Charles Wendell David
Encyclopedia
Charles Wendell David was a noted American bibliophile, medievalist and librarian. He worked tirelessly both to reconstruct Europe's war-torn repositories and to establish new libraries in the United States.
before returning to establish his academic career at Harvard and Bryn Mawr. David pioneered the "open access" concept of the college library, throwing open the doors to all students (as opposed to traditional "classed" libraries open only to faculty, "upper" or "lower" classmen) before arriving in Philadelphia to serve the University of Pennsylvania
as its first Director of Libraries, where he transformed their dilapidated collection into America's first centralized, open-access library in its modern form.
Prof. David retired to West Chester, Pennsylvania
, where he continued to mentor and educate until his death in 1984.
copies of manuscripts so that these works would remain available to American scholars (at least in copy). Consequently, certain of his rotogravures are the only remaining images of manuscripts destroyed or damaged by the war, or that have since become deteriorated or misplaced. This collection became part of the Modern Language Association
photoimagery collection at the Library of Congress
, where it remains today.
Prof David published his critical edition of a rare Third Crusade
manuscript through the American Philosophical Association
in 1939, using one of his rotogravures to complete his study. This manuscript was in fair condition before the war, but its pages are now blank – this manuscript contains very important information about medieval sailing and pilgrimage that would have been lost without Prof. David's work.
Medievalist Dana Cushing now studies and lectures on Prof David's rotogravure copy of the manuscript: she provides a free, public-access, digital copy of the manuscript and of Prof. David's critical edition of it (_Narratio de Itinere Navali Peregrinorum Hierosolymam Tendentium et Silvam Capientium A.D. 1189_) by kind permission of the Library of Congress which owns the rotogravure copies, the Accademia delle Scienze di Torino which owns the original manuscript, and the American Philosophical Society which published Prof David's 1939 article.
Over 80 years later, Prof David's book about the Siege of Lisbon
and the De expugnatione Lyxbonensi
remains the authoritative study, entitled De expugnatione Lyxbonensi: The conquest of Lisbon. The book was recently revised by noted Crusades historian, Dr Jonathan Phillips, for a paperback re-issue. Most of Prof David's medieval and librarianship books remain available, if not in print.
, Connecticut, and a library for America's industrial heritage located at Longwood, Delaware
.
Biography
A modest American farmboy, he went to college on scholarships, and achieved a Rhodes scholarshipRhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
before returning to establish his academic career at Harvard and Bryn Mawr. David pioneered the "open access" concept of the college library, throwing open the doors to all students (as opposed to traditional "classed" libraries open only to faculty, "upper" or "lower" classmen) before arriving in Philadelphia to serve the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
as its first Director of Libraries, where he transformed their dilapidated collection into America's first centralized, open-access library in its modern form.
Prof. David retired to West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, where he continued to mentor and educate until his death in 1984.
Historical studies
Empathizing with the financial and travel problems of his students in European history, and anticipating the return of Europe to censorship and war, Prof. David travelled Europe in the mid-1930s determined to create rotogravureRotogravure
Rotogravure is a type of intaglio printing process; that is, it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier...
copies of manuscripts so that these works would remain available to American scholars (at least in copy). Consequently, certain of his rotogravures are the only remaining images of manuscripts destroyed or damaged by the war, or that have since become deteriorated or misplaced. This collection became part of the Modern Language Association
Modern Language Association
The Modern Language Association of America is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and literature...
photoimagery collection at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, where it remains today.
Prof David published his critical edition of a rare Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
manuscript through the American Philosophical Association
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work...
in 1939, using one of his rotogravures to complete his study. This manuscript was in fair condition before the war, but its pages are now blank – this manuscript contains very important information about medieval sailing and pilgrimage that would have been lost without Prof. David's work.
Medievalist Dana Cushing now studies and lectures on Prof David's rotogravure copy of the manuscript: she provides a free, public-access, digital copy of the manuscript and of Prof. David's critical edition of it (_Narratio de Itinere Navali Peregrinorum Hierosolymam Tendentium et Silvam Capientium A.D. 1189_) by kind permission of the Library of Congress which owns the rotogravure copies, the Accademia delle Scienze di Torino which owns the original manuscript, and the American Philosophical Society which published Prof David's 1939 article.
Over 80 years later, Prof David's book about the Siege of Lisbon
Siege of Lisbon
The Siege of Lisbon, from July 1 to October 25, 1147, was the military action that brought the city of Lisbon under definitive Portuguese control and expelled its Moorish overlords. The Siege of Lisbon was one of the few Christian victories of the Second Crusade—it was "the only success of the...
and the De expugnatione Lyxbonensi
De expugnatione Lyxbonensi
De expugnatione Lyxbonensi is an eyewitness account of the Siege of Lisbon at the start of the Second Crusade, and covers the expedition from the departure of the English contingent on 23 May 1147 until the fall of Lisbon on 28 June 1148...
remains the authoritative study, entitled De expugnatione Lyxbonensi: The conquest of Lisbon. The book was recently revised by noted Crusades historian, Dr Jonathan Phillips, for a paperback re-issue. Most of Prof David's medieval and librarianship books remain available, if not in print.
Legacy
The public can visit two libraries he founded: a library for America's history of her seas and sailing located at Mystic SeaportMystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in Mystic, Connecticut, is notable both for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village...
, Connecticut, and a library for America's industrial heritage located at Longwood, Delaware
Longwood, Delaware
Longwood is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States.- References :...
.