Libraries Accession Record Books

Libraries Accession Record Books, 1892-1982

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Washington State University. Libraries.
Title: Libraries Accession Record Books
Dates: 1892-1982 (inclusive)
18921982
Quantity: 13.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (15 containers)
Collection Number: Archives 196 (collection)
Summary: The central record of the library's holdings was the central accession register, a ruled book in which were entered information about books, periodicals, goverment documents and other materials that were acquired by the library. Data element recorded in the main sequence are; number, author, title, place and publisher, year, pages, size, binding, source, cost, class and book (Dewey and Cutter numbers), volume number, and remarks.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

A library was begun by the Washington Agricultural College concurrent with the opening of the college in 1892. About 1910 or 1912, the Library acquired it own building, or rather wing of a building, and with it an identity as a major division within the college.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The central record of the library's holdings was the central accession register, a ruled book in which were entered information about books, periodicals, goverment documents and other materials that were acquired by the library. The registry system also assigned a serial number to each entry. The accession book system was implemented very early in the history of the library and remained active until the later 1940s.

Data element recorded in the main sequence are; number, author, title, place and publisher, year, pages, size, binding, source, cost, class and book (Dewey and Cutter numbers), volume number, and remarks.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description] Libraries Accession Record Books, 1892-1982 (Archives 196)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Accession books are arranged in the simple numeric order inherent in the system. The books are uniform, save for the very first and the last few. The last few, in fact, are irregular lists made in the 1970 and 1980s and contain very little useful information.

Acquisition Information

The accession record books of the Washington State University Libraries were transferred from active use to inactive, compact storage in the late 1940s, and subsequently transferred to active use by the Rare Books Librarian about 1980. In January of 1988, the records were transferred to the University Archives.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Lawrence Stark in January, 1988.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description
Box
Volume 1	1892 sequence, unnumbered
1	1 - 45,000
2	45,001 - 90,000
3	90,001 - 140,000
4	140,001 - 185,000
5	185 001 - 235,000
6	235,001 - 280,000
7	280,001 - 325,000
8	325,001 - 370,000
9	370,001 - 415,000
10	415,001 - 460,000
11	460,001 - 505,000
12	505,001 - 550,000
13	550,001 - 600,000
14	Rough lists, 668,818 forward, irregular, 4 vols.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Academic libraries -- Acquisitions -- History.

Corporate Names

State College of Washington. Libraries -- Acquisitions -- Archival resources.
State College of Washington. Libraries -- Records and correspondence.
Washington State University. Libraries -- Acquisitions -- Archival resources.
Washington State University. Libraries -- Records and correspondence.

Other Creators

Corporate Names
- State College of Washington. Libraries. (creator)

Archives West Finding Aid

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