The 1950's were a decade of growth for Texas Libraries. The 1950 Statewide Plan for Library Services and Funding was announced, the State Library continued its support for the federal and state depository programs, and the Texas Library Association's structure continued to expand with the formation of the College Library Division. While the annual TLA conferences did not feature many programs unique to documents, several of the general programs were of interest to government information specialists and articles of interest continued to appear in the journals.
Current Federal Depository Libraries who joined the Program during the 1950's are: Mary & John Gray Library, Lamar University, 1957; University of Texas, Pan American Library, 1959; University of Houston, 1950; and Southwest Texas State University, 1955.
The Texas Library Journal (v. 26, no. 1- , Mar. 1950- ) continued the work of News Notes and expanded the coverage of the Association's news and professional librarianship in Texas. At this time the TLA Annual Conference Program schedule and directory of Association officers appeared in the Journal and although there was not a formal Government Documents Round Table, there was a very active Documents [Interest] Group. And the Texas State Library and Historical Commission continued to publish Texas Libraries and encourage the sharing of government information through Interlibrary Loan Programs.
The following excerpts are included to chronicle Texas interest in government information and documents librarianship.
Items of Interest from the 1950's
September 1950 (Texas Library Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, pages 94-95) "Southwestern Library Association Biennial Meeting, Conference Program - San Antonio"
Announced Conference Program:
College and University Section. "The Superintendent of Documents and the Librarian," Roy B. Eastin, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., November 10, 1950, Morning,
September 1950 (Texas Library Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, pages 96-97) "The Public Library - Social Palliative or Therapy for Madness"
By Herman H. Henkle, The Crerar Library
[Note: The speaker's topic covered the role of public libraries in a democratic society. Of interest for documents librarians is his reference to the "classic report on Public Libraries in the United States prepared by the then U.S. Bureau of Education in 1876 . . ." and its chapter on Free Libraries. Later on he also includes statistics from the U.S. Office of Education published in 1950 on library services by state.]
January 1951 (College and Research Libraries, vol. 12, January, 1951, pages 48-51.) "Processing government documents"
By Pauline Ward, North Texas State College
[Excerpt:] "In April, 1948, the Library of North Texas State College was designated as a depository for United States government documents . . . With the sudden arrival of documents by the hundreds, a long-range planning program became essential . . . In a separate collection the documents librarian has the advantage of having not only a general knowledge of the many different departments, bureaus, divisions, offices and independent agencies of Government, but also knows of transfers, mergers, new and discontinued titles, frequency, tricks in identifying obscure items and much additional miscellaneous information acquired only through working with documents . . . The choice of a method of arrangement of documents within the collection was easy . . . ." [Ms. Ward gives a complete description with examples of the arrangement and cataloging of federal documents at NTSC.]
September 1952 (Texas Libraries Special Edition - Biennial Report, pages 21-28) "Documents Distributed"
September 1, 1950-August 31, 1952 - Check Lists 153-158
[Notes: This seven page list includes all of the distributed documents organized alphabetically by agency.]
October 1952 (Texas Libraries, vol. 14, no. 1, 1952, pages 4-8) "Official Publications"
[Note: This four page list includes recently received U.S. government documents available for interlibrary loan and State publications distributed in document shipment 158.]
November 1952 (Texas Libraries, vol. 14, no. 2, 1952, pages 11-13) "Official Publications"
[Note: This three page list includes recently received U.S. government documents, state documents from other states and Texas State publications distributed to libraries.]
December 1952 (Texas Libraries, vol. 14, no. 3, 1952, pages 5-9) "Official Publications"
[Note: This four page list includes recently received U.S. government documents, state documents from other states and Texas State publications distributed to libraries.]
January 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 1, January, 1953, pages 7-8) "U.S. Government Publications [available for Interlibrary Loan]"
January 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 1, January, 1953, pages 24-25, 26) "Miss Royall Retires"
Abstract: An article detailing the career of Miss Rebecca Royall who served as assistant cataloger while Miss Elizabeth H. West was State Librarian and then she . . .
"was put in charge of United States government documents and documents from other States. She was always keenly interested in many things and the government documents covering a wide range of subjects suited her exactly. Even in the driest, most technical papers, she could find something of interest. During the years she has worked with documents, her knowledge of them has become something of a tradition, not only with the library staff, but with the public, State officials, students, research workers and those of various professions. . . one of her patrons . . . remarked that in all of his contacts with librarians, Miss Royall was the best informed and most helpful. There was no passing from one to another for the information. She understood what one was talking about and could get what was wanted. . . . "
"Mrs. Elizabeth Bodenstein, who on January 1, assumed the duties of Miss Rebecca Royall in the Documents Processing Division, came to Texas in 1947 as Instructor in German in the Department of Germanic Languages at the University of Texas . . . During the past year she has been connected with the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas in an editorial capacity, as well as carrying out bibliographical research for the Bureau in connection with their monograph "Economics of Natural Gas in Texas. Mrs. Bodenstein has a daughter who entered the University as a freshman last fall."
