Harry Miller Lydenberg papers, 1923-1958.

Links

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Creator

Lydenberg, Harry Miller, 1874-1960.

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division

Extent

• 25 linear feet (50 boxes).

Access Restrictions

Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.

Scope/Contents Note

Collection consists of Lydenberg's correspondence, writings, speeches, personal assorted papers, and printed matter. General correspondence is mainly incoming lettersand concerns the Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin in Mexico City, conservation of library materials and business and personal matters. Subject correspondence also relates to these issues and to the effect of World War II on libraries. Prominent correspondents include authors, librarians and publishers. Organizational correspondence contains materials concerning professional organizations, publishing companies and libraries (the New York Public Library correspondence dates from the period after Lydenberg's retirement.) Writings and speeches series consists of typescripts, correspondence, notes, and printed matter relating to his writings. Personal assortedpapers include genealogical information, personal correspondence, family papers, photographs of family, friends and libraries, and correspondence from Lydenberg'strip to Europe in 1923-1924 to establish contacts for the acquisition of library materials.

Biographical/Historical Note

Harry Miller Lydenberg (1874-1960) was the third director of the New York Public Library, from 1934 to 1941. Prior to becoming director, he worked at the Library for nearly forty years including serving as the administrative assistant to John Shaw Billings, the first director, in 1899, Chief Reference Librarian from 1908 to 1927, and assistant director from 1928 to 1934. He was active in various professional organizations and continued to work with international library groups after his retirement from the Library. He was director of the Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin in Mexico City from 1941 to 1943, director of the American Library Association's Board on International Relations from 1943 to 1946 and was a memberof the Library of Congress Purchasing Mission to Germany after World War II. His other professional activities included serving as president of the American Library Association, the Bibliographical Society of America and the New York Library Club. He also published numerous books and articles.

Controlled Access Terms

• Lydenberg, Harry Miller, 1874-1960.
• Acquisitions (Libraries).
• Books -- Conservation and restoration.
• Booksellers and bookselling -- Europe.
• Libraries -- Europe.
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Libraries.
• Libraries -- Mexico.
• Libraries -- Soviet Union.
• Europe -- Description and travel.
• Europe, Eastern -- Description and travel.
• Soviet Union -- Description and travel.
• Photopgraphs.
• Librarians.

Additional Creator Names

• Anderson, Edwin Hatfield, 1861-1947.
• Archer, John, 1886-1956.
• Beals, Ralph A. (Ralph Albert)
• Bennett, Paul A., 1897-1966.
• Brown, Karl, 1895-1970.
• Cather, Willa, 1873-1947.
• Clapp, Verner W. (Verner Warren), 1901-1972.
• Eames, Wilberforce, 1855-1937.
• Freehafer, Edward Geier, 1909-1985.
• Fulton, Deoch.
• Jernigan, Charlton C.
• Kuhn, Helmut, 1899-
• Kup, Karl, 1903-
• Ledyard, Lewis Cass.
• Melcher, Frederick Gershon, 1879-
• Metcalf, Keyes DeWitt, 1889-
• Rush, Charles E.
• Thurman, William.
• Yarmolinsky, Avrahm, 1890-1975.
• Benjamin Franklin Library (Mexico City, Mexico)
• American Antiquarian Society.
• American Book Center for War Devastated Libraries.
• American Council of Learned Societies.
• American Library Association.
• American Philosophical Society.
• Century Association (New York, N.Y.)
• New York Public Library.
• R.R. Bowker Company.
• United States Book Exchange.