Elizabeth Nesbitt Explained

Elizabeth Nesbitt (April 15, 1897 – August 17, 1977), also known as Betty Nesbitt was an American children's librarian and a library science educator.[1] [2] She was known “internationally as an authority on children's literature”,[3] and made “(s)trong contributions” to children's librarianship.[4]

Early life and education

Elizabeth Nesbitt was born on April 15, 1897, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, north of Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River, United States.[3] After completing her studies in a private school, she earned the A.B. degree from the Goucher College for women, Baltimore in 1918. She also got another bachelor's degree in library science from Carnegie Library School in 1931. She went on to earn a master's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1935.[5]

Career

In 1919 her family moved from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. She briefly worked as a teacher in a private school in Pittsburgh. She later joined as an assistant at the Carnegie Library School of Pittsburgh.[3] In 1948 she was appointed as associate dean of the Carnegie Library School, and she held this position until her retirement in 1962.[6] She then became a lecturer of the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences of the University of Pittsburgh.[7] During the summers she taught library sciences related courses in a number of prominent higher educational institutions including Columbia University and University of Illinois. She was associated with a number of professional associations such as Pennsylvania Library Association and American Library Association.

She was also known as a storyteller.

Publications

Elizabeth Nesbitt co-authored A Critical History of Children's Literature, which remains “a landmark publication” in the field.

Awards and honors

Elizabeth Nesbitt received numerous awards and honors for her contributions in the field of library sciences and children's literature.[8] These include

In her honor, in 1976, the University of Pittsburgh named a room at the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, as the Elizabeth Nesbitt Room, which houses an important historical collection of children's books.[7]

She died at the age of 80 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on August 17, 1977, of “cancer”.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lundin, Anne. 15 October 2004. Constructing the Canon of Children's Literature: Beyond Library Walls and Ivory Towers. 29 June 2022. Oxon. Routledge. 136. 978-1-135-57640-0. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191534/https://books.google.com/books?id=NI2OAgAAQBAJ. live.
  2. Book: Carpenter, Angelica Shirley. 2006. In the Garden: Essays in Honor of Frances Hodgson Burnett. 29 June 2022. Lanham, Maryland. Scarecrow Press. 161. 978-0-810-85288-4. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191534/https://books.google.com/books?id=K1euAAAAIAAJ. live.
  3. Book: Miller, Marilyn Lea. 2003. Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: A Biographical Dictionary. 29 June 2022. Santa Barbara, California. Libraries Unlimited. 173. 978-1-591-58028-7. May 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220511152046/https://books.google.com/books?id=JMH7RkYRh0gC. live.
  4. Book: Kent, Allen. 1 November 1970. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Volume 4 - Calligraphy to Church Libraries. 29 June 2022. Boca Raton, Florida. CRC Press. 562. 978-0-824-72004-9. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191615/https://books.google.com/books?id=xVIsuPvNxnAC. live.
  5. Book: Wiegand, Wayne A.. 1990. Supplement to the Dictionary of American Library Biography, Volume 1. 29 June 2022. Santa Barbara, California. Libraries Unlimited. 91. 978-0-872-87586-9. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191535/https://books.google.com/books?id=SqpJMeDXMwUC. live.
  6. Book: Greene, Ellin. 30 January 1996. Storytelling: Art and Technique: Art and Technique. 29 June 2022. Santa Barbara, California. ABC-CLIO. 23. 978-0-313-07861-3. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191535/https://books.google.com/books?id=5P4KOY1h1KYC. live.
  7. Web site: ELIZABETH NESBITT . nytimes.com . The New York Times . 29 June 2022 . June 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191536/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/20/archives/obituary-3-no-title.html . live .
  8. Book: Orden, Phyllis Van. 2005. Library Service to Children: A Guide to the History, Planning, Policy, and Research Literature. 29 June 2022. Lanham, Maryland. Scarecrow Press. 15. 978-0-810-85169-6. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629191536/https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbSzJAFGGoC. live.

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