William Robert Eshelman
Encyclopedia
William Robert Eshelman was an American pacifist, editor and librarian. He was active in causes such as preventing censorship, ending racial segregation and stopping the Vietnam war, while gaining distinction in his professional career.
at Camp 56 (Camp Angel
) in Oregon.
He co-founded the Untide Press
in 1943 with poet William Everson
, architect and printer Kemper Nomland
and actor Kermit Sheets
. The press had the aim of bringing poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.
The name was a challenge to the official camp magazine the Tide Press.
Eshelman was on the faculty of Los Angeles State College from 1951 to 1965, and was college librarian from 1959 to 1965.
He demonstrated the belief of his mentor, Lawrence Clark Powell
, that librarians would not gain faculty status until they achieved "intellectual camaraderie with the faculty." The faculty of L.A. State College elected him to the Academic Senate, the first librarian to serve on that body.
While he was editor of the California Librarian, the magazine earned the H. W. Wilson Library Periodical Award for the best state or regional journal.
From 1965 to 1968 Eshelman was librarian and professor of bibliography at Bucknell University
. He joined with other librarians to become active in major protests against the Vietnam War.
Eshelman was editor of Wilson Library Bulletin
from 1968 through 1978, adding to the distinction of the magazine and its role as one of the two leading independent library publications in America.
In California he chaired the Librarian Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee which opposed censorship efforts of lawmakers, initiated the Fiske study of self-censorship in school libraries, and joined the national journals in their efforts to support the desegregation of public libraries in the South.
He was appointed president of Scarecrow Press from 1979 until his retirement in 1985. Eshelman served on the editorial board of Choice Magazine, published by the American Library Association
(ALA), on the ALA Council and on the ALA Committee on Accreditation.
William Eshelman died on 9 August 2004 at his home in Portland, Oregon, aged 82.
Career
As a conscientious objector during World War II, he was conscripted into the Civilian Public ServiceCivilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
at Camp 56 (Camp Angel
Camp Angel
Camp Angel was Civilian Public Service camp number 56, one of many camps across the United States where conscientious objectors were given unpaid jobs of "national importance" as a substitute for World War II military service....
) in Oregon.
He co-founded the Untide Press
Untide Press
The Untide Press, founded in 1943, attempted to bring poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.It was founded by writer William Everson, architect and printer Kemper Nomland, actor Kermit Sheets and editor / librarian William Eshelman, in a camp of conscientious objectors in...
in 1943 with poet William Everson
William Everson
William Everson , also known as Brother Antoninus, was an American poet of the San Francisco Renaissance and was also a literary critic and small press printer.-Beginnings:Everson was born in Sacramento, California...
, architect and printer Kemper Nomland
Kemper Nomland
Kemper Nomland Jr. was a modernist architect in Los Angeles, California and part of a father-son architectural team with his father Kemper Nomland. He was also a painter and printer of poetry and arts publications....
and actor Kermit Sheets
Kermit Sheets
Louis Kermit Sheets was an actor, director, playwright and an artistic partner with poet James Broughton.-World War II:...
. The press had the aim of bringing poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.
The name was a challenge to the official camp magazine the Tide Press.
Eshelman was on the faculty of Los Angeles State College from 1951 to 1965, and was college librarian from 1959 to 1965.
He demonstrated the belief of his mentor, Lawrence Clark Powell
Lawrence Clark Powell
Lawrence Clark Powell was a librarian, literary critic, bibliographer and author of more than 100 books....
, that librarians would not gain faculty status until they achieved "intellectual camaraderie with the faculty." The faculty of L.A. State College elected him to the Academic Senate, the first librarian to serve on that body.
While he was editor of the California Librarian, the magazine earned the H. W. Wilson Library Periodical Award for the best state or regional journal.
From 1965 to 1968 Eshelman was librarian and professor of bibliography at Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
. He joined with other librarians to become active in major protests against the Vietnam War.
Eshelman was editor of Wilson Library Bulletin
Wilson Library Bulletin
The Wilson Library Bulletin was a professional magazine published for librarians from 1914 to 1995 by the H. W. Wilson Company, Bronx. NY. It began as The Wilson Bulletin and published occasionally...
from 1968 through 1978, adding to the distinction of the magazine and its role as one of the two leading independent library publications in America.
In California he chaired the Librarian Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee which opposed censorship efforts of lawmakers, initiated the Fiske study of self-censorship in school libraries, and joined the national journals in their efforts to support the desegregation of public libraries in the South.
He was appointed president of Scarecrow Press from 1979 until his retirement in 1985. Eshelman served on the editorial board of Choice Magazine, published by the American Library Association
American 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....
(ALA), on the ALA Council and on the ALA Committee on Accreditation.
William Eshelman died on 9 August 2004 at his home in Portland, Oregon, aged 82.