Mary Virginia Gaver Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0059

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The materials in this collection relate primarily to Gaver's professional writing and include correspondence about her contributions, expressing congratulations and thanks for her many services. Also included are: letters from Lucyle Hook, Gaver's co-author for The Research Paper, transcripts, and revisions for publications and speeches; biographical material, including awards; cassette tapes of speeches and interviews; copies of book reviews and lectures on Methodist history which Gaver apparently wrote in her retirement, issues of the Bro-Dart Industries Library Staff Newsletter for the years she served as editor, and teaching materials for a children's literature course.

Dates

1945 - 1979

Creator

Gaver, Mary Virginia, 1906-1991 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical or Historical Information

Mary Virginia Gaver was born in Washington, D.C. in 1906, to Clayton Daniel and Ruth Clendening Gaver. She received her bachelor's degree in English from Randolph-Macon Women's College (Lynchburg, Virginia) in 1927. After a short teaching-librarian career in Virginia secondary schools, she obtained a second bachelor's degree (1932) and a master of science degree (1938), both in library science, from the Columbia School of Library Science.

Gaver became librarian and associate professor at the New Jersey State Teachers College at Trenton in 1942, where she stayed for twelve years. In 1954 she left to become associate professor in the Graduate School of Library Service at Rutgers University. She was promoted to full professor in 1960, and held that post until 1971. Gavers then worked for Bro-Dart Industries until 1975.

Gaver held several prestigious positions in professional library organizations, including president of the Association of School Librarians (1959-1960) and president of the American Library Association (1966-1967).

Extent

4.50 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Mary Virginia Gaver worked as a professional librarian in secondary schools, universities and the private sector for four decades, and also served as president of the Association of School Librarians (1959-1960) and president of the American Library Association (1966-1967).

The Mary Virginia Gaver Papers date from 1945 to 1979 and contain correspondence, manuscripts, books, journal articles, audio tapes, newsletters and sound recordings.

Arrangement Note

The general arrangement of the collection is chronological.

Method of Acquisition

Gift of Mary Virginia Gaver in memory of Mary Frances Kennon Johnson, September 1979 and July 1980, as a part of her entire working collection of children's books and reference materials.

Separated Materials

Some serial publications, such as Parabola and Interracial Books for Children Bulletin were transferred to the Serial Department. The following books have been transferred to Mss publications: Services of Secondary School Media Centers, 1971. School Libraries in Puerto Rico, 1963. A Survey of the Educational Media Services of Calgary Public Schools, 1971. Patterns of Development in Elementary School Libraries Today (1st and 2nd Editions, and 5-year Follow-up Report), three items. The Research Paper, 4th ed., 1969. State-Wide Library Planning, 1969. Effectiveness of Centralized Library Service in Elementary Schools, 1963. Stories of New Jersey, 1961. Perth Amboy Curriculum Study, 1961. The Buck Hill Falls Report, 1966.

Offensive Language Statement

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Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.