Forrest Spaulding – His Life

May 4, 1892 – December 9, 1965

“The first attribute of a librarian is not to be a great lover of books but a great lover of people”

([Spaulding Article], 1947).

Created by: Deidre Black, Jacque Driscoll, Trevor Hunter, Chance Maggard, and Rebekah Mansfield

Born in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1882. Graduated from the Library School of New York Public Library in 1913. Became the head of the Des Moines Public Library in 1917 at the age of 25. Became director of libraries for the Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and

Lighthouse services of the federal government in 1919. Became head of libraries and museums in Peru 1920, where he also acted as a

correspondent for the Associated Press. Returned to the United States to work as an editor in a publishing firm in 1922. Returned to Des Moines as a city librarian in 1927. Authored Library Bill of Rights which was adopted by the American Library

Association in 1939. Retired from the Des Moines Public Library in 1952 and returned to his

hometown of Nashua, NH. Retired in 1958. Died in Nashua in 1965.

A Brief Timeline of Spaulding’s Life

The HumanitarianDuring World War I, Spaulding organized libraries at Camp

Doge (Des Moines, Iowa) and in nearby states for the recruited men.

Served as chairman of the Polk County Roll Call of the Red Cross during World War II.

During the Great Depression, in response to the high unemployment rate, he opened a Men’s Reading Room containing technical and vocational reading matter that was free to the public.

While working for the Des Moines Public Library, his petition secured federal funding for mobile library units, training for library clerical staff, and programs focused on increasing library usage by special classes, such as the handicapped.

Established an art department at the Des Moines Public Library.

Often spoke out against bigotry and racism during the 30s and 40s and received an award in 1948 from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Rabbi Martin Weitz of Temple B’Nai Jeshurun included Spaulding in his Honor Roll in 1948, along with Eleanor Roosevelt and Gandhi.

The Humanitarian

“In newspaper stories from his time he was depicted as genial, gregarious, and slightly eccentric. He was fond of punning, telling and hearing anecdotes, traveling on little-known railway lines, and baseball—in 1946 he attended every home game of the Des Moines Bruins” (Thomas, 1987). Spaulding was also known to sing in public. One Iowa Library Association Newsletter reported that a Sunday night singing event included “pretty smooth solo work by Forrest Spaulding” (as cited in Thomas, 1987).

A Man of Many Interests

One of Spaulding’s poems “Washington Square” was published

in the September 16th issue of Bruno’s Weekly in 1916.

WORLD WAR I

NAZI GERMANY

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Historical Context:The Library Bill of Rights

Censorship in American Libraries

Intellectual freedom has not always been a matter of interest within the field of librarianship, and the American Library Association’s stance regarding intellectual freedom and censorship has shifted considerably since the late 1930s. Before the 1930s, libraries did not consider censorship to be a concern of the profession and did not always intervene when intellectual content was banned (Krug, 2007).

World War I

Anti-German sentiments during World War I led to German books being banned from American public libraries. The Wisconsin Library Bulletin published an article in 1918 arguing that “There is no room for dispute or even discussion as to the treatment of material which approaches the point of disloyalty to the country in time of war…all questionable materials must be eliminated” (Wiegand, 1999).

Even Forrest Spaulding was guilty of censoring books when he was the director of the Des Moines Public Library. In 1918, “Forrest Spaulding…reported to the secretary of the Iowa State Council of Defense that he quietly removed 60 suspicious titles from circulation to avoid drawing attention to them” (Wiegand, 1999).

Spaulding & Inclusion

Despite removing “suspicious titles” from his collection, Spaulding was an intelligent man who valued all writers’ literary contributions. In the early 1930s he published bibliographies of books by and about black Americans (Pawley, 2010). At this point in American history, “African Americans were excluded from most public libraries either by explicit policy or by collections that were at best irrelevant and at worst insulting” (Pawley, 2010, p. 144). Section I. of Spaulding’s original Library Bill of Rights states that “in no case shall selection be based on the race or nationality, political, or religious views of the writers” (American Library Association, 1996).

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany earned fame early on for huge public book burnings, and the totalitarian regime also had control of public libraries. “To German public librarianship the war brought new lists of books to be removed from libraries. As in other areas of governance, it intensified the specifically Nazi direction of policy” (Stieg, 1992).These public book burnings and the strict totalitarian censorship of materials in Germany brought the subject of intellectual freedom a renewed sense of urgency, and American librarians were forced to reconsider the traditional ambivalent stance regarding censorship. Spaulding in particular was concerned by what was happening overseas and the still rampant censorship happening in America, and published his Library’s Bill of Rights on November 21, 1938.

