 | A survey of research materials in Virginia libraries, 1936-37 |  |
III. SCIENCE
Section A. General Science.
There are three libraries in Virginia which contain almost
library of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and the library of
the University of Virginia. Yet these form an excellent illustration
of the fact that differences may exist among collections
numerically equal. The material at the State Library represents
the whole field and includes files of two dozen or more serials,
mainly the publications of American museums and scientific
societies. The collection at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute
contains runs of thirty-eight general science periodicals or
society serials, and there are interesting groups of works on the
history and on the philosophy of science. At the University of
Virginia the serial section of the collection in general science
includes the publications of twenty academies of science, a
number of which are foreign.
Two other Virginia libraries deserve mention in this connection.
At the College of William and Mary there are 1,250 volumes
in general science, which include thirty periodicals and an unusual
number of early works — works, that is, which were published
before 1800. At the Virginia Military Institute the central
library contains 858 volumes in general science, including a
number of American periodicals, and there is a separate departmental
library housing a number of general works.
Section B. Geology.
The collection in geology at the University of Virginia numbers
4,420 volumes and an extensive file of maps and surveys.
The sets of United States state and federal surveys are almost
complete, and Canada, India, and various other countries are well
represented. The library contains geological publications from
Glasgow, Harvard, Stanford, Texas, Toronto, Uppsala, and several
other universities; and among the periodicals and society publications
are American Geologist, Economic Geology, the Field Museum
Geological Series, Geological Magazine, the Geological Society of
America Bulletin and Proceedings, Geological Society of London
Quarterly Journal, Journal of Geology, the publications of the
Lemberg Universytet Instytut Geofizyki i Meteorologji, and the
Pan-American Geologist.
At the State Library there are 2,600 volumes on geology,
atlases and maps for all states covered by the United States Geological
Survey, surveys of twenty-five states, chiefly east of
the Mississippi River, and full sets of nearly all of the federal
publications, such as annual reports, bulletins, monographs, and
professional papers.
The library at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute contains
1,858 volumes and a considerable number of uncatalogued publications,
periodicals, and maps. There is a somewhat similar reference
and teaching collection, of approximately 1,000 volumes, at
Section C. Geography.
For research material in geography the collection at the
Mariners' Museum near Newport News is outstanding among Virginia
libraries. This special library[17]
contains 19,438 books and pamphlets,
which include bibliographical material, society publications,
treatises on maritime law, and historical works (chiefly
naval) of Europe, Asia, Oceanica, and the Americas. But the
collection is particularly strong in geographical subjects and in
naval science (see Technology, Section B., Military and Naval
Science[18]
). In geographical subjects there are, for example, the
works of the cartographers Arnoldus, Blaeu, Danckerts, Delisle,
Dewitt, Homann, Hondius, Janssonius, Linschoten, Lotter, Mercator,
Moll, Ortelius, Ptolemy, Sanson, Speed, and Vaugondy. There are
massive sets of collected voyages and travels such as the Histoire
Générale des Voyages, twenty-five volumes; Le Tour de Monde,
thirty-five volumes; and the collections of Balbi, Churchill,
Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Hakluyt, Harris, Kemys, Mavor, Phillips,
Pinkerton, Prevost, and Purchas. American and English government
publications are well represented; and among the society publications
are the American Geographical Society Research Papers, the
Boletin de la Sociedad Geographica de Madrid, and the Journal and
the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society.
Several other libraries in the State contain map material
worthy of note. At the State Library the map collection, printed
and manuscript, comprises about 10,000 items, a considerable part
pertaining to Virginia and its divisions. Not a few of these items
are rare. At the Coast Artillery School there is also a large
collection of maps, the emphasis naturally being on material of
direct military import; but there are also complete files of geological
and geodetic and airways maps. A smaller collection at
the University of Virginia includes some early state maps and a
set of photographic reproductions of Virginia maps from the French
archives. Of localities represented in map collections in Virginia,
Williamsburg and the Yorktown peninsula are outstanding,
the collections of local maps at the College of William and Mary,
at Colonial Williamsburg, Incorporated, and at the Colonial
National Historical Park at Yorktown covering this area with
extraordinary completeness.
As for books on discovery, exploration, and travel, they show
a tendency to be nomadic in library classification: for copies of
the same work turn up under history in some libraries and under
geography in others. Here again, therefore, comparison of
of Virginia the trend has apparently been to migrate to geography,
the census of the general book collection under that
subject showing 4,771 volumes when this survey was made. The
Barnard Shipp Collection and other donations have brought a considerable
number of the more important travel books and many
minor works to this library. There is some emphasis on early
American discovery and exploration; and of atlases, gazetteers,
and guide books the number is considerable.
Other noteworthy book collections on geographic subjects,
each totaling approximately 1,000 volumes, are at the library of
the University of Richmond, the library of Washington and Lee
University, and the State Library. Several of the public
libraries contain excellent collections of travel books, the
Petersburg Public Library deserving special recognition among
these.
Section D. Astronomy.
The astronomy library at the University of Virginia comprises
2,541 volumes and an extensive assortment of serial publications.
The standard works are included; and there are such
sets as Albrecht, Resultate des Internationalen Beitendienste;
Andoyer, Cours de Mécanique Céleste; Bessel, Abhandlungen; Dombowski,
Misure Micrometriche di Stelle; Enske, Gesammelte Mathematische
und Astronomische Abhandlungen; Graff, Grundriss der
Astrophysik; Laplace, Méchanique Céleste; and Valentiner, Handwörterbuch
der Astronomie. The monumental Handbuch der Astrophysik
is being received as it appears. Reports and other publications
are on file from 116 astronomical observatories. In a
number of cases these are scattering. But twenty-seven sets,
representing the more important observatories, are complete; and
forty-three are being received currently. Astronomical maps and
atlases form a noteworthy part of the collection, and astrographic
catalogues from nineteen observatories are available.
