John P. McDonald

John Peter[1] McDonald (October 17, 1922 – November 19, 1993)[2] was an American librarian. McDonald served as university librarian and director at the University of Connecticut (1963–74; 1976–86)[3] and executive director of the Association of Research Libraries (1974–76).[4]

John P. McDonald
Born(1922-10-17)October 17, 1922
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, US
DiedNovember 19, 1993(1993-11-19) (aged 71)
Storrs, Connecticut
Alma materDrexel University (MLS)
University of Virginia (BA)
OccupationLibrarian, academic administrator
EmployerUniversity of Connecticut

Early life

McDonald was born on October 17, 1922 in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, to parents Edward D. and Marguerite McDonald.[5] According to the 1940 US census, McDonald's father was a teacher, and both parents were born in Ohio.[6] McDonald served four years in the United States Navy during World War II[7] and attained the rank of lieutenant. He was serving in the US Navy Reserve as of 1951. He was a nephew of James Grover McDonald.[5]

Education

McDonald earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia (1946) and a master's degree in library science from Drexel University (1951).[7] He held a Carnegie fellowship at Rutgers University's Library School in 1957–58, where he studied library administration under Keyes Metcalf.[8]

Career

Prior to joining the University of Connecticut as library director in July 1963,[1] McDonald worked in the libraries of the University of Pennsylvania and Washington University in St. Louis, where he served as head of the reference department and then as associate director of libraries.[8][9]

During his tenure at UConn, McDonald presided over construction of the Homer D. Babbidge Library and grew the library's collections from 450,000 volumes to more than 2.2 million volumes, becoming one of the largest libraries in New England.[10] He took initial steps towards library automation, engaged in state and national library network and resource sharing initiatives, and built strong archival and special collections. He also served as a consultant on buildings and management for libraries and museums across the United States and as far away as Santiago, Chile.[7] McDonald retired as director in 1986 and served for one year as director of library development before retiring for good. He was succeeded by Norman D. Stevens.[10]

McDonald served as president (1971–72) and, while on leave of absence from UConn, executive director (1974–76) of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). He served on several committees of ARL and the American Library Association (ALA), including ALA Council, the board of directors of the ALA Library Administration Division, and the ALA Nominating Committee.[8]

McDonald was an avid bird watcher and conservationist, serving on the boards of Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust and the Connecticut Ornithological Society, among other organizations. McDonald's friendship with Edwin Way Teale was instrumental in gaining Teale's papers for UConn's special collections.[4]

Honors

McDonald received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Wesleyan University in 1986, the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Drexel Library School Alumni Association in 1975, the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Library Association in 1986, and the Leadership Award from the University of Connecticut Alumni Association in 1986.[7]

The John P. McDonald Reading Room located in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center was named in his honor.[4]

Personal life

McDonald married to Pennsylvania native and Vassar College alumna Josephine Sheppard Herring (1931–2010)[11] in 1951.[5] The couple had two sons.[9] They lived in Storrs, Connecticut.[7]

McDonald died of cancer on November 19, 1993.[7] He was interred in New Storrs Cemetery, on a hill overlooking the UConn campus.[2]

References
  1. "Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut". OpenCommons@UConn. 1963-03-20. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  2. "John P. McDonald (1922-1993) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  3. Rocco, Christine (2002). Facts About the University of Connecticut since 1881. 2nd ed. Storrs, CT. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-12-16 – via Connecticut Digital Archive.
  4. University of Connecticut Archives & Special Collections (2006). "Finding aid to collection: University of Connecticut, University Libraries Director's Records [John P. McDonald, 1963-1988]". archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  5. "JOSEPHINE HERRING ENGAGED TO MARRY; Junior at U. of P. Will Be Wed to John Peter McDonald, a Drexel Graduate Student (Published 1951)". The New York Times. 1951-01-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  6. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQFD-18H : 9 December 2019), John P Mcdonald in household of Edward D Mcdonald, Lansdowne Borough, Delaware, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 23-100, sheet 18A, line 33, family 475, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3493.
  7. "John P. McDonald; was head of UConn libraries". The Hartford Courant. 1993-11-20. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  8. Association of Research Libraries (1975). "Minutes of the Meeting". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  9. "Profiles: John P. McDonald". College & Research Library News. 35 (9). 1974. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  10. Stave, Bruce M. (2006). Red Brick in the Land of Steady Habits: Creating the University of Connecticut, 1881-2006. Hanover, NH: University of Connecticut ; University Press of New England. pp. 179–80. ISBN 978-1-58465-569-5. OCLC 63679929.
  11. "Josephine McDONALD Obituary (2010) - Hartford Courant". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
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