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  • Explanation of Boxes 14-16
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UWRF Series 31
Boxes 14-16

Records for library accessions date from 1875-1958; however, there are points which may require further explanation. All page numbers refer to A History of the Chalmer Davee Library at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls by Richard A. Cooklock, 1974.

First, there are two sets of accession records. One is general library accessions and the other is textbook accessions. The textbook information is contained in Box 10 of this series. The general library information is contained in Boxes 14-16 of this series.

The library had been accessioning materials since the inception of the Normal School in 1875, but the first accession book was not started until 1894. (Cooklock, p. 4) The first date listed in the accession records is “September 1894.” The records before September 1894 were library accessions, but it is unclear if they were listed in the same order in which they were accessioned.

During the summer of 1907, the library began to switch from the Cutter Expansion System for cataloging library books to the Dewey Decimal System. (Cooklock, p. 11) In 1908, the library appears to have inventoried every book in order to have them reclassified. This is probably the reason that most of the books listed before May 21, 1908 were stamped “08”.

On November 29, 1897, much of South Hall, including portions of the library rooms, were destroyed by a fire. Most of the library materials were saved, but, unfortunately, some were lost. (Cooklock, p. 6) When a book was damaged or was taken out of the library’s holdings for any other reason, that reason was listed in the last three columns of the individual record. The library retired the book, but not the accession number. The next book to be accessioned was given the old number. This explains why there are both older and more recent dates on the same page.

In July of 1957, the library staff decided that accession books were no longer needed. Accessions were not documented in this format after July 1957. However, these books were used to record withdrawals and deaccessions until 1968, even though the library had separate withdrawal records.