February 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 2, February, 1953, pages 1-3) "Legislative Reference Division"
A two page description of the work and services of the Legislative Reference Division of the State Library followed by a list of "Distribution of State Documents" available for interlibrary loan.
February 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 2, February, 1953, pages 4-7) "Passing State Law Not Easy But Sometimes It Can be Fun"
By Margaret Mayer, The Times Herald Special Correspondent
Abstract: Reprinted from the Dallas Daily Times Herald, this 4 page article details "how a bill becomes a law" in the Texas Legislature. Her humorous example is ". . . a bill to require mufflers on outboard motor boats. It has been introduced in the House by a lakeside dweller who is tired of being waked up before daybreak by the sputter of early fishermen . . . . "
February 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 2, February, 1953, pages 12-16) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
March 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 3, March, 1953, pages 9-11) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
March 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 3, March, 1953, pages 37-40) "News from the State Library"
[Excerpt:] "Loan and General Reference Division: Many of our questions are answered by information from government publications. The volumes listed below are on our shelf of special reference books and are the ones most frequently used." [Note: Among those listed are the Statistical Abstract, Historical Statistics of the United States, Survey of Current Business, Agricultural Statistics, Minerals Yearbook, U.S. Government Organization Manual, etc.- every title is one that is still consulted today - and most are online.]
Legislative Reference Division: Our staff worked under great pressure for the past month, with much overtime necessary. Inasmuch as questions handled for members of the Legislature are confidential, it is not possible to list them, but as a substitute, it may be of interest to list some of the U.S. government documents which were used during the month in connection with such questions." [Noted: Included in the list are laws relating to veterans, hearings on organized crime, natural gas pipelines, and fair employment practices; Office of Education publications on public school finance and higher education statistics; periodicals entitled: Public Health Reports, Federal Probation, Monthly Labor Review, Federal Reserve Bulletin, Congressional Record, All Hands, IRS Bulletin, Economic Indicators, and the Federal Register.]
March 1953 (Texas Library Journal, vol. 29, no. 3, pages 6-7) Annual Conference [Program Agenda], April 15-18, 1953, Lubbock Texas
Conference Program:
College Libraries Division. "How the Texas State Library and the College Libraries Can Help Each Other," Thomas J. Gibson, State Librarian, April 16, 1953
April 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 4, April, 1953, pages 9-11) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
May 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 5, May, 1953, pages 11-13) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
July 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 7, July, 1953, pages 7-9) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
August 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 8, August, 1953, pages 12-14) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
September 1953 (Texas Library Journal, vol. 29, no. 3, pages 75-79) "The State Library and College Libraries"
By Thomas J. Gibson III
[Note:] Remarks delivered at Lubbock, State Librarian describes the functions and services of the Library and presents specific proposals for increased cooperation with the libraries of Texas colleges.
". . . So let me review, then the services of the State Library that are available to you at the present time - today. First, consider the Legislative Reference Division, which can furnish the following services that may be of use to college libraries:
a. The Division collects laws of all forty-eight states as well as those of the Federal Government. Photostats of the laws can be mailed out within a few hours after the laws are received.
b. Information concerning past and present Texas legislation is supplied by the Division.
c. Biographical information is available through indexes of senators and representatives and indexes to memorials introduced in the various legislatures.
d. Documents distributed by state agencies, both in the past and present, can be borrowed from the Division.
The State Library has been receiving federal documents since 1849. We are not attempting to be a complete federal depository, and these documents, in many cases, are available on interlibrary loan . . . . Since January of this year, all non-depository items except those of a confidential nature have been received on microprint. The publisher of the microprint copies has stated that all documents of the documents expediting project are included, even if only one copy of a given document is made . . . For what they are worth the following joint projects might be considered. There are many Texas publications on the market today that contain valuable information about Texas. We try to collect as many as possible in the State Library, but all too often we are ignorant of their contents. Would it be feasible to index these magazines cooperatively and publish such an index in Texas Libraries, with an annual compilation? . . . .
September 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 9, September, 1953, page 12) "Miss Wilcox Retires"
"After having been associated with the Texas State Library since1917, Miss Fannie M. Wilcox will retire September 30 . . . Miss Wilcox's never failing courtesy, her tact and consideration of others, her refinement and good taste, and her firmness of purpose are known and appreciated by all who had the good fortune to come in contact with her. For those who have had the opportunity of working with her, it has been a rare privilege . . . ." [Note: Her positions included: Assistant Librarian and Cataloger, the first Library Organizer [later Extension Director] during a time when 23 county libraries were established; in 1927 she became Acting State Librarian and later State Librarian. She also served as the State Chairman of the Victory Book campaigns. In 1945 she asked be relieved as State Librarian and was subsequently asked to stay as Assistant Librarian, later becoming Director of Processing.]
