Oregon State University Libraries Volume 2, Number2 Oregon State
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essen'esseiu er Oregon State University Libraries Volume 2,2, NumberNumber2 2 Summer, 1986 Linus Pauling'sPauling's Address to Friends ofof thethe LibraryLibrary On Saturday, April 19, 1986, at 11:30 am.a.m. inin thethe MemorialMemorial Union Lounge, our honored guest Linus Pauling graciously met and greeted members of the Friends of the Library. At this annual meeting reception and luncheon, we gathered to share in the excitement of his marvelous gifts to the Oregon State UUniversity niversity Library. In his remarks following lunch, he expressed feelings of pleasure and satisfac- tion for the decision to give his collection of writings, books, manuscripts, and medals toOSU. A 1922 graduate in Chemical Engineering, Dr. Pauling said he was especially pleased to have his close association with Oregon State University " iadeade eveneven closer.closer. He expressed pleasure in meeting all of Linus Pauling greets Friends of the Library members at their annual meeting. the Friends of the Library because "Libraries areare extremelyextremely important."important." HeHe saidsaid therethere Mrs. Merryfield then referred to some of is an association between working for MINUTESMJ N VIES the activities of the Friends: the "Messenger" libraries and world peace. "There is which is a newsletter published three times nothing more important than knowledge, Friends ofof the librarylibrary Luncheon a year by OSU Library and Friends of the and libraries are essential to the preservation and AnnualAnnual Meeting,Meeting, AprilApril 19, Library, this year's fund drive, and the and dissemination of knowledge. If people 1986 annual luncheon and program. She further are educated, we'll have world peace in The Annual Meeting was called to order stated more individuals are needed to work the future and not the destruction of followingfollowing aa luncheonluncheon inin MUMU 109,109, attendedattended on committees with the members of the civilization in a nuclear war." by 160 people. Mrs. Merryfield, President, Board. He shared some memories on how introduced State Senator Mae Yih, Senator Mrs. Merryfield stated the fund raising, important libraries have been to him and Mrs. Clifford Trow, Representative for which everyone had received informa- through his life, first as a youngster in Tony Van Vliet, Chancellor and Mrs. tion, was for the NEH Challenge Fund, a Portland, Oregon, then as a student at William Davis, President and Mrs. John portion of which will be an endowment for OAC (now Oregon State University), and Byrne, and Dr. Pauling's daughter, Linda thethe Library.Library. SoSo farfar $16,250$16,250 hashas beenbeen raisedraised later at the California Institute of Technology. Pauling Kamb. toward the Challenge Fund. He even had occasion, in 1961, to use the Mrs. Merryfield also introduced the Dr. Melvin George, Director of OSU Lenin Library in Moscow. While attending current members of the FOL Board of Libraries, was then introduced. He spoke a month-long Bio-Chemical Symposium in Directors: Alice Doty, Freya Hermann, of this special day to recognize Dr. Pauling, Moscow, he missed work at his laboratory. Anne Merryfield, Sheryl Bennett, Charlotte and of gratitude to the Friends for their part To continue his study of atomic nuclei, he Thompson, Don Wirth, and absent in preparation for this event. He stated decided to do some reading. The book he Board members Alice Wallace, Hal Moe, current FOL membership now totaled needed, by a California collegue, was Susan Dyer, and Mary O'Brien. more than 200, while just a few years ago made available to him by the "local The Nominating Committee members there werewere aboutabout 10.10. F-feHe thenthen presentedpresented library"library." were acknowledgedJaneann Warkentin, Anne Merryfield with an engraved silver Dr. Pauling said that as the years go by Chair; Hal Moe, and Mary O'Brien. The tray with the inscription "The OSU Library he becomes more and more convinced of following slate of officers was presented to Director's Award, 1985/86" in appreciation thethe importanceimportance ofof knowledge,knowledge, ofof civilization,civilization. the general membership: Freya Hermann, of her time and efforts. ' and of libraries. He concluded by President; Members: Henrietta Chambers, In his introduction of the speaker, Dr. :ongratulating all those in attendance who Denny Hedges, James Oldfield, Don George spoke of Dr. Pauling's Nobel are Friends of the Library at Oregon State Sanderson, and Jean Harman. Since there Medals in two different fields, his great U niversity. were no further nominations from the humanitarian endeavors, his achievements floor, it was proposed and seconded that in the scientific worlds universally, and the slate be accepted. The motion carried how his peace movements changed both American attitudes and the history of the unanimously. - (continued on next page) Emphasis will be placed upon security and that are in some way related to the Thoughts from the Director of the preservation of the unique materials, strengths of the University. Thus, collections which will be stored there. A Special related to research in, or to the history of, - Libraries Collections Librarian and staff will be hired agriculture, engineering, forestry,forestry, homehome By now most readers know that Linus to handle the complex tasks which these economics, oceanography, pharmacy and .