Isadore Gilbert Mudge
Encyclopedia
Isadore Gilbert Mudge was ranked by the magazine American Libraries
as one of the top 100 important leaders that libraries have had in the 20th Century. Mudge was a defining influence on what a contemporary reference librarian is and was essential for helping organize and promote reference books for all libraries. She is known both as the foremost reference librarian of her time and an author and editor of various reference books.
librarian. She attended Brooklyn’s Adelphi Academy and then went to Cornell University
for philosophy. She was elected to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa for being an outstanding student in her junior year. She was also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta
, the first Greek fraternity for women. During her undergraduate studies she was motivated by Professor and Librarian George Lincoln Burr
to pursue her own library degree. Mudge then went to Albany, New York
to attend the New York State Library School, where she received her “Bachelor of Library Science degree with distinction in 1900”. She never married nor had children.
and an associate professor at the University of Illinois Library School. For three years she maintained both positions. Mudge left the University of Illinois to become the head librarian at Bryn Mawr College
. She considered herself an easterner and that may have been why she changed positions. She worked there for five years and spent the following three years working on writing, traveling to Europe
, and from 1910-1911 Mudge also worked part-time as an instructor at Simmons College
.
and this is where her real legacy began. The President of Columbia, Nicholas Murray Butler, became one of her earliest supporters. Butler found her “incredibly resourceful in meeting his varied reference and bibliographic needs.” She began to push for all libraries to have a reference section that would include at least “the possession of certain basic works, a dictionary, an encyclopedia, an atlas, a biographical dictionary” but hopefully would also include “a book of quotations, handbook of statistics, a state or government manual”.
Around 1927 she began working as an associate professor at Columbia’s new School of Library Services, teaching Bibliography
and Bibliographic Methods. It was teaching this class she coined her phrase “material, mind and method”. She believed reference librarians should know the materials they dealt with, be intelligent with a high quality memory and be able to answer questions in a clear way including the source of material they were using. All three items still apply to what reference librarians do today but on a much grander scale, Mudge probably never dreamed of the information available in libraries today. Of all of her writings she never wrote about these thoughts, but one of her students published an article in a 1937 Library Journal
sharing these ideas with the rest of the world. “Reviewing Mudge’s career at Columbia, Constance Mabel Winchell
, Mudge’s protégé, said: ‘Probably no other one person has contributed so much to the raising the standards of reference collections and reference services in the libraries of this and other countries.’"
asked her to update Guide to Reference
Books, which was desperately needing a supplement to go along with the original edition. She edited the guide through four editions over 20 years. This was an important book at that time to show new librarians what resources were available. This is what she is best known for and was undoubtedly the reason behind some of her ideals and thoughts she taught while teaching both students and other librarians.
She also wrote articles for the Library Journal, worked on editing and creating bibliographies, dictionaries and other reference materials. Quite often her writings were assisted by Minnie Earl Sears
, a colleague and companion. Some of Mudge's writings are still found at Columbia University.
American Libraries
American Libraries is the official news and features magazine of the American Library Association. Published six times per year, along with four additional digital-only supplements, it is distributed to all members of the organization...
as one of the top 100 important leaders that libraries have had in the 20th Century. Mudge was a defining influence on what a contemporary reference librarian is and was essential for helping organize and promote reference books for all libraries. She is known both as the foremost reference librarian of her time and an author and editor of various reference books.
Biography
Isadore Gilbert Mudge was raised in Brooklyn, New York as the oldest child in her family. Her father was an attorney and her mother was the daughter of a University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
librarian. She attended Brooklyn’s Adelphi Academy and then went to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
for philosophy. She was elected to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa for being an outstanding student in her junior year. She was also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, the first Greek fraternity for women. During her undergraduate studies she was motivated by Professor and Librarian George Lincoln Burr
George Lincoln Burr
George Lincoln Burr was a U.S. historian, diplomat, author, and educator, best known as a Professor of History and Librarian at Cornell University, and as the closest collaborator of Andrew Dickson White, the first President of Cornell.Burr was born in Albany, New York and entered the in 1869,...
to pursue her own library degree. Mudge then went to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
to attend the New York State Library School, where she received her “Bachelor of Library Science degree with distinction in 1900”. She never married nor had children.
Librarian
From her very first job as a librarian Mudge wanted library patrons to be able to access reference books and learn on an independent basis. Mudge’s first job was twofold; she “was the head reference librarian at the University of Illinois: UrbanaUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and an associate professor at the University of Illinois Library School. For three years she maintained both positions. Mudge left the University of Illinois to become the head librarian at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
. She considered herself an easterner and that may have been why she changed positions. She worked there for five years and spent the following three years working on writing, traveling to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and from 1910-1911 Mudge also worked part-time as an instructor at Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
.
Columbia University
In 1911 Mudge was hired at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and this is where her real legacy began. The President of Columbia, Nicholas Murray Butler, became one of her earliest supporters. Butler found her “incredibly resourceful in meeting his varied reference and bibliographic needs.” She began to push for all libraries to have a reference section that would include at least “the possession of certain basic works, a dictionary, an encyclopedia, an atlas, a biographical dictionary” but hopefully would also include “a book of quotations, handbook of statistics, a state or government manual”.
Around 1927 she began working as an associate professor at Columbia’s new School of Library Services, teaching Bibliography
Bibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
and Bibliographic Methods. It was teaching this class she coined her phrase “material, mind and method”. She believed reference librarians should know the materials they dealt with, be intelligent with a high quality memory and be able to answer questions in a clear way including the source of material they were using. All three items still apply to what reference librarians do today but on a much grander scale, Mudge probably never dreamed of the information available in libraries today. Of all of her writings she never wrote about these thoughts, but one of her students published an article in a 1937 Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
sharing these ideas with the rest of the world. “Reviewing Mudge’s career at Columbia, Constance Mabel Winchell
Constance Mabel Winchell
Constance Mabel Winchell was an American librarian. Winchell worked at Columbia University for thirty-eight years before retiring in 1962. She is best remembered for producing the seventh and eighth editions of the Guide to Reference Books...
, Mudge’s protégé, said: ‘Probably no other one person has contributed so much to the raising the standards of reference collections and reference services in the libraries of this and other countries.’"
Author
Around the time Mudge came to Columbia the American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
asked her to update Guide to Reference
Guide to Reference
Guide to Reference, published in 2008 as the online successor to Guide to Reference Books, is a selective guide to the best print and online reference sources. An editorial team of reference librarians and subject experts have selected and annotated some 16,000 entries, which are organized by subject...
Books, which was desperately needing a supplement to go along with the original edition. She edited the guide through four editions over 20 years. This was an important book at that time to show new librarians what resources were available. This is what she is best known for and was undoubtedly the reason behind some of her ideals and thoughts she taught while teaching both students and other librarians.
She also wrote articles for the Library Journal, worked on editing and creating bibliographies, dictionaries and other reference materials. Quite often her writings were assisted by Minnie Earl Sears
Minnie Earl Sears
Minnie Earl Sears formulated the Sears Subject Headings, a simplification of the Library of Congress Subject Headings.-Life and work:...
, a colleague and companion. Some of Mudge's writings are still found at Columbia University.