Scope and Content Note
The papers of Virginia H. Mathews (1925-2011) span the years 1897-1991, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1958 to 1980. The papers are in English with some materials in Spanish, Navajo, Mohawk, and Osage. The papers are organized into the following series: National Book Committee, American Book Publishers Council, American Library Association, Special Projects and Other Employment, and Speeches and Writings.
The National Book Committee series forms the core of the papers, documenting Mathews's work on National Library Week from 1957 to 1964. She was Deputy Director of National Library Week from 1964-1970 and Director of the National Book Committee from 1970 to 1973. The National Book Committee was formed in 1954 by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Book Publishers Council (ABPC) in partnership with industry and business leaders. The organization's mission was to promote the use of and access to library services and books, advocate for the freedom to read, and sponsor programs and studies to increase reading motivation and literacy. While Mathews worked for the National Book Committee, she simultaneouly held the position of Director for Reading Development at the American Book Publishers Council (later called the Association of American Publishers). Multiple American Book Publishers Council staff members worked for the National Book Committee on a part time basis. As founders of the National Book Committee, the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers Council worked on many of the same projects and issues as the National Book Committee. In addition, the National Book Committee worked out of the American Book Publishers Council's offices and Mathews chaired several committees and subcommittees at the American Library Association. Given the complex relationships between these organizations and Mathews's overlapping professional responsibillities, researchers are encouraged to search throughout the collection for materials on similar topics or projects. While the bulk of the material is generated by Virginia H. Mathews, the National Book Committee series does contain some material created by other National Book Committee staff including Virginia Barta, Margaret W. Dudley, Peter S. Jennison, Helen E. Lee, Beryl L. Reubens, and John S. Robling. The series is organized into the following subseries: Conferences, Institutes, and Workshops, General Correspondence, Projects and Initiatives, Publications, Reports, Studies, and Surveys, and Subject File.
The Conferences, Institutes, and Workshops subseries spans the years from 1958-1974 and documents the numerous conferences and workshops the National Book Committee sponsored or co-sponsored including the Institutes for Training in Librarianship, Right to Read workshops, and a variety of conferences focused on improving access to library services to marginalized and underserved communities, the use and building of media collections, reading motivation and literacy, and school library development. Mathews organized, planned, and administered many of these events. Types of material include correspondence, conference materials, evaluations, grant applications, exhibit materials, and reports. The material is arranged alphabetically by title of conference, institute, or workshop.
The General Correspondence subseries spans the years 1957-1973. The bulk of the subseries contains the correspondence of Mathews, however the series also includes the correspondence of Margaret Dudley, Virginia Barta, and John S. Robling. The series contains both sent and received correspondence with a portion of the correspondence from the years 1972 to 1973 outgoing only. The outgoing correspondence is primarily from Virginia Barta on behalf of Virginia H. Mathews and relates to Mathews's work at the National Book Committee, American Book Publishers Council, and the Women's National Book Association. The material is arranged chronologically.
The Projects and Initiatives subseries is the heart of the National Book Committee series containing documentation of Mathews's work on the organization's signature programs including National Library Week, Educational Media Centers Project, and the Gateway to Ideas radio program. The National Book Committee was also hired to provide consulting services. In this capacity, Mathews helped develop children's programming including the Children's Television Workshop's Sesame Street television series, Westinghouse Broadcasting Company's Reading Out Loud television series, and the National Broadcasting Company's Profiles in Courage television series. Mathews also work on VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) media kits. The National Book Committee worked in partnership with a variety of organizations on such projects as the Connecticut Demonstration Elementary School Library Project, International Book Year, and the National Reading Center (later the basis for the Library of Congress's Center for the Book). The bulk of this subseries documents Mathews's development, planning, and administration of the numerous programs associated with National Library Week. The reports from state and local libraries on National Library Week activities include scrapbooks containing program evaluation forms, themed promotional materials, handmade bookmarks and posters, and photographs of the yearly exhibits. Types of material include correspondence, clippings, manuals, bibliographies and book lists, reports, photographs, and promotional materials including posters, pamphlets, and adversting campaigns. The subseries spans the years 1948-1977 and is arranged alphabetically by project or organization name.
