelphia, November 1, 1895
Item 54: Henry J. Carr, November 4, 1895
Item 55: Alice B. Kroeger, Drexel Institute, November 5, 1895
Item 56: E. H. Anderson, November 23, 1895
Item 57: W. E. Parker, November 26, 1895
Item 58: Henry J. Carr, December 7, 1895
Item 59: Publishers Weekly, New York City (Bowker?), December 26, 1895

Folder 5: Correspondence, 1896

Digitized

Item 1: E. H. Anderson, February 7, 1896: George Cole in Bermuda. About his new office as Acting Treasurer.
Item 2: E. H. Anderson, February 12, 1896: George Cole in Bermuda. About materials received from Cole.
Item 3: W. E. Parker, March 4, 1896: George Cole in Bermuda. Cole recommended to Librarianship of Indianapolis Public Library.
Item 4: Ernest D. Worth, March 16, 1896
Item 5: E. H. Anderson, June 10, 1896: About Bibliographical Society dues. George Cole in New York City account of his term as acting secretary.
Item 6: Miss K. F. Walker, Dayton, Ohio to E. H. Anderson, September 14, 1896: Forwarded to George Cole with a note. About Miss Walker's ALA membership.
Item 7: John Thompson, Free Library of Philadelphia to W. H. Brett, Cleveland, Ohio (copy), September 24, 1896: About having ALA in Philadelphia.
Item 8: William Pepper, President, Free Library of Philadelphia to W. H. Brett (copy), September 25, 1896: About having ALA in Philadelphia.
Item 9: A. W. Whelpley, Librarian, Cincinnati Public Library, September 28, 1896: About a bill to be paid
Item 10: R. P. Hayes to E. H. Anderson, October 1, 1896: Letter sent on to George Cole with a note.
Item 11: W. H. Brett to E. H. Anderson, October 3, 1896: Letter sent on to George Cole. A request for information on a member.
Item 12: R. P. Hayes, State Board of Library Commissioners, Columbus, Ohio, October 5, 1896
Item 13: E. H. Anderson, October 5, 1896
Item 14: Gardner Jones, October 15, 1896: On membership rules.
Item 15: W. H. Brett, October 17, 1896
Item 16: Horace Chase, Washington, November 7, 1896
Item 17: R. P. Hayes, November 8, 1896
Item 18: Miss E. E. Clarke, Jersey City, New Jersey, November 10, 1896: Includes reply from George Cole.
Item 19: R. P. Hayes, November 12, 1896

Folder 6: Correspondence, 1901-1906

Digitized

Item 1: Helen E. Haines, Library Journal, December 24, 1901
Item 2: Helen E. Haines, December 31, 1901
Item 3: Helen E. Haines, January 7, 1902
Item 4: Jos. W. Kay, Jr., Kay Printing House, to A. Growall (?), January 4, 1902
Item 5: Helen E. Haines, April 22, 1905
Item 6: Unidentified Correspondent, December 17, 1906
Item 7: Elizabeth Howey

George W. Cole Papers, 1885-1906

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing