Associate Librarian Retires

Miss Ellen F. Adams, Associate Librarian of the College and the first woman to achieve the rank of full professor at the College, retired on June go. She came to Dartmouth in 1919 as an assistant in the library.

Born in Springfield, Mo., and raised in Hanover, Miss Adams is a member of a distinguished Dartmouth family. Her father, Charles D. Adams, Class of 1877, was Lawrence Professor of Greek at the College for over thirty years. Dr. Daniel Emerson Adams, her great-grandfather, was a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School in 1803. Two brothers, David E. Adams '13 and Robert E. Adams '17, were also graduated from the College.

Miss Adams received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in 1915 and a Bachelor of Library Science degree from the New York State Library School in 1917. For two years, before coming to Dartmouth, she was acting librarian at Skidmore College.

Named assistant librarian in 1930, Miss Adams was raised again to associate librarian with the rank of full professor in 1955. She started her service with the College library as head of the circulation department, but has since expanded her work into various administrative areas.

Looking back over the past forty years, she has seen the library grow from the confines of Wilson Hall with a staff of fifteen to its present location in Baker Library with nearly 65 employees. Today Baker ranks as the largest undergraduate college library in the nation.

Miss Adams has played an important role in the development of the College's library facilities. In 1928 when Baker was opened she was in charge of arranging the shelves in the new library and placing all books in the proper locations. It has been the steady expansion of facilities, according to Miss Adams, which has made the work interesting.

Edward C. Lathem '51, assistant librarian, has been named associate librarian, replacing Miss Adams. Miss Virginia Close and Miss Adelaide B. Lockhart have both been appointed assistant librarians.

Miss Adams (center) with President and Mrs. Dickey at a reception in her honor.