University of South Carolina Scholar Commons Faculty Publications Library and Information Science, School of 7-1983 Crisis and Growth SLA, 1918-1919 Robert V. Williams University of South Carolina - Columbia, [email protected] Martha Jane Zachert Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/libsci_facpub Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Publication Info Special Libraries, Volume 74, Issue 3, 1983, pages 254-264. https://www.sla.org/content/shop/speclibs.cfm ©1983 Special Libraries Association This Article is brought to you by the Library and Information Science, School of at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Crisis and Growth SLA, 1918-1919 Robert V. Williams and Martha Jane Zachert College of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. H In 1918, nine years after it was founded, Special Libraries Association was in a crisis situation. Membership was down, finances were in arrears, and leadership was lacking. By the end of 1919, these conditions were almost completely reversed and a foundation had been firmly laid that would ably serve the Association in the coming years. The reasons for this crisis and the subsequent revival are examined in detail. N November 1918, the war to "make of promoting the interests of special li- the world safe for democracy" braries in a variety of private and public I ended, and the United States began settings. Its members were enthusiastic a return to-as Warren G. Harding ex- and their initial efforts resulted in con- pressed it-"nomalcy." In that same tributions to the development of the month, Special Libraries Association concept of special libraries in American officially began its tenth year. Though society (2). the founding gesture had been made in The year 1918-1919, however, was to July 1909, complete organization had be a crucial one, as unmarked by "nor- not taken place until November when a malcy" for the Association as for the constitution was adopted and a full slate country at large. Though it could not be of officers was elected (1). From 1909 to described precisely as moribund, SLA about 1917 the Association maintained had become a passive organization, un- a satisfactory and consistent growth in responsive to the challenges inherent in membership and financial power as it the- growing special libraries move- set about fulfilling its avowed purpose ment. Membership decreased, financial strength was at its lowest point in the decade, and activities appeared en- A broader histor~calsketch of the Associa- feebled. Yet within a year or so the tion's past, co-authored by Williams and situation had reversed; for the year of Zachert, will appear in the October issue of crisis contained the seed for a healthier Special Libraries. It will comprise the second future. in a four-part series of art~clescelebrating SLA's 75th Anniversary (see page 297 for To understand the conditions within further details). SLA, as well as the society in which it 254 Copyr~ghto 1983 Specla1 L~brar~esAssociat~on special libraries and special librarians existed, five but during the period 1917-1918, the factors-can be identified as having in- affairs of the new association and its fluenced major changes in the Associa- members were disrupted. tion's life in 1918-1919. Stated generally, A similar effect was taking place these factors were: within the nation as a whole as it mobi- 1. The syndrome of war economy, lized all its resources for war. Industries with its characteristics of narrow focus. and businesses not critical to the war disruptions, and dislocation was fol- effort were shut down, over two million lowed by a renewed outpouring of men were conscripted into service, and money, people, technology, and infor- hundreds of thousands of women mation into the national economy at the joined the work force. Banks and large end of 1918. investors who formerly had funded the 2. The loss of active leadership in the establishment of new businesses now Association early in 1918 was followed poured their money into the war effort by the infusion of a new, more dynamic through Liberty Bonds and similar ef- leadership on almost every level by the forts. The War Industries Board was end of the year. given authority to set economic priori- 3. The lack of a specific communica- ties and allocate resources. All, how- tion pathway to respond quickly to the ever, were to be directed towards win- needs of the SLA membership was rem- ning the war (3). edied by the provision of a forum for The period from early 1917 to late this explicit purpose. 1918 was a difficult time for the nation, 4. The deterioration of SLA's ability as well as the struggling SLA. Energies to attract new members encouraged the of all types were being redirected, and Association to initiate an enthusiastic even those special librarians who were and successful membership drive. not directly affected by the war in terms 5. The intensification of SLA's of job loss or change were likely to estrangement from the American Li- be taking on new responsibilities that brary Association provided the justi- were in some way related to the war. fication to hold separate annual meet- These disruptions to the affairs of the ings and to develop autonomous SLA Association and its individual mem- programs. bers, like those to the nation itself, Whereas the combination of negative began slowly after April 1917, but in- factors had resulted in a passive organi- creased at a rapid pace within the next zation during 1918, by midyear 1919 the year. These effects were at their height positive factors were in the ascendency, in the nation and within the ~ssocia- enabling the organization to again be- tion in the first half of 1918. come dynamic and effective. Once victory in Europe was achieved in late 1918, the Association began its The War Syndrome revival. The war brought about funda- mental changes in the nature of U.S. in- The best indication of the impact dustry, business and government, all of of World War I on SLA can be found which began to grow and prosper at un- within the pages of Special Libraries (2). precedented rates. With these changes Even before the official entry of the also came new opportunities for special United States into the war, there are librarians and their Association. scattered references to resignations, transfers, and changes in jobs of SLA members and special librarians in gen- SLA Leadership eral. In the months following April 1917, these references appear more and The infusion of a new and dynamic more frequently. Eventually, the war leadership following the July 1918 an- would have a positive effect on libraries nual meeting proved to be the cru- and on special libraries in particular, cial factor in the revival of SLA. Dr. Charles C. Williamson had been elected he may have devoted less time and President of SLA sometime before Oc- interest to SLA than was needed during tober 1916 to succeed F. N. Morton, this crucial period. who resigned because of illness. (4). Williamson had been involved for Williamson had been a member of SLA some time with the Carnegie Corpora- for a number of years, and was in 1916 tion. In May 1918, shortly after his res- Vice President of SLA and President of ignation from his SLA post, he began an affiliate organization, the New York full-time work as a statistician for the Special Libraries Association. As mu- Corporation (9), and in October 1918, nicipal reference librarian of New York he also resumed his position as director City and as director of the Economics of the Economics Division of the New Division of New York Public Library, York Public Library (10). Questioned in he had considerable experience as a 1949 on what he considered the high- special librarian and appeared to be lights of his tenure as SLA President, well-qualified for his responsibilities as Williamson could not remember the SLA President (5). dates of the administration (1 1). Williamson's term (November 1916- Perhaps Williamson was distracted April 1918) was not a distinguished by personal affairs during this impor- one, however; in fact, little seems to tant time for the Association. Un- have been accomplished. His presi- fortunately the record makes plain that dential address of 1917 was an un- no other SLA officer picked up the inspired account of traditional activi- reins. The decline was evident during ties. Even these activities, as reported the 1918 annual meeting at Saratoga in Special Libraries and Library Journal, Springs (8, 12). appeared to have declined as did both membership and financial resources (6). In April 1918, Williamson resigned as President of SLA. The Executive Board did not replace him immediately and, as a consequence, the Association drifted without top leadership for several months (7). Shortly after July 1918, a special com- The exact reasons for Williamson's mittee of SLA elected Guy E. Marion as inability to provide aggressive leader- President. As one of the Association's ship are not known; nor is conjecture founding members, he had remained made easier for the historian by the ab- active in its affairs (13). After serving sence of official records for this period. first as business manager of Special Li- Apparently he tried, for, in his presi- braries (1909-1910), Marion was elected dential address he made a strong plea secretary-treasurer, a post he held until for certain improvements in the Asso- 1915 (14).