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William S. Dix Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
William S. Dix served as Princeton's University Librarian from 1953 until his retirement in 1975, at which time he was named Librarian Emeritus. Despite the demands of directing one of the nation's leading research libraries for over 20 years, Dix remained an active figure in the world of libraries up until his death in 1978.
Born in 1910 in Winchester, VA, William S. Dix received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Virginia, and in 1946, a PhD in American literature from the University of Chicago. Prior to his appointment as Princeton's University Librarian in 1953, he had been a professor and librarian at the Rice Institute (now known as Rice University).
William S. Dix's dedication to his field was manifested in the astounding number of professional activities in which he took part outside of his position at Princeton. Dix was a lifetime member of the American Library Association, serving as chairman of the Intellectual Freedom Committee (1951-1953), chairman of the International Relations Committee (1955-1960), First Vice-President (1968), and President-Elect (1969). Dix's commitment to the Association of Research Libraries was equally weighty, including terms as Executive Secretary (1957-1959) and President (1962-1963). Dix was also chairman of the Association of Research Libraries' Shared Cataloging Committee, where he was instrumental in shaping the Library of Congress' international program of centralized cataloguing, going so far as to testify before congressional committees in 1965 and 1967 on the benefits of such a program.
William S. Dix's involvement in library affairs was not limited by national borders. From 1955 to 1961 he was a member of the United States National Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and during this time he acted as a delegate to a number of international library conferences. Later, in 1967-1969, Dix was called upon by Secretary of State Dean Rusk to serve on the U.S. State Department's Advisory Committee on International Book and Library Programs.
As Princeton's University Librarian, Dix was often called upon as a consultant by other institutions and organizations. Among those to whom Dix acted as an advisor were Rutgers Library School, Duke University Library, Harvard University Library, the New Jersey Library Association, and the Academic Freedom Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Dix died in 1978 while still a member of the Library of Congress' National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU), a forward thinking organization whose mission was to explore the impact of photocopying, software, and electronic access upon copyrighted works. The CONTU final report, published shortly after Dix's death, became the basis for section 117 of the United States Copyright Act governing computer programs and software.
The William S. Dix Papers document Dix's professional life outside of his career as Princeton's University Librarian, with the bulk of the documentation focusing on Dix's service as a member of the United States National Commission for UNESCO and the Association of Research Libraries. The papers primarily contain correspondence; however, reports, meeting minutes, and articles are also included.
Please see series descriptions in the contents list for additional information about individual series.
The bulk of this collection was donated by Mrs. William S. Dix in May and August of 1979. A small addition of materials was later made by Donald W. Koepp, Dix's successor as University Librarian.
This collection was processed by Daniel Brennan in July, 2006. Finding aid written by Daniel Brennan in July, 2006.
Appraisal has been conducted in accordance with Mudd Manuscript Library guidelines.
People
Organization
- American library association
- Association of Research Libraries.
- U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
- Unesco
- United States
- Rutgers University. Library.
- Princeton University. Library
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Daniel Brennan
- Finding Aid Date
- 2006
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. If copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers will not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with non-commercial use of materials from the Mudd Library. For materials where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
The United States National Commission for UNESCO series contains William S. Dix's correspondence during his time as a member of the commission. The letters consist largely of invitations to upcoming meetings and conferences, as well as exchanges of ideas with other organizations.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent with the exception of correspondence with UNESCO administration and UNESCO subcommittees, which is found at the end of the run.
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The National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works series contains correspondence, meetings agendas, and research materials compiled by William S. Dix during his time on the commission, which lasted until his death in 1978. The numerous report drafts in the series illustrate the evolution of the Committee's thinking on copyright issues.
Arranged by document type. Correspondence and meeting agendas are interfiled while research reports are filed separately.
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The Subject Files series contains correspondence and clippings on a variety of subjects, some related to the activities and interests of William S. Dix. Topics in files include trips, conferences, organizations and committees, and consultant work. Also notable is a 1968 article about William S. Dix from Presbyterian Life magazine.
General subject files are arranged alphabetically. Files pertaining to commissions, committees, and institutions of which William S. Dix was a member are filed separately.
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The American Library Association and Association of Research Libraries series contains correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and clippings which document William S. Dix's participation as a leader of two of the nation's largest library associations. Of the two organizations, there is a substantially greater amount of material pertaining to the Association of Research Libraries and the many subcommittees of which Dix was a member.
The records are arranged alphabetically by organization.
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