Lucy Carson Biography

Lucy Carson

The Lucy Carson Library, Western Montana College's book center and administrative headquarters, through its name commemorates the lasting contributions of a former WMC English professor, who for 40 years wrought a remarkable influence on the college and community.

A native of Illinois, Miss Carson joined the then Montana State Normal School in 1901 as a professor of English and retained that post until retiring in June of 1941.

Her death on July 7, 1941, marked the final chapter in a career which embraced the full educational spectrum rural schools, elementary and high schools, and a distinguished tenure at the Dillon College.

Her epitaph might well have and been: "She taught me to think", for this was the recollection of countless students who still vividly recall Miss Carson's crisp, logical, business-like approach to her work.

An erudite scholar and student of World literature, she was a longtime leader of the Shakespeare Club and for countless years organized its programs, led the discussions and, in general, helped create an undying cultural organization which today remains one of this full city's foremost groups.

Her influence also to the younger segment of this community. During her early years at Dillon, she instructed Sunday School at the Episcopal Church, employing the same lasting appA forceful woman of creative ideas and ideals, Miss Carson epitomized teaching at its finest and her cosmopolitan scope added a flair unique to its time in Montana. Born February 18, 1869, at Litchfield, Illinois, Miss Carson attended Illinois State Normal

College and graduated from the: University of Chicago with Phi Beta Kappa honors. Following brief teaching tenures in the Midwest at the elementary and high school levels, she moved West to accept the Dillon post and through the years earned recognition as one of the outstanding faculty members WMC annals.

She had never married and at the time of her death, was survived by a niece, Miss Neva Wiley; a teacher at Northcentral High School in Spokane, Washington; two nephews, C. C. Wiley, professor of engineering at the University of Illinois, and Raymond S. Wiley, an architect at Santa Barbara, California.

In 1911 students at the Dillon college dedicated the Chinook yearbook to Miss Carson with the following terse, yet tender and meaningful, note:

"To Lucy Hamilton Carson,
Who has been our guide,
Our inspiration,
In all our college days."

Used by permission from Dillon Daily Tribune-Examiner, from Thursday, October 23, 1969.

The Lucy Carson Library By Mike Schulz
From its beginning in 1896, UM-Western has taken pride in its library services.

The original library was located on the third floor of Main Hall. It was open ten hours a day, six days a week, and staffed by faculty and student volunteers until 1901, when Mrs. Lillian Free was hired as the first campus librarian. She held this position until 1938.

The first students at Normal found a library consisting of 180 volumes and a dozen t periodicals, with seating for 125. Growth of 1 the collection occurred rapidly. In 1905, the library collection exceeded 5,000 volumes, and by 1915 the library could boast holdings of 10,000 volumes and 122 periodicals. An open stack system was employed, which allowed for free browsing and book selection by students.

In addition to the campus library, students also used the Dillon Public Library extensively. In fact, the use was so great that the city approached the College and asked it to share in the cost of its operation. The College and the Dillon Library Board struck a com promise and the College took on the responsibility of running the Dillon Public Library one to two nights a week.

By 1925, the library had outgrown its third floor aerie, and a new addition was created. The August 15, 1923, issue of the Normal College Index, the student newspaper, quoted Dr. Frank Garver, Professor of History and Economics, as saying that the primary reason for the new library was that the original library was condemned by the state inspector. He further said that more room was also needed. The new addition was built on the south portion of Main Hall, which now houses the Art Gallery, Office Simulation, and business faculty offices.

On Saturday, April 18, 1925, all materials including furniture, were moved to the new library. The $125,000 library included classrooms and seminar rooms, in addition to faculty and student organization offices. The new library contained 16,000 volumes with room for 40,000. There were 2,000 volumes of bound periodicals. By 1927, the library had 19,000 volumes. The main reading room had a seating capacity for 350. The textbook library was also housed in the facility. A closed stack system, which precluded browsing by students, was instituted for most of the collection in an effort to cut down on loss. Mr. Frank Eliel, a member of the State Board of Education, was cited in the August 15, 1923, issue of the student newspaper as the prime mover behind the new additions for the College. The January 22, 1927 issue of the Normal College Index mentioned that the library was open 12 and 1/2 hours each day.

Loretta Buss followed Mrs. Free as librarian in 1938, and retained that position until 1947. Margaet Madeen took over the library helm at this time remaining until 1949 when she was replaced by Walter McGuire who served until 1958. Mr. Iva Lea Orr was acting librarian in 1955 and 1958. Dorothy Gelhaus became librarian in 1958 until her retirement in 1966. Robert Hammill came on board at this time until the summer of 1969.

"Any college with a basic concern for its academic programs and its students must adopt a never-ending consideration of its library needs. Today, with this dedication, Western takes an historic step in that direction."

With those words, President James E. Short dedicated the new Lucy Carson Library and Administration Building on October 25, 1969. The cost of the new structure was $540,000, and included 38,573 sq. ft. built at a cost of $12.92 per sq. ft. The library contains two stories with a full basement and is located on the north end of the library/administration building. The single story section of the structure contains the registrar’s and finance offices, the post office, as well as offices for the President, Academic Dean and Dean of Students.

