Oral Histories

Interview of Wilbur J. Smith

Head of the UCLA Library's Department of Special Collections.
Subtitle:
Collecting Rare Books and Manuscripts for UCLA
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
UCLA and University of California History
Books and Fine Printing
UCLA Librarians
Biographical Note:
Head of the UCLA Library's Department of Special Collections.
Interviewer:
Jutzi, Alan H.
Interviewee:
Smith, Wilbur J.
Persons Present:
Smith and Jutzi.
Place Conducted:
Wilbur J. Smith Room in the Department of Special Collections, University Research Library, UCLA.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Alan H. Jutzi, B.A., Concordia Senior College; M.A., Liberal Studies, Valparaiso University; M.L.S., School of Library Service, UCLA; Gold Shield Oral History Intern.
Processing of Interview:
The transcript of the interviews was checked by the interviewer against the original tape recordings and edited for punctuation, paragraphing, spelling, and verification of proper and place names. The completed manuscript retains the original sequence of sessions. Any addition of words or phrases made by the editor but not actually spoken by the respondent have been bracketed. Smith reviewed the transcript and made slight corrections and additions.The index and front matter were prepared by the interviewer.
Length:
5 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Abstract:
Early employment experience in bookstores, travel agency; reporter for New York Journal of Commerce; travels with mother, Ethel Park Richardson, to collect folk songs in Tennessee hill country; attending Los Angeles Public Library School, 1931; work in bookstores with Jake Zeitlin and Lou Samuel; Penguin Book Shop; employment in research department at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; gifts and exchanges librarian at UCLA; head, Department of Special Collections, UCLA; work with Lawrence Clark Powell, Andrew H. Horn, Neal Harlow, and Robert Vosper in building specialized book collections; details of specific book collections: those of Frederic Blanchard, Robert Ernest Cowan, Henry Miller, Olive Percival, and D'Alté Aldridge Welch; UCLA and William Andrews Clark Memorial Library; Friends of the UCLA Library; future of special collections.