-'' Pauling came to Corvallis last April 17-19, materials require, and the staff will be science and their related cultural and bringing with him a new opportunity and charged with ensuring their preservation to literary traditions will be especially welcome. an awesome challenge for the University perpetuity. Once the library's special collections staff Libraries. Dr. Pauling has decided that the The University wishes toto collectcollect allall are in place it will be their responsibility to libraries of Oregon State University should papers, medals, models, correspondence, follow up on suggestions and leads which be the repository for his own papers and notebooks, books, and any other material you, the readers of The Messenger, can those of his wife, Ava Helen Pauling. The or memorabilia gathered by Dr. and Mrs. provide. Readers who make such recom- organization of the Pauling papers and the Pauling as they went about their public and mendations will have a part in ensuring the development of collections which will private lives. In addition, the Library health and vitality of research at Oregon supplement and help to interpret them is a intends to acquire related materials which State and in preserving the past and the new undertaking for the libraries of will make the Special Collections Room at present for generations yet to come. Oregon State. This work brings to OSU a OSU the definitive source of information concern for what research libraries term for scholars about the Paulings' life and "SpecialSpecial Collections."Collections." work. The aim of the Library will be to As the term implies, special collections furnish a complete record of the Paulings are not treated like other collections. They so that one may review not only their are usually housed together inin anan areaarea ofof record of achievement, but the marital extraordinary security and the descriptive relationship and personal characteristics finding guides to the materials are generally which resulted in Dr. Pauling being the more detailed than the cataloging which is only individual in history to be awarded given to ordinary library materials. Special two unshared Nobel Prizes. collections often contain manuscripts, notes, and other working papers as well as Future Collections published books and journal articles. They While the Pauling material will hold attempt to be a file of everything a scholar priority, it is the Library's hope that it will might need for research on a certain topic bebe thethe firstfirst ofof manymany specialspecial collectionscollections inin the future. Oregon State has been closely or person, or they attempt to provide a .. the person who shall havedone the most or collection of materials not available linked to the development of farming and the best work for fraternity among nations, for elsewhere. As a consequence, such ranching, the improvement of mining and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and collections tend to have a relatively narrow other engineering activities, and the use of forforthe the holdingholding andand promotionpromotion ofof peacepeace focus. While the items which comprise a forest and marine resources in Oregon. congresses. special collection may not have great value Scholars often turn to OSU and its library Paris, NovemberNovember27, 27, 1895 Alfred Bernhard Nobel individually, they do have value as a to find a record of such accomplishments. consequence of being part of a unique Meanwhile materials which could support 4 collection. study in those areas may be languishing The valuable comprehensiveness of a unnoticed in attics and forgotten files Continued from Front Page specialspecial collectioncollection demandsdemands specialspecial treat-treat- across the State or throughout the Pacific world. Mention was made of the loving ment. The materials usually are not loaned, Northwest. The records of defunct mining relationship of the Pauling family and of and users must journey to the site of the companies may provide scholars with new Ava Pauling's contributions in the peace collection to study. Upon arrival, the evidence about historical development in movement along with those of Dr. Pauling. scholar is likely to be met with unusual rural areas and the importance of Dr. Pauling talked of his years at OSU restrictions. There may be limitations upon engineering innovations throughout when the Library was in Kidder Hall, of his photocopying and upon what personal Oregon. The papers and diaries of farmers Beaver year books, and how libraries were items may be brought into the room to and ranchers could allow the study of the such an important part of his research. ensure against theft. The use of fountain social, economic, political, and religious (Details of Dr. Pauling's address are and ballpoint pens, which could deface history of the State.