ALA & The Grapes of Wrath

The American Library Association did not officially espouse a policy regarding intellectual freedom until the publication of John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath.

The Grapes of Wrath “was banned from libraries in East St. Louis, Illinois; Camden, New Jersey; Bakersfield, California; and other localities” (Krug, 2007).

Because of the widespread objection to The Grapes of Wrath, the American Library Association finally adopted the Library’s Bill of Rights. It was a document very similar to the one that Spaulding published in 1938 and has altered the philosophy of American librarianship.

Article Amendments & Interpretations

1940S TO PRESENT

1944 – Article I was amended to state the Intellectual Freedom Committee’s position on banning or removing materials from a library, stating “Further, books believed to be factually correct should not be banned or removed from the library simply because they are disapproved of by some people” (ALA, 2010, p. 52).

1948 – The scope of the document was expanded. Intolerance and censorship of free speech that were issues before World War II were no longer necessary to address, but the Cold War made it evident that even in peace times, the Library Bill of Rights were necessary to protect free library service” (ALA, 2010, p. 52). Article II’s 1944 amendment that “books believed to be factually correct” (as

cited in ALA, 2010, p. 52) was removed and instead, they wrote “books…of sound factual authority” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 52). The term “banned” also was replaced by “proscribed.”

Article III was completely revised to make note that libraries should challenge book censorship by people or groups based on moral or political opinion.

Article IV stated that libraries should work with “allied groups…in science, education, and book publishing in resisting all abridgment of the free access to ideas and full freedom of expression” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 53).

Article III of the original bill was moved to create the new article V, with different wording, but no change in meaning to the concern of library meeting rooms being used by all who were served by the library.

1951 – The bill was expanded to include “all materials and media of communication used or collected by libraries” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 54) as a footnote. Result of the American Legion attempting to remove The Brotherhood

of Man, Boundary Lines, and Peoples of the U.S.S.R. from the Peoria Public Library.

The “Statement on Labeling” was also added in 1951, the first of many interpretive statements. This essentially states that any labels put on library materials by the copyright holder are not endorsements by the library, and may not be removed.

1961 – Article V was made Article VI after a study by the Special Committee on Civil Liberties “recommended that a new article be added to the Library Bill of Rights” (ALA, 2010, p. 54). This amendment stated that “the rights of an individual to the use of a library should not be denied or abridged because of his race, religion, national origins, or political views” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 54).

1967 – The phrase “of sound factual authority” was called into question at a conference held by the Intellectual Freedom Committee. That phrase was invoked by a Catholic Illinois librarian to ban a Protestant publication. It was recommended that the phrase be removed along with other changes to various articles. Articles I and V had the term “social” added due to the Civil

Rights movement. Article IV – “that are tradition and heritage of Americans” was

recommended for removal due to redundancy and its nationalistic nature; the reference was also expanded beyond the science, education, and book publishers to encompass more.

Article VI – “provided that the meetings be open to the public” was added to address concerns about “private groups with restricted attendance” (ALA, 2010, p. 55).

Teens were also given full access to library materials, and Article V was amended to include the word “age.”

1971-1973 – The ALA responded to questions regarding the implementation of the 1967 revision with six Interpretations. These six Interpretations were as follows: “Challenged Materials,” “Free Access to Libraries for Minors,” “Evaluating Library Collections,” “Expurgation of Library Materials,” “Restricted Access to Library Materials,” and “ Sexism, Racism, and Other-Isms in Library Materials” (ALA, 2010, p. 57).

1980 – With the massive social upheaval of the late 1960s and 1970s, the role of the library was due for another revision. Further change was sparked in 1977 when the Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship requested a revision rejecting gender related pronouns from the Library Bill of Rights as well as sex discrimination in library services (ALA, 2010, p.57 ). The essence of Article I was virtually untouched, but the language used to

reach the essence was simplified and clarified. Article II built upon the previous revision and added that “libraries have an

obligation to provide information and divers points of view on historical as well as current issues” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 58).

Article III was simplified and the word “public” was removed. Article V was “a general statement condemning discrimination according to

origin, background, or views” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 58). Article VI was changed to account for differences between various types of

libraries and reinforce that the previous articles applied to all libraries.

1980s – During the decade, four new Interpretations were adopted. They are “Meeting Rooms and Exhibit Spaces” in 1981, “Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource” in 1982, “Circulation of Motion Pictures and Video Productions” in 1984 which was replaced in 1989 by “ Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials,” and “Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program” in 1986. In the late 1980s, requests for amending the Library Bill of Rights to incorporate freedom of access regardless of language or economic status. This is in addition to freedom of access with no restriction for gays, bisexuals, and lesbians.

