Soviet-American Librarian Soviet-American Librarian Intersections: Harriet G. Eddy, First Intersections: Harriet G. Eddy, First California County Library Organizer California County Library Organizer and the California Unified Library and the California Unified Library

PlanPlan

John Richardson Jr., PhDJohn Richardson Jr., PhD

UCLA Professor of Information UCLA Professor of Information StudiesStudies

Moscow, 4 September 2006Moscow, 4 September 2006

Harriet G. EddyHarriet G. Eddy

HGE Early ChronologyHGE Early Chronology

Born in Lexington, Michigan on 19/II/1879; Born in Lexington, Michigan on 19/II/1879; grew up in Adrian, Michigangrew up in Adrian, Michigan

B.A., classical studies, Albion College, 1896B.A., classical studies, Albion College, 1896 Delta Gamma, fraternity memberDelta Gamma, fraternity member

Post-graduate study, University of Chicago, Post-graduate study, University of Chicago, 1901-19031901-1903

Studied in Europe; Teacher in Michigan and Studied in Europe; Teacher in Michigan and MontanaMontana

High School Principal in Elk Grove, High School Principal in Elk Grove, CaliforniaCalifornia

HGE’s LibrarianshipHGE’s Librarianship

Progressive Reform ActsProgressive Reform Acts The Library Acts of 1909 and 1911The Library Acts of 1909 and 1911

Elk Grove Union High School (CA) Elk Grove Union High School (CA) LibraryLibrary

California Library AssociationCalifornia Library Association Political ConnectionsPolitical Connections

James L. Gillis, CA State LibrarianJames L. Gillis, CA State Librarian Hiram W. Johnson, CA Governor Hiram W. Johnson, CA Governor

and and United States SenatorUnited States Senator

HGE’s ModestyHGE’s Modesty

““By profession I was a high school teacher….I By profession I was a high school teacher….I was asked to tell about it at the state library was asked to tell about it at the state library convention and at once the State Librarian convention and at once the State Librarian [Gillis] asked me to join his staff and organize [Gillis] asked me to join his staff and organize county libraries. When I said, ‘But I am a county libraries. When I said, ‘But I am a teacher, not an organizer.’ He said, ‘It will be teacher, not an organizer.’ He said, ‘It will be the same thing. You will teach the county the same thing. You will teach the county officials how to establish one.’ It seems so officials how to establish one.’ It seems so simple that I agreed, and thus became simple that I agreed, and thus became another ‘First’, the first county organizer in another ‘First’, the first county organizer in California, and probably in the U.S.A.” California, and probably in the U.S.A.”

Command and Control Command and Control (C2)(C2)

Command center (i.e., California State Command center (i.e., California State Library)Library) Financial Resources Financial Resources Library MaterialsLibrary Materials Professional KnowledgeProfessional Knowledge Vision and MissionVision and Mission

Effectiveness of organization (i.e., county Effectiveness of organization (i.e., county level)level) Structure versus DecentralizationStructure versus Decentralization Close CommunicationClose Communication Ad Hoc Advice and ConsultationAd Hoc Advice and Consultation

40 of 58 California 40 of 58 California CountiesCounties

Free County Library Free County Library SystemSystem

““The County was the unit;The County was the unit; The supervisors were ex officio the library board;The supervisors were ex officio the library board; A trained, certificated county librarian was A trained, certificated county librarian was

appointedappointed with salary fixed by law;with salary fixed by law; Headquarters at the county seat;Headquarters at the county seat; Branches were established throughout the county;Branches were established throughout the county;

…… The Union Catalog assured supplementary The Union Catalog assured supplementary

service.”service.”

