Essae Martha Culver

Essae Martha Culver
Born (1882-11-15)November 15, 1882
Emporia, Kansas
Died January 3, 1973(1973-01-03) (aged 90)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality American
Occupation Librarian
Known for President of the American Library Association

Essae Martha Culver (November 15, 1882 – January 3, 1973) was an American librarian, the first state librarian of Louisiana and President of the American Library Association.

Early life

Culver was born in Emporia, Kansas to Joseph Franklin Culver and Mary Murphy Culver. She was the youngest in a family of four boys and four girls. She graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, California in 1905 with a major in piano and voice. Working in the college library led to an interest in librarianship. She attended the New York State Library School from 1907 to 1908 but left that program early to join the Public Library of Salem, Oregon.[1]

Library career

Culver worked with rural libraries in Oregon for two years before accepting a job in California in 1914. From 1914 to 1925, Culver held a variety of positions with the California State Library and in county libraries across the state. Culver became familiar with developing and working in rural libraries as both the Oregon and California library systems had both developed a model for rural library development. Particularly in California, a model had emerged from innovative legislation, enacted in 1909 and 1911, which provided for a state library at the apex of a network of highly visible libraries spread throughout each county.[2] Culver’s familiarity with this model equipped her to undertake the development of rural libraries in other states, such as Louisiana.

In 1925 the American Library Association (ALA) became interested in supporting the development of libraries in Louisiana and provided a three-year grant of $50,000.00 to promote the development of libraries and the creation of a library commission. Louisiana was chosen out of twelve competing states. The ALA grant, or the Carnegie grant, was offered formally by Milton Ferguson at this Louisiana Library Commission meeting to develop a model of modern library service in the South.[3] The Louisiana Library Commission selected forty-two-year-old librarian, Essae Martha Culver to aid the commission. Culver was familiar with the rural library system which the Louisiana Library Commission sought to replicate.

In the summer of 1925, she moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to be the executive secretary of the Louisiana Library Commission. She was later named the first state librarian of Louisiana. The Louisiana Library Commission took Culver’s advice and recommendations and decided to establish one demonstration library in Northern Louisiana Parish and another in the southern part of the state.[4] Culver directed a project to establish public libraries in rural Louisiana, funded by a grant of $50,000 from the Carnegie Corporation.[5]

Quickly after Culver’s arrival in the foreign state of Louisiana, she received a letter from Louisiana lawyer J.O. Modisette who wanted to offer his services in any way possible.[6] Culver accepted his offer as she had identified shortcomings in the existing library law. Additionally, Modisette was a licensed California lawyer. His familiarity with both Louisiana and California laws was a benefit as the Louisiana rural library development was modeled on that of California. Culver and Modisette continued their working relationship until his death in 1942. Modisette was named the Louisiana Library Commission’s chairman during this period.

Culver also worked to establish a library school at Louisiana State University. Culver was elected president of the Louisiana Library Association in 1928, and the organization named a distinguished service award for her in 1964. She was president of the League of Library Commissions and the Southwestern Library Association. She was also the seventh woman president of the American Library Association from 1940 to 1941.[7]

Culver retired in 1962 and she died in Baton Rouge on January 3, 1973, of respiratory failure.[8][9]

Awards and Honors

References

  1. ↑ Currier, L. G. (1959). "The lengthened shadow: Essae M. Culver and the Louisiana State Library". ALA Bulletin. 59: 35–37.
  2. ↑ Jumonville, F.M. (2013). "). "Interested in Public Libraries": J. O. Modisette and the Contributions of a Louisiana Library Commissioner". Information & Culture. 48 (1): 112–133.
  3. ↑ Jumonville, F.M. (2013). "). "Interested in Public Libraries": J. O. Modisette and the Contributions of a Louisiana Library Commissioner". Information & Culture. 48 (1): 112–133.
  4. ↑ Jumonville, F.M. (2013). "). "Interested in Public Libraries": J. O. Modisette and the Contributions of a Louisiana Library Commissioner". Information & Culture. 48 (1): 112–133.
  5. ↑ Jumonville, Florence M. (Spring 2004). "The Role of the State in the Organization of Statewide Library Service: Essae M. Culver, Louisiana 's First State Librarian". Library Trends. 53. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Jumonville, F.M. (2013). "). "Interested in Public Libraries": J. O. Modisette and the Contributions of a Louisiana Library Commissioner". Information & Culture. 48 (1): 112–133.
  7. ↑ "ALA's Past Presidents". American Library Association. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Culver, Essae M. (1953). "Louisiana State Library [and Its Predecessors, 1909–53]". Bulletin of the Louisiana Library Association. 16: 18–20, 41–48.
  9. ↑ "Essae Martha Culver (1882-1973)". Know LA – Encycolpedia of Louisiana. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
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