John Cotton Dana

JOHN COTTON DANA A LIFE, by FrankKingdon. The Newark Public Library ifMuseum, 1940. 175 pp. $3.00.

JOHN COTTON DANA '74, librarian, was one of the great men of his profession. Fertile of ideas, persuasive, likeable, he influenced the library service of the whole country. Said an editorial in a Syracuse paper: "What the word Bartlett is to the pear, the word Concord to the grape.... such in a sense is the word Dana to libraries." He was interested in many things, took very seriously his duties as a servant of his city. This book is "a case study in the social power of an eager and original intelligence." Upon the reviewer, just entering on the same profession, Dana made an unforgettable impression of force, breadth, kindliness. One felt honored and refreshed after a brief conversation with him.

In Newark, New Jersey, Dana did his greatest work. This brief biography is by the President of the University of Newark. It is written with humor and sympathy, perception and a deft use of words—really a charming piece of work—nothing perfunctory about it. Dana came from Woodstock, Vermont, and the place was always his other home. His Dartmouth days are touched on at some length, with quotations from letters home. His College twice offered him an honorary degree, and there were similar approaches from other institutions. He would not accept them.