The Publications subseries spans the years 1956-1971 and contains materials relating to A Parent's Guide to Children's Reading by Nancy Larrick, one of the most successful publications sponsored by the National Book Committee. This subseries also contains publications by others including booklets, pamphlets, and newsletters. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by title of publication or type of material.
The Reports, Studies, and Surveys subseries spans the years 1954-1972 and contains a variety of reports either authored or sponsored by the National Book Committee, several of which were authored or co-authored by Mathews. The series contains both published and unpublished materials. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by title.
The Subject File subseries documents organizations and subject matter related to libraries, literacy, and librarianship. Materials include correspondence, bibliographies and reading lists, book selection policies, instructional pamphlets, reading programs, clippings, and photographs. As a member of the Osage Tribe, her interest in improving library access and services to Native American people is documented in the materials from the Navajo Curriculum Center and the National Indian Education Association. The subseries spans the years 1959-1973 and is arranged by topic, organization name, or title.
While the American Book Publishers Council series primarily contains materials relating to Mathews's work as the Director of Reading Development, the series also includes the correspondence of Sanford Cobb, Margaret W. Dudley, M. Ann Heidbreder, Dan Lacy, Harold H. Lasker, and Theodore Waller. The organization's activities included the Committee on Reading Development, conferences and workshops including "Children and Books in a Changing World," work on the National Education Defense Act and the National Freedom to Read program. The partnership beween the American Book Publishing Council and the American Libraries Association is documented in material from the Reading for an Age of Change exhibit and pamphlet series project. In 1972, the American Book Publishers Council merged with several other organizations and was renamed the Association of American Publishers. This series contains interfiled materials generated by both entities. Types of material include speeches and writings, correspondence, and conference planning materials. The series spans the years 1931-1973 and is arranged alphetically by topic or type of material.
The American Library Association series spans the years 1949-1981 and records Mathews's work with the American Library Association (ALA) through her positions at the National Book Committee and the American Book Publishers Council as well as her work chairing a variety of committees including the Broadcasting subcommittee. Topics include educational programs and services, public libraries, librarianship, library funding, public relations, and organizational planning. A large portion of the series contains information on numerous divisions, sections, and subcommittees within ALA that Virginia Mathews either took part in or led. Also included are materials documenting annual ALA conferences and meetings that provide further detail into the structure of the American Library Association as well as its activities and programs promoting libraries, librarianship, reading, and books. Types of material include correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, pamphlets, programs, brochures, reports, and statements. The majority of the series is arranged alphabetically with the exception of conferences and publications, which are arranged chronologically by year of event and material.
The Special Projects and Other Employment series spans the years 1897-1991 and contains material relating to Mathews's employment before and after the National Book Committee including turns at Longmans, Green, and Co., and Gaylord Professional Publications as well as a consultant to the Library of Congress Center for the Book, Governor's Conference on Libraries and Infomation Servies, and the White House Pre-conference on Indian Library and Information Services. The material from the White House Pre-conference on Indian Library and Information Services, the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs extensively documents efforts to improve resources and access to libraries and books on Native American reservations. Types of material include correspondence, planning materials, conference materials, photographs, and newsletters. The series also includes works she produced as an independent contractor including the instructional filmstrips, Helping People Cope and Great Expectations: the Librarian and the New User. Her work with the Women's National Book Association is represented, including her term as National President, her work with the Course Committee, and the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award (presented to her twice). The series is arranged alphabetically by topic, type of material, or title.
The Speeches and Writings series contains writings generated throughout Mathews's career as well as works by others. Mathews revisited themes and topics throughout the years and used them in a variety of contexts and forms. The series includes speeches, remarks, articles, notes, and book chapters in both draft and completed form. The series is arranged alphabetically by title.