Robert William Orr papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RS 25/1/20

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection (1942-2009) contains the papers of Robert William Orr. It is split into 2 series. The documents include biographical information, an oral history interview conducted by Dorothy Kehlenbeck, correspondence, and information regarding his involvement in the Iowa State Center project and the Iowa State College (University) Centennial. The papers also contain a file relating to his consultant work for the Tuskegee Institute (University) Library. The collection includes information regarding the thesis program in the library. In addition, there is a draft of the history of the Iowa State University Library that he was not able to complete before his death. It also includes rough drafts and final manuscripts of The Library at Iowa State — an Informal Account of the First One Hundred Years of the Iowa State University Library along with several reference materials.

Dates

Creation: 1942-2009

Creator

Orr, Robert W. (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

Robert William Orr was born June 9, 1905 in Winterset, Iowa. He received his B.S. (1930) in chemical technology from Iowa State College (University) and his M.S. (1939) in library science from Columbia University.

Orr began his career in the Iowa State College (University) Library as an Order Librarian (1930-1931). He was appointed as an Assistant (1931-1933) in the Loan Department, an Assistant Reference Librarian (1933-1935), a Reference Librarian (1935-1941), an Assistant Librarian in Charge of Public Services, and an Associate Librarian (1945-1946). In 1946, Orr was named Director (1946-1967) of the library.

He was a member of numerous professional societies, which include the Iowa Library Association (President, 1947-1948), the American Library Association, and the Association of College and Research Libraries (President, 1956-1957). Orr was also a member of Phi Lambda Epsilon, Alpha Chi Sigma, and Gamma Sigma Delta.

Orr was also on the Board of Directors of the Memorial Union (1948-1972) and was given an award (1970) for his many years of service to the Union. In addition, he received a faculty citation (1958) from the Iowa State University Alumni Association. He was also chair of the Iowa State College (University) Centennial Committee (1956-1958).

Orr married Elizabeth Strohbehn (1905-2002) on September 9, 1939. They had one daughter, Gretchen. He was killed in a car accident on April 9, 1972.

Extent

3.78 Linear Feet (9 document boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Robert William Orr was born June 9, 1905 in Winterset, Iowa. In 1946, Orr was named Director (1946-1967) of the Iowa State University Library. The collection (1942-2009) contains the papers of Robert William Orr, including related to his career at the Iowa State University Library and the rough drafts and final manuscripts of The Library at Iowa State — an Informal Account of the First One Hundred Years of the Iowa State University Library along with several reference materials.