15 Facts About Keyes Metcalf

Keyes Metcalf has been identified as one of the 100 most important leaders in librarianship by the journal American Libraries.

Keyes Metcalf was known for his expertise in planning and designing research libraries.

Keyes Metcalf was born on April 13,1889, in Elyria, Ohio, the son of Issacs Stevens Metcalf and Harriet Metcalf.

Ultimately, in 1928 Keyes Metcalf was appointed Chief of the Reference Department.

Keyes Metcalf considered these contributions to be the things he was most proud of in his years at the New York Public Library.

In 1937, Keyes Metcalf was appointed Director of University Libraries at Harvard.

Keyes Metcalf recalled stories of students who were proud of the fact that they never had to use the library.

Keyes Metcalf's mandate was to design a system that would meet the space needs of the library until the end of the twentieth century.

Keyes Metcalf became convinced that students could be well served by separate libraries, as long as each building was organized around a single topic or, in some cases, audience.

Keyes Metcalf was often called on to consult with other libraries.

Keyes Metcalf consulted on the libraries for the Army and Navy, and in 1942 was asked to chair a study of the University of Illinois Library School.

Keyes Metcalf served as its president in 1942 and 1943.

Keyes Metcalf continued to be active in librarianship throughout his retirement.

Keyes Metcalf taught classes and seminars, including a stint as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University.

Keyes Metcalf died of a heart attack on November 3,1983, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.