Melvil Dewey
Selective Bibliography
For many years women librarians have been the special prey of Mr. Dewey in a series of outrages against decency, having serious and far reaching effects upon his victims while the association has echoed with the scandal. -- Los Angeles Public Library head librarian Tessa Kelso, 1924
Jewish opposition to Melvil Dewey has accomplished what every other influence exerted frequently during the last ten years failed to procure. Dr. Dewey is pledged to resign. -- The Jewish Outlook, September 1905
Books, Articles & Web Pages
Beck, Clare. “A ‘Private’ Grievance against Dewey.” American Libraries 27: 1 (1996): 62–64.
Blakemore, Erin. “The Father of Modern Libraries Was a Serial Sexual Harasser - History in the Headlines.” History, December 19, 2017.
Conradt, Stacy. “Melvil Dewey’s Dark Side.” Mental Floss, October 8, 2015.
Ford, Anne. “Bringing Harassment Out of the History Books.” American Libraries Magazine, June 1, 2018.
Hopsicker, Peter. "'No Hebrews Allowed': How the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games Survived the 'Restricted' Adirondack Culture." Journal of Sport History, 36: 2 (Summer 2009): 205-222.
Kendall, Joshua. America’s Obsessives: The Compulsive Energy That Built a Nation. Grand Central Publishing, 2013.
Kendall, Joshua. “Melvil Dewey, Compulsive Innovator.” American Libraries Magazine, March 24, 2014.
Rabina, Debbie. “The Dark Side of Dewey.” miNYstories, Fall 2013.
Wiegand, Wayne A. Irrepressible Reformer : A Biography of Melvil Dewey. Chicago: American Library Association, 1996.
Primary Sources
“Ask Regents to Depose State Librarian Dewey: His Company Runs Hotel, Called a Club, Which Bars Jews.” New York Times. 21 Jan 1905: 5.
Citizen. “State Librarian Dewey: The Real Issue Involved in the Demand for His Removal.” New York Times. 1905.
“Domestic - New York.” The Jewish Outlook. (Denver, Colo.), September 1, 1905.
“Jews Protest Aid by State for Club: Object to Use of Funds for 1932 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, Charging Bias.” New York Times. 7 Nov 1930: 25.
“Melvil Dewey Ousted from New York Library.” Los Angeles Herald, August 25, 1905.
“Moesessohn Disputes Dewey’s Club Reply: ‘Transparent Subterfuge’ Seen in Easement Plan for Olympic Games --Eisner to Press Charge.” New York Times. 8 Nov 1930: 3.
“Say Dewey Offered to Quit Club Office: Regents Hear Charges Against State Librarian. Will Report by April 1 Complainants Assert Dewey Shifted Position Before Accusers -- Antagonism to Jews the Charge.” New York Times. 3 Feb 1905: 3.
“State Librarian Dewey Is Rebuked by Regents: Must Quit Countenancing Anti-Jewish Campaign or Resign.” New York Times. 16 Feb 1905: 1.
“To Act on Dewey Charges.: Regents Will Take Up Case of State Library Director on Thursday.” New York Times. 30 Jan 1905: 3.