SOURCE: SOURCE: County Free Library Organizing in CaliforniaCounty Free Library Organizing in California 1909-1918, p. 211909-1918, p. 21

HGE’s Talents and HGE’s Talents and Characteristics Characteristics

Liberally educated, but modestLiberally educated, but modest Politically astute enough to get “resolutions of Politically astute enough to get “resolutions of

intention”intention” Women’s clubs, Elected officials (Mayor, Town and City Women’s clubs, Elected officials (Mayor, Town and City

Councils, County Supervisors, Attorneys General), Councils, County Supervisors, Attorneys General), Chambers of Commerce, Granges, City Library Boards, Chambers of Commerce, Granges, City Library Boards, Newspaper editors, Largest taxpayers, PTAs, Improvement Newspaper editors, Largest taxpayers, PTAs, Improvement Clubs, Business Men’s ClubsClubs, Business Men’s Clubs

Adventurous and perseveringAdventurous and persevering Bad roads, bus, stage coach, steamer, row boat, horsebackBad roads, bus, stage coach, steamer, row boat, horseback

Labor union sympathizer (the 1916 Tom MooneyLabor union sympathizer (the 1916 Tom Mooney Question—serving prison time; guilty or Question—serving prison time; guilty or

innocent?)innocent?) Pacifist tendencies expressed in late 1930sPacifist tendencies expressed in late 1930s

Opposition and Resistance Opposition and Resistance to Organizing Effortsto Organizing Efforts

Monopoly (only one library in the state)Monopoly (only one library in the state) Loss of individuality— “being absorbed” Loss of individuality— “being absorbed”

in terms of collectionsin terms of collections Chance for graft (in library purchases)Chance for graft (in library purchases) Increased tax rate or levy:Increased tax rate or levy:

Assessment evaluation: mill on $1 or 2 cents on $100Assessment evaluation: mill on $1 or 2 cents on $100 Too high pay rate for county librarians ($2K as per Too high pay rate for county librarians ($2K as per

law)law) Professional envy or jealousy from city librariansProfessional envy or jealousy from city librarians California State Library would appoint only Eddy’s friendsCalifornia State Library would appoint only Eddy’s friends

North-South rivalryNorth-South rivalry Water from Inyo CountyWater from Inyo County Part of Sacramento’s county library machinePart of Sacramento’s county library machine

““The Outsider”The Outsider”

““A special person…”A special person…”

Anatol V. Lunacharsky, Commissioner Anatol V. Lunacharsky, Commissioner of Education (1917-1929), invites of Education (1917-1929), invites HGE to Russia due to the HGE to Russia due to the Sacramento Sacramento StarStar’s newspaper reporter’s previous ’s newspaper reporter’s previous Moscow trip—of Lunacharsky, she Moscow trip—of Lunacharsky, she says he’s “rated one of the most says he’s “rated one of the most brilliant men in Europe”brilliant men in Europe”

23 January 1927 to August 1927 in 23 January 1927 to August 1927 in Russia Russia

Anatol V. LunacharskyAnatol V. Lunacharsky

SOURCE: wwww.wikipedia.comSOURCE: wwww.wikipedia.com

All-Union Lenin Memorial All-Union Lenin Memorial LibraryLibrary

Nadezhda Konstantinovna Nadezhda Konstantinovna KrupskayaKrupskaya

““Loveliest smile we have seen in Loveliest smile we have seen in Russia. The most intelligent, kind Russia. The most intelligent, kind face, too. Made me think at once of face, too. Made me think at once of Mr. Gillis [former California State Mr. Gillis [former California State Librarian]. Looks like him. Acts like Librarian]. Looks like him. Acts like him. She’s big [two underscores].” him. She’s big [two underscores].”

Genrietta K . Abele-Genrietta K . Abele-DermanDerman

““I enjoy her very much as she has a I enjoy her very much as she has a good head and is absolutely open-good head and is absolutely open-minded” minded”

Anatol V. LunacharskyAnatol V. Lunacharsky 13 July 1927: “Thanked me in name of Russia 13 July 1927: “Thanked me in name of Russia

for coming. Said suggestions would be for coming. Said suggestions would be followed as fast as possible” (Box 2487, folder followed as fast as possible” (Box 2487, folder 6) or “The plan is good for the Soviet Union 6) or “The plan is good for the Soviet Union and we will adopt it as fast as possible” and we will adopt it as fast as possible” whereupon she remarked “which means never whereupon she remarked “which means never unless you send a person to California to unless you send a person to California to observe the system in action” on page [6] of observe the system in action” on page [6] of “Spread of Influence” or on 5 August: “He “Spread of Influence” or on 5 August: “He thanked me most heartily in the name of thanked me most heartily in the name of Russia for coming, and said my articles and Russia for coming, and said my articles and report would be given widest publicity, and report would be given widest publicity, and that the suggestions would be carefully studied that the suggestions would be carefully studied and put into use as fast as possible.” (Box and put into use as fast as possible.” (Box 2493, folder 10). 2493, folder 10).

