Willard P. Lewis papers

Born August 11, 1889 in Watertown, N.Y., Willard P. Lewis attended school in New York City. He was married to Harriet E. Stillman on April 9, 1914. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degree from Wesleyan University and his B. L. S. from the New York State Library School in 1913, Mr. Lewis became the Librarian at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He served there until 1919. He organized the library and served as librarian at Camp MacArthur, Texas in 1917. Williard P. Lewis served as librarian at University of New Hampshire from 1919 to 1929, Wesleyan University from 1929 to 1931, and head of the library at Pennsylvania State College from 1931 to 1948. He was also director of the Summer Library School and Penn State College archivist. The collection consists of correspondence relating to his work at all three universities and his efforts through speeches and publications to inform the public of the importance of libraries. The collection also includes transcripts of lectures Lewis delivered on library science and librarianship. After leaving Texas, Lewis served as librarian at the University of New Hampshire, and from 1929 to 1931 was librarian at his alma mater, Wesleyan University. Lewis assumed the position of head of the library at the Pennsylvania State College in 1931 and served in that capacity until ill health forced him to retire in 1948. During Mr. Lewis's administration the Penn State College Library's collections more than doubled, reaching 297,000 volumes, while the staff increased from 13 to 53, and the Library's annual budget grew from $35,745 to $245,000. He was responsible from the centralization of the College's book resources, coordinating the work of the four branches and five reading rooms with that of the Central Library. The new Central Library Building, named for Fred Lewis Pattee, was occupied in 1940. In addition to his duties as Librarian, Mr. Lewis was also Director of the Summer Library School and College Archivist. He died on August 22, 1953 in Easton, PA.