Amherst Summer School Collection
Scope and Contents
The Amherst Summer School Collection contains the existing documentation of the Library School; it provides incomplete documentation of the other Summer School programs and activities. The Collection includes four bulletins, 1878-1900; brochures, 1893-1905; a certificate; and lecture notes and examinations. Also in the Collection are Newton F. McKeon's (Librarian of the College, 1939-70) notes on the Library School. McKeon made notes from original documents and from other sources such as Library Journal.
Dates
- 1878-1906
Creator
- Amherst College (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
There is no restriction on access to the Amherst Summer School Collection for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.
Conditions Governing Use
Requests for permission to publish material from the Collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Sauveur started the Normal School of Languages at Amherst College in 1875. In 1878, the School was first held at Amherst College. Its objective was "to familiarize instructors with the 'Natural Method' of teaching ancient and modern languages." By 1894, the Sauveur College of Languages (also known as Sauveur Summer School or Normal School of Languages) joined with the Amherst Summer School. The Summer School offered, in addition to language courses, courses in "library economy," geology, physical education, and other subjects. A 1901 brochure describes the Summer School of Library Economy (also known as Fletcher Library School) as a distinct program developed by William I. Fletcher. By 1906, the program was defunct.
Most of the documents in this small collection are from Fletcher's summer library program. The program was for "beginners in library work, or the librarians of small libraries who have not been brought in contact with modern improved methods, [providing] enough instruction in such methods to answer their immediate demands." W.I. Fletcher taught the five-week program in the Amherst College Library. Typically there were two-hour lectures each morning followed by two-hour "laboratory work" sessions in the afternoon.
Extent
0.25 Linear feet (1 half archives box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Started by Dr. Sauveur as the Normal School of Languages at Amherst College in 1875. Contains existing documentation of the Library School and incomplete documentation of other school programs. Includes bulletins, brochures, lecture notes, examinations and certificates; as well as Newton McKeon's notes on the Library School.
Physical Description
(0.25 linear feet)
- Amherst College. Summer School of Languages
- Amherst College. Summer School of Library Economy
- Fletcher, William Isaac, 1844-1917
- Language and languages -- Study and teaching Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lecture notes Subject Source: Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Library schools Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mckeon, Newton Felch, 1904-1990 (AC 1926)
- Sauveur, Lambert, 1826-1907
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Anne Ostendarp
- Date
- 2003
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Repository Details
Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299
archives@amherst.edu