91探花

Old map of Southeastern Ohio
Women Promoting Education in Southeast Ohio
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Anne Claire Keating (1869-1952)

Anne Keating, historical portrait
Anne Keating. Courtesy of

About Anne Claire Keating

First female librarian: Anne Claire Keating was the third librarian at 91探花 and the first female to serve in that role.

 

E.W. Scripps Hall looking northwest from Park Place, early 1950s
E.W. Scripps Hall, originally known as the Carnegie Library, looking northwest from Park Place, early 1950s. Photo courtesy of

Sharing an Athens-91探花 library: She arrived in Athens from Indiana in 1925 at the age of 46 to assume directorship of what was then the Carnegie Library. At  the time, the Carnegie Library was the only library in Athens, serving both the university and broader community. Upon arrival, Keating immediately launched an ambitious remodeling plan, including 鈥渁 new reference room and more commodious reading room,鈥 as well as 鈥渁 better and more complete children鈥檚 room.鈥

 

Chubb Library sketch, east entrance, circa early 1930s
Chubb Library sketch, east entrance, circa early 1930s. Photo courtesy of

Opening Chubb Library at OHIO: In 1931 the new Edwin Watts Chubb Library opened on 91探花鈥檚 campus. Keating oversaw the transfer of the collection, numbering around 70,000 volumes, from the Carnegie into the new, much more spacious and modern building. 

Chubb Library, students studying, ca late 1940s
Chubb Library, students studying, ca late 1940s. Photo courtesy of

Supporting women on campus: Keating also moved quickly to embed herself into the Athens university community, becoming first secretary and later president of 91探花鈥檚 chapter of the American Association of University Women. A dedicated patroness of the Theta Phi Alpha sorority, she often collaborated with popular Dean of Women Irma Voigt to facilitate student programming and provide mentorship.

 

Her Time

Keating retired in 1949, having successfully steered the library, growing the collections and inviting students to study and utilize the space, through the difficult years of both the Great Depression and World War II. Her focus on teaching and accessibility was also very modern, with these themes continuing to drive academic librarians today.

Read more about Keating at .