Strengthening the Collections
During the year, the Libraries were in receipt of a number of important and impressive collections including the following:
The Sterling Byrd Collection
The Sterling Byrd Collection arrived in the Libraries in late 1998. Sterling Byrd was one of the four children of Harry Clifton "Curly" Byrd, president of the University of Maryland from 1935 to 1954. Sterling preserved many important documents, books, photographs, and pieces of realiz chronicling his father's life and accomplishments. The collection traces Harry Clifton Byrd's footsteps from his childhood days in Crisfield, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, to his exploits as a student at the Maryland Agricultural College, as the University of Maryland was known through 1916, to his rise through the coaching and administrative ranks to the presidency of his alma mater.
East Asia Collection
Mrs. Julia Kuroda, widow of Andrew Yoshinobu Kuroda, former head of the Japanese Section at the Library of Congress and the first Unitarian Minister of Japanese ancestry in the United States, donated his extensive library to the Libraries' East Asia Collection. The gift of 3,258 volumes comprises 1,817 Japanese books, 1,367 English books including many relating to Japanese studies and culture, and 74 Biblical works including some rare materials. The Japanese books cover such topics as history, society, politics, foreign relations, and science and technology, and bring to over 43,000 the number of Japanese titles in the East Asia Collection. Mr. Kuroda retired from the Library of Congress in 1981 after having also served as its Field Director in Tokyo.
The Irwin Cohen Collection
A large collection of books, periodicals, manuscripts, and graphic work largely focusing on the life and work of write Djuna Barnes was presented to the Libraries by Irwin Cohen. The Irwin Cohen Collection includes typescripts, historic playbills, materials used to produce the Creatures in an Alphabet series, and photographs of Djuna Barnes herself.
Jerry (Tucker) Schatz Collection
The Library of American Broadcasting (LAB) became the home of the Jerry (Tucker) Schatz Collection. Jerome Schatz worked as a child actor in Hollywood and New York in both film and radio during the 1930's and early 1940's. He took the stage name "Jerry Tucker" when a film executive told his parents that Schatz was "too ethnic." Jerry Tucker's best known role was as the spoiled rich kid in the "Our Gang" comedies. In the Schatz Collection are scripts from radio shows (including one autographed by fellow performers Babe Ruth, Jimmy Dorsey and Gene Tierney), a scrapbook documenting Jerry's career, photographs, and his Paramount Cubs baseball uniform from his days as official team mascot.
Sol Taishoff Collection
The Papers of the late Sol Taishoff, one of broadcasting's most influential voices, were presented to the Pioneers Library of American Broadcasting (LAB) thanks to the generosity of family members. This new collection is second only in size to the Arthur Godfrey Collection at LAB. From his unique position as a co-founder and editor of Broadcasting magazine, Taishoff was involved in every facet of the industry. His personal relationships with both lawmakers and executives are documented in the collection.
American Center for Children's Television Awards Collection
The first shipment of over 400 entries for excellence in children's television, a part of the American Center for Children's Television Awards Collection, arrived this year in the National Public Broadcasting Archives (NPBA). The collection contains both local and national programming including ABC and CBS After School Specials, Schoolhouse Rock segments, and cartoons such as the Smurfs and Muppet Babies.
The George Wright Society
The George Wright Society designated the National Trust for Historic Preservation Library as the permanent repository for all its publications. These include numerous reports, the proceedings of its biennial meetings, and the quarterly journal, The George Wright Forum. The National Trust Library also received a cash gift of $25,000 towards the purchasing of his library and archives from Dr. William J. Murtagh who will donate these at a future date. Dr. Murtagh, who has served Vice President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and as the first Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, was instrumental in bringing the National Trust Library to the UM campus in 1986.
Other significant collections
Other significant collections received during the year included the Mancur Olson Papers, the George Geesey Papers, the Dr. James L. Loper Papers, the James Day Collection, the collection of Dr. Josephine Withers of the Art History & Archaeology Department, the Pagnani Collection of Old Girl Books, a collection of Judaica from UM Professor Benjamin Schneiderman, the Ray Hiebert Papers, the John Pauker Papers, the U.S. Women's Lacrosse Association Collection, the Railroad History Collection, and a generous gift of African American art materials from the collection of Sandra Fitzpatrick.
© 2001 University of Maryland Libraries
Last Revised: 01/24/01