September 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 9, September, 1953, page 19) "State Library News - Legislative Reference Division"
"Mrs. Bob Alexander, who was appointed Documents Librarian September 1st, is putting to good use her departmental experience in taking over processing and exchanging of state documents. Housekeeping activities were accelerated during the first part of September with many pamphlets being classified and shelved; surplus material discarded; and some times being sent to basement storage. Rearrangement of workloads has made some progress but further changes will be made in the coming months as management of State documents is transferred to Mrs. Alexander."
September 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 9, September, 1953, pages 26-28) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
September 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 9, September, 1953, page 34) "Texas Documents"
"A checklist of Texas documents, 1900-1944, in the Texas State Library will soon be published as a special edition of Texas Libraries. This is a working list in use in the State Library and is not intended to be an authoritative guide to all Texas documents published in that period. This special edition will be sent to all libraries on the State Library Exchange List and will be sent free to all other libraries which request it." [Note: Cataloged in the University of North Texas Libraries as Z 1223.5 T42]
October 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 10, October, 1953, pages 25-26) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
November 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 11, November, 1953, page 23) "Legislative Reference Division"
"The Documents Librarian has begun the preparation of a comprehensive list of state publications. The list, which has just gotten underway, will be an extensive listing of all official departmental publications of the State of Texas that are in the reference files of the State Library. Upon completion this list will include and extend a previous list of Texas Departmental Publication in the Texas State Library, 1900 - 1944. The reference file of the Audit Reports of the State Auditor has been rearranged and filed in the documents depository. This affords much easier accessibility to these publications. The Audit Reports are splendid reference sources of state agencies and are used as such constantly."
November 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 11, November, 1953, pages 30-32) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
December 1953 (Texas Libraries, vol. 15, no. 12, December, 1953, pages 23) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
March 1954 (Texas Libraries, vol. 16, no. 3, March, 1954, pages 27-28) "Foods, Recipes and Nutrition Guides"
Prepared by the Processing Division
"The following listings draw attention to some of the valuable, practical, and information Government publications in the home-marker's field of nutrition . . . ." [Note: The list includes many long-time favorites from the Home and Garden Bulletins, the Test Kitchen series, and the Agriculture Bulletins.]
April 1954 (Texas Libraries, vol. 16, no. 4, April, 1954, pages 1-8) "Texas Library Laws - Library and Historical Commission"
From Texas Revised Civil Statutes, 1925, as amended through 1953.
[Excerpt:] ". . . Art. 5442. Distribution of publications. -- On the requisition of the State Librarian therefore, the Board of Control shall cause to be printed and furnished to the State Library for distribution and exchange the following publications, or such additional number as said librarian shall request; 150 copies of all annual, biennial and special reports of State departments, boards and institutions, findings of all investigations, bulletins, circulars, laws issued as separates, and legislative manuals, . . .
Art. 5444. (5608) Legislative reference section. -- The Commission shall maintain for the use and information of the members of the Legislature, the heads of the several State departments, and such other citizens as may desire to consult the same, a section of the State Library for legislative reference and information. This section shall possess available for use, explanatory check lists and catalogues of the current legislation of this and other states, catalogues of the bills and resolutions presented in either branch of the Legislature, check lists of the public documents of the several states, including all reports issued by the various departments, boards and commissions of this State, and digests of such public laws . . ."
April 1954 (Texas Libraries, vol. 16, no. 4, April, 1954, pages 22-23) "U.S. Government Publications"
A list of recently received federal documents available for interlibrary loan.
November 1954 (Texas Libraries, vol. 16, no. 11, November, 1954, pages 4-7) "The Role of the State Library"
[Excerpt:] "This statement of the role of the state library was prepared by delegates to the National Association of State Libraries at Minneapolis, June 18-19, 1954 . . . Public Documents Services - The collection, servicing, distribution and exchange of state documents is the responsibility of the state library. Of equal importance is the collection and servicing of Federal documents. Collections and servicing of the documents of local governmental jurisdictions, semi-public and non-governmental bodies, are best performed in the state library. The state library issues a checklist of its state's documents and is the official state depository for all official publication and reports of any nature. If possible, the library should be a full Federal depository library and it should secure those Federal publications not issued by the Government Printing Office. The state library participates in the cooperative cataloging program of the Library of Congress, providing copy for printed catalog cards for the documents published by the state. The state library takes such actions as may be necessary to provide the Library of Congress with copies of all state publications for the use of the state's delegation in the Congress, for the use of Federal governmental agencies, and for listing in the Monthly Checklist of State Publications."