Anna G. Kravchenko in Anna G. Kravchenko in USA USA

Autumn 1928, Autumn 1928, Anna G. Kravchenko visits Anna G. Kravchenko visits California (Alameda, Fresno, Contra Costa, California (Alameda, Fresno, Contra Costa, Monterey, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, anMonterey, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and d Solano counties) due to influence of Senator Solano counties) due to influence of Senator Johnson, former Governor of California when Johnson, former Governor of California when the Library Act passed; she writes “Toward an the Library Act passed; she writes “Toward an Integrated and Large Library Economy” Integrated and Large Library Economy” (Moscow, 1929)(Moscow, 1929)

Herbert Putnam “is against the general plan in Herbert Putnam “is against the general plan in the library work. He preferred, like he told me the library work. He preferred, like he told me ‘individual’ libraries. He against the one ‘individual’ libraries. He against the one system for whole U.S.”system for whole U.S.”

Orechovo-Zuevo EffortsOrechovo-Zuevo Efforts

November-December 1929, Anna November-December 1929, Anna Kravchenko organizes Orechovo-Kravchenko organizes Orechovo-Zuevo Zuevo

Her strategy is to get trade union Her strategy is to get trade union libraries unified into the municipal libraries unified into the municipal system, in turn, other municipal system, in turn, other municipal libraries into the rayon system, and libraries into the rayon system, and then other libraries into this system.then other libraries into this system.

Eddy Returns in 1930-Eddy Returns in 1930-19311931

This time to teach in the Library This time to teach in the Library Institute (located at Moxovaja 6 in Institute (located at Moxovaja 6 in Khimki, 18 miles from downtown Khimki, 18 miles from downtown Moscow)Moscow)

See “The Library Institute,” a 29-page See “The Library Institute,” a 29-page photo-essay; photo-essay;

and staying at the Hotel Savoy, Room and staying at the Hotel Savoy, Room 334 (“The Legend of Russian 334 (“The Legend of Russian Hospitality” set in neo-classical Hospitality” set in neo-classical architectural style architectural style

The Institute (MGUKI at The Institute (MGUKI at Khimki)Khimki)

““The Beginnings of Unified The Beginnings of Unified Library Service in the Library Service in the

U.S.S.R.” (1932)U.S.S.R.” (1932) Library JournalLibrary Journal 57 (15 January 1932): 61- 57 (15 January 1932): 61-

67.67. Written “in collaboration with Mrs. Written “in collaboration with Mrs.

[Genrietta K. Abele-] Derman (1882-1954), [Genrietta K. Abele-] Derman (1882-1954), director of first Library University,” and director of first Library University,” and Mrs. [Anna] Kravtchenko (sic), Mrs. [Anna] Kravtchenko (sic), Department of Education of Russia and Department of Education of Russia and director of the Institute of Library director of the Institute of Library Science, p. 61; note the 5 photographsScience, p. 61; note the 5 photographs

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements UCLA’s ASCOR international travel funding; UCLA’s ASCOR international travel funding; Dr. Edward Kasinec, NYPL Slavic Collection;Dr. Edward Kasinec, NYPL Slavic Collection; Dr. Cindy Mediavilla, UCLA Department of Dr. Cindy Mediavilla, UCLA Department of

Information Studies and California State Library;Information Studies and California State Library; Mr. Gary Strong, University Librarian at UCLA;Mr. Gary Strong, University Librarian at UCLA; John R. Gonzales and Gary Kurutz, California John R. Gonzales and Gary Kurutz, California

History Room, CSL, Sacramento;History Room, CSL, Sacramento; Matt Weflen, University of Chicago Registrar’s Matt Weflen, University of Chicago Registrar’s

Office, Chicago;Office, Chicago; Paige Berry, Harriet G. Eddy Middle School, Elk Paige Berry, Harriet G. Eddy Middle School, Elk

Grove, California; Grove, California; Elena V. Valinovskaya, NNZ.RU; andElena V. Valinovskaya, NNZ.RU; and Robert and Vivianne Younker of Lincoln, CA.Robert and Vivianne Younker of Lincoln, CA.