Centrally located on the campus, the Lucy Carson Library is constructed of reinforced concrete beams, columns and floors. Red brick with white columns adorn the exterior and blend with the rest of the college architecture.

With the opening of the library, two new librarians were hired in 1969. They were Kenneth Cory and Miss Mary Elizabeth Miller. Miller served until 1970 and Cory headed the facility until his departure in 1983.

The library was decorated with western Montana art by such luminaries of the genre as Charlie Russell, with a total of 11 prints; Fred Fellows, artist and sculptor from Woods Bay, four hand-tinted photographs by Ernst Peterson of Hamilton; Gary Schildt, a Hungry Horse artist; Bob Scriver, a Browning sculptor; and "Swan Valley Elk" by Elmer Sprunger, a Columbia Falls artist. According to librarians Cody and Miller, "our goal was to secure the three art forms – painting, sculpture and photographs by Montana artists."

The library was named after Lucy Hamilton Carson, who was an English professor at the College from 1901-1941. Miss Carson was a native of Illinois and graduate of Illinois State Normal College and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Chicago. The 1911 edition of the Chinook, the college yearbook, was dedicated to Miss Carson, with the words: "To Lucy Hamilton Carson, Who has been our guide, our Inspiration, In all our college days".

Longtime Dillon attorney, W.G. Gilbert, Jr. was the principal speaker at the dedication ceremonies for the new library. He had been a pupil of Miss Carson. He stated, "we who were exposed to her lasting influence will always appreciate her unlimited knowledge and discerning abilities. She was one of those extremely rare persons who taught you to think and this achievement is, in itself, the greatest tribute any teacher can receive."

In 1983, three new librarians were added to the roster with the departure of Cory. James Hemesath became the library director, Susan Moore was appointed audiovisual instructor and David Olson became the technical service librarian. Hemesath and Moore both departed in 1985. Olson became head librarian in 1986. Also in 1986, Nick Kaenig was hired as assistant librarian, departing in 1988. Olson left in 1989.

The library is currently headed by Mike Schulz. The library couldn’t run without the dedication of its staff. The following individuals served the library: Linnea Marshall, 1989-1994, Rodney Parker, 1972-76, George Suttle, 1995-2000; Sue Jones, 1977-79; Tom Davidson, 1979-83; Mary Gayle Venturelli, 1990-92 and Shelley Ramberg, 1992-1992. Currently, the library is ably staffed by Barbara Van Cleave, hired in 2004, and Denice Rust hired in 1994. From its beginning, the library operation has been invaluably assisted by a number of students.

The library’s second century looks bright. An electronic library automation system has been purchased and has been functioning since Fall Semester 1993. Computer databases are plentiful in the reference area. Outreach to rural Montana educators is accomplished through Big Sky Telegraph, an electronic telecommunications network; a statewide film and video circulating collection; a NASA aeronautics collection, and other innovative programs, in addition to the more traditional print offerings. *

The newest addition to the library is the Rural Education Technology Center (RETC). It is envisioned that the RETC will be a catalyst for change at UM-Western, rural Montana and the Rocky Mountain West by providing citizens access to education programs, information and technology. The Center will foster connections, communication and cooperation within rural communities. It will empower the local school to promote sustainable connectivity and its application to enhance access to information and further economic development and lifelong learning for all rural citizens. For Western, it will serve as a hub where faculty, staff and students will be able to utilize technology to access current information for research, teaching, learning, professional and personal growth. In teacher education, Western's largest academic program, the Center will be used to make connections during field experience, student teaching, and professional development of educators. In the region, the Technology Center will work in cooperation with and provide service to various distributed educational organizations. In addition to education, the center is being designed to engender partnerships with area businesses, industries and individuals interested in developing a competitive edge in this increasingly technological world.
*Used by permission, originally published in 1893-1993 100 Years of Excellence The University of Montana -- Western Centennial Book produced by the Emeriti Faculty of University of Montana -- Western of the University of Montana, Dillon Montana, 1993 and published by Herff-Jones Company, Logan, Utah, with special thanks to Ron (Swede) and Barb Kennison.

About The Lucy Carson Library
The Lucy Carson Library & Media Center is located in the east wing of the James E. Short Administration Building. The facility is spacious and comfortable, including accommodations for individual and group study as well as meeting rooms.

The library utilizes the UM-Western campus network to supply patrons with access to a variety of online, full-text periodical indexes as well as the Internet and World Wide Web. Copy and microform facilities also exist to aid in research.

The library houses a media center offering assistance in audio and video tape dubbing/editing, satellite and compressed video tele-conferencing, off-air taping, and graphic and reprographic assistance. Electronic presentation consulting is also available. The Patron Assistance Center offers help in digital editing, scanning, and CD-ROM creation for portfolios and other educational applications. The library maintains a microcomputer center, located in the lower level, for various computing applications and instruction. A K-12 Montana School Library Media Endorsement/Minor is offered through the library and taught by library staff.