Another important section is composed of nautical almanacs and
ephemerides, which represent thirteen countries. Of periodicals
and society publications there are forty-seven on file, thirteen
being complete, and twenty-two being received currently. There
are, therefore, about 200 astronomical serials of one sort and
another in this collection, at least forty of the sets being
complete, and some sixty-five to seventy being currently received.
The State Library and the library at the Coast Artillery
School each contains about 350 volumes in astronomy, these collections
being for the most part of a general character.
Section E. Mathematics.
In the library at the Coast Artillery School at Old Point
Comfort there is a collection of 2,649 books in mathematics, including
a moderate number of periodicals. The books are mainly
in English, but some of the earlier works are represented. This
collection forms the basis for various technical studies in
connection with the activities of the School. Mathematical
analysis forms a line of special interest.
At the University of Virginia there are approximately 1,400
volumes in mathematics. There are at present full sets of only
a comparatively few periodicals; but the following mathematical
journals (not including academy publications) are being currently
received:- Acta Mathematica, American Journal of Mathematics,
American Mathematical Monthly, American Mathematical Society
Bulletin, Transactions, and Colloquium Publications, Annals of
Mathematics, Bulletin de Mathematiques et de Physique Pure et
Appliquees, Bulletin des Sciences Mathematiques, California
University Publications in Mathematics and Physical Sciences,
Composito Mathematica, Duke Mathematical Journal, Ergebnisse
der Mathematik, Fundamenta Mathematica, Jahresbericht der Deutschen
Mathematiker-Vereingung, Journal für die Reine und Angewandte
Mathematik, London Mathematical Society Proceedings,
Mathematica, Mathematics News-Letter, Mathematics Teacher, Mathematische
Annalen, Mathematische Zeitschrift, Messenger of Mathematics,
Monatschefte für Mathematik und Physik, Monografje Matematyczae,
Nouvelles Annales de Mathematiques, Quarterly Journal
of Mathematics, Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte de Mathematik,
Rendiconti del Circolo Mathematico di Palermo, School Science
and Mathematics, Tohoku Mathematical Journal, Washington (State)
University Publications in Mathematics, Zentralblatt für Mathematik
und ihre Grenzgebiete.
At the library of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute the
collection in mathematics numbers 714 volumes. This is a general
collection. It includes the French edition of the Encyclopédie
des Sciences Mathematiques Pure et Appliquées.
Section F. Physics.
The collection in physics at the University of Virginia numbers
3,715 volumes, which include the Handbuch der Physik, the
Handbuch der Experimental Physik, full runs of a number of
periodicals, and the current receipt of twenty-two physics journals.
The most notable contribution of this collection to purposes of
research is in the Lomb Collection on Optics. This comprises 819
volumes and several thousand pamphlets, a number of which would
be difficult to duplicate.
The library at the Coast Artillery School contains 2,193
heat, and optics. At the State Library there is a
general collection of approximately 1,300 volumes. The College
of William and Mary, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and
Washington and Lee University all have from 750 to 800 volumes
in the subject of physics.
Section G. Chemistry.
The collection in chemistry at the University of Virginia
comprises 7,565 volumes, of which about three-fifths are chemical
journals. Of the back sets of journals and of the sixty
varieties currently received, a considerable proportion is made
up of foreign publications. Among the comprehensive works are
those by Beilstein, Gmelin-Kraut, Heilbron, Mellor, and Richter.
The special fields of interest include drugs, food chemistry,
dyes, and bio-chemistry.
At Washington and Lee University there are approximately
3,250 volumes in chemistry. The collection includes a fair proportion
of serial publications; and among the monumental sets
are those by Beilstein, Gmelin-Kraut, Grignard, Heilbron, Mellor,
and Richter. There are no special fields of interest.
The libraries at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and at
the University of Richmond both contain about 1,500 volumes in
chemistry, which include good runs of periodicals and several
of the monumental sets which have been issued in this subject.
At the Virginia Polytechnic Institute the special fields of
interest are agricultural, cellulose, and rayon chemistry.
Considerable emphasis has been given at the University of Richmond
to chemical history and to the biographies of chemists.
The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond has greatly
strengthened its material in medical sciences by acquiring
periodical material in general science and in most of the special
sciences. In chemistry, for example, this library contains runs
of twenty-six chemical journals which total 941 volumes.
Section H. Biological Sciences.
There are approximately 1,100 volumes in GENERAL BIOLOGY
at the University of Virginia. The collection includes some
bibliographical and some biographical material, and there are
twenty-two periodicals currently received.
Five libraries in Virginia are notably close in reported
amount of material in general biology: the College of William
and Mary, 655 volumes; the State Library, 650 volumes; Randolph-Macon
594 volumes; and Hampton Institute, 592 volumes. Of these,
the library at Virginia Polytechnic Institute is comparatively
strong in periodical holdings. Both that library and the library
at Randolph-Macon Woman's College subscribe to the Wistar Institute
Bibliographic Services. Apparently most of the college and
university libraries have been currently receiving Biological
Abstracts.
Of material on BOTANY the library of the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute contains 1,262 volumes. This collection includes
sets of the Index Kewensis Plantarum Phanerogamarum, of the
Natürlichen Pflanzen-Familien, and of