Showing 600 results

The Grinnell College Libraries started in 1853-54 with 1200 volumes. Faculty served as librarian beginning in 1862-63; the first, full-time librarian was hired in 1889. The Carnegie Library opened in 1905 and Burling Library was built in the late 1950s and renovated in the early 1980s.
Librarians of the College:
1849-1852 Erasmus Ripley
1851-1858 Henry L. Bullen
1858-1859 David S. Sheldon
1859-1860 Quincy Gilmore
1861-1863 Julius Reed
1863-1865 Von Coelln
1864-1872 S. J. Buck
1871-1872 John Avery
1872-1883 R. W. Swan (4500 vol.)
1883-1885 S. G. Barnes (10,000 vol.)
1885-1887 H. K. Edson
1886-1890 Carrie M. Edson
1889-1896 J. M. Chamberlain (first full-time librarian)
1896-1898 H. H. Stipp (24,000 vol.)
1898-1899 Cora W. Hastings
1899-1908 Matthew H. Douglass
1908-1919 L. L. Dickerson
1919-1952 Isabelle Clark
1952-1971 Henry Alden
1972-2006 Christopher McKee
2006- 2015 Richard C. Fyffe
2016 - Mark Christel

Historical Note: As early as the 1860's when Professor Leonard Parker, in his capacity as county superintendent of schools, assisted students in finding teaching positions, faculty and administrators were involved in guiding students in finding employment, until the mid 1920's primarily teacher placement. The Appointments Bureau is first listed in the 1921 College Catalog and offered assistance to undergraduates as well as alumni in securing employment and promotions. For more on the pre-1930 period see Shelton Beatty, History of Grinnell College and its Curriculum to 1930, pgs. 497-504 (College Archives 06.01/B38h).

From the mid 1920s the office gradually added services, including guidance testing, advising on employment opportunities, assistance with securing employment in business and industry, in securing summer employment. In large part the expanded responsibilities were made possible by grants from J. C. Penney Foundation, which donated to the college $3000-$5000 per year, 1926-31, to establish a formal vocation guidance program with a director, secretary, and office equipment. The grant allowed the college to hire Mitchell Dreese as the first professionally trained, full-time, vocational guidance director, a position he held 1929-31. See RG-A/Main/Box 3/ J.C.Penney for more details.

<p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 12px; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px; "> Over the years the office has had a variety of names: Appointments Bureau, Department of Personnel, Placement Office, Career Services Office (ca. 1971), Career Development Office.

Prior to 1970 placement was combined with other administrative or faculty functions. In the period 1970-74 the Dean of Student Affairs directed the office, Resident Advisers staffed it on a part-time basis, student usage grew. In 1974 John Adams was appointed as full-time Director of Career Services; Resident Advisers continued part-time staffing. The office established regular hours and expanded its services; student use continued to grow.

Now known as the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).

Directors:

John Adams 1974-78

Debra Stuart 1978-81

Linda Johnsrud 1981-85

Marilyn Kurtz 1985-93

Steven Langerud 1993- 2006

Kathleen Powell 2007-2009

Mike Caldwell, Acting Director, 2009-2010