Collections : [Rare Book & Manuscript Library]

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, and related printed materials from the office files of Dalton, reflecting his professional activities in the fields of American and international librarianship from 1940 to 1976. The major areas of interest are library education, especially foreign students; the Dewey Decimal Classification and its publisher, the Forest Press; the American Library Association, particularly its Reference Service Division's Bibliography Committee; the Council of National Library Associations; Franklin Book Programs; the International Federation of Library Associations; the National Book Committee; and WHO'S WHO IN LIBRARY SERVICE.

Correspondence, published and unpublished writings, printed pamphlets, and miscellaneous documents dating largely from approximately the 1920s until Dewey's death in 1977. These concern the Phonemic Spelling Council, and Dewey's other work in spelling reform; teaching; Emerson College; Dewey decimal classification; the Lake Placid Club and the Olympic Winter Games, ca. 1930s-1970s; and childhood, education, and family matters. His wills, 1944-1974, and obituaries are included. Also, memorabilia including books from his library and a phonetic typewriter.

The professional and personal correspondence, papers, and pamphlet collection of Melvil Dewey, relating to libraries, the American Library Association, library classification, the Lake Placid Club, Columbia College, the New York State Library, and spelling reform. Included are notes for and a typescript of Grosvenor Dawe's biography of Dewey.