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A University Chancellor’s Library

What can you learn about someone by studying the books they read?

Joseph M.M. Gray, a Methodist minister, served as Chancellor of American University from 1934-1940. At his inauguration in 1934, American University launched its School of Public Affairs. American University Library is in the process of cataloging some books from Gray’s personal library. The books are all inscribed and dated. The inscriptions include Gray’s location so you can follow his travels. One of the books is marked “On S.S. Lapland.” Other locations include Detroit, Michigan, Gray Rocks, Gloucester, Massachusetts, Kansas City, Missouri, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Gray Rocks was the name of his family’s summer home. Many of the books are slightly annotated. The multiple inscriptions in the back document that Gray read John Brown’s Body by Stephen Vincent Benet several times between 1928 and 1934. His annotations range from comments “It was Grant who said…” to criticism “This would be better in alternating rhyme.” The collection reveals his interest in poetry, Shakespeare, and Greek drama. Though we do not have his entire library, this collection does provide us with insight into Joseph M.M. Gray as an individual.

Archives Reading Room: Summer Hours

Effective Thursday  May 7, 2009 – The Archives Reading Room will be open for individual quiet study Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.  It will be available for meetings and events on a first-come, first-served basis Monday through Thursday from 5:00pm to 9:00 pm (May 11 – August 6).  Individuals interested in reserving the Archives Reading Room should contact Tiffany Hairston at (202) 885-3233 or Elizabeth LaRocca at (202) 885-3847.

Explanation of Food and Drink Policy

Since the Archives Reading Room has opened for individual quiet study, we have gotten numerous questions about the rationale for the food and drink restrictions.

The two primary reasons why food and drink are not permitted in the Archives Reading Room are as follows:

  • Wherever food and drink are consumed, there is increased likelihood for crumbs, spills and food waste which can attract pests and thus poses risks for our archival and manuscript collections that are stored in the room next door.
  • Researchers use the tables in the reading room to consult rare materials.  It is not feasible to clean the tables after each use so we must institute procedures to avoid spills.

Our policy is similar to those at other local universities including the University of Maryland. 

I encourage anyone with questions about this policy to contact the Archives for further information.

Reserved Signs

When there are no researchers in the reading room, students may use the tables reserved for researcher use.  If necessary, students may be asked to relocate to another table if and when a researcher wants to consult a collection.

Archives Reading Room Opens for Individual Quiet Study

The Archives Reading Room, located on the third floor of the AU Library, primarily exists to support scholarly research in the AU Archives and Special Collections. As part of the ongoing renovations and improvements in the library building funded by the university and library supporters, the Archives Reading Room has been refurbished with new tables, chairs, and electrical outlets. This significant upgrade in equipment allows for a major change in Reading Room usage.

Effective April 6, 2009, the Archives Reading Room will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. for individual quiet study. One or more tables will be designated for use of Archives staff and researchers, and open tables will be available to the community. Consumption of food and drinks is not permitted in the Archives Reading Room. The policy will be enforced, and any evidence of food consumption in the space may result in the reduction of hours.

Stay tuned to the American University Archives and Special Collections blog for news about collections, events, and the Archives Reading Room.