1990s – All but one of the existing Interpretations were amended to assure access to all concerned. In addition, three more Interpretations were added. They are as follows: “The Universal Right to Free Expression” in 1991, “Economic Barriers to Information Access” in 1993, and “Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Gender or Sexual Orientation” in 1993. Although in 2008 it was revised and renamed “Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation” (as cited in ALA, 2010, p. 54).

1990s – In 1996, another Interpretation, “Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks” was added. This would be revised in 2009 and called “Access to Digital Services, and Networks.” This was the ALA’s attempt to retain personal privacy with the growing use of technology in all aspects of the library.

2000s – In 2002, “Privacy” a new Interpretation, was adopted. Three new Interpretations were adopted in 2009: “Minors and Internet Interactivity,” “Services to Persons with Disabilities,” and “Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom.”

Banned and Challenged Books

“Clell Pruett burns a copy of The Grapes Of Wrath as Bill Camp and another leader of the Associated Farmers stand by. At the time this photograph was taken, Pruett had not read the novel. Years later, after he read the book at the behest of Rick Wartzman, Pruett declared that he had no regrets about burning it” (Neary, 2008).

Resources for Challenged Material

The American Library Association now provides many online resources for librarians to help defend challenged library items, such as the Challenges to Library Materials (n.d.) page. It is a testament to how much change was catalyzed by Spaulding’s contributions to the field.

Challenged Library Materials in the Present

“The office for intellectual freedom collects information from two sources: newspapers and reports submitted by individuals, some of whom use the challenge reporting form. All challenges are compiled into a database” (“Frequently Challenged Books,” n.d.). “OIF has only been collecting data about banned books since 1990, so we do not have any lists of frequently challenged books or authors before that date” (“Frequently Challenged Books,” n.d.).

2013’s Most Challenged Books

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey Offensive language, unsuitable for intended age group and violence

The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuitable for intended age group and violence

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie Drugs/smoking/alcohol, offensive language, racism, sexually explicit and unsuitable for intended age group

Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James Nudity, offensive language, religious viewpoints, sexually explicit and unsuitable to age group

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins Religious viewpoint and unsuitable to age group

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone Drugs/smoking/alcohol, nudity, offensive language and sexually explicit

Looking for Alaska, by John Green Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit and unsuitable to age group

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky Drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, sexually explicit and unsuitable to age group

Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya Occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint and sexually explicit

Bone (series), by Jeff Smith Political viewpoint, racism and violence

Forrest B. Spauldingby T. O. Neswold

The painting belongs to the Des Moines Public Library.Photo courtesy of K. K. Runge of Library Consulting, P.A.

Citations

● American Library Association. (2010). Intellectual freedom manual. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

● Forrest Spaulding [Photograph]. Retrieved June 25, 2014 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Spaulding

● Frequently challenged books. (n.d.). Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks

● Krug, J. F. (2007). Intellectual freedom and ALA: historical overview. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, Second Edition, 1379-1389. doi:10.1081

● Neary, L. (2008, September 30). Grapes of Wrath and the politics of book burning. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95190615

● Challenges to library materials. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2014, from: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials

Citations Continued

● Pawley, C. (2010). Reading places: literacy, democracy, and the public library in Cold War America (pp. 143-146). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press.

● Spaulding, F. (1916). Washington Square. Retrieved June 25, 2014 from: http://bluemountain.princeton.edu/bluemtn/cgi-bin/bluemtn?a=d&d=bmtnaaq19160916-01.2.10&e=-------en-20--1--txt-IN-----

● [Spaulding Article]. (1947, December 8). Des Moines Register.

● Stieg, M. (1992). The Second World War and the public libraries of Nazi Germany. Journal of Contemporary History, 27(1), 23-40. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/260777

● Thomas, T.E. (1987). Forrest Spaulding : Des Moines' foremost librarian and author of the Library Bill of Rights : a paper written for the 1987 bicentennial exhibition in the Public Library of Des Moines. Unpublished manuscript.

Citations Continued

 ● [Untitled photograph of men burning book]. Retrieved June 25, 2013, from: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95190615

● Book burning by nazi soldiers and university students, Germany. (ca. 1933). The legacy of war: War as illness. Digital exhibit, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from http://apps.nlm.nih.gov/againsttheodds/exhibit/legacy_of_war/war_as_illness.cfm.

● Weigand, W. (1999). This month, 81 years ago. American Libraries, 30(8), 99. Retrieved from: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2071/ehost/detail?vid=3&sid=b4eac482-8649-43ba-8349-a9adb4082871%40sessionmgr114&hid=105&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=a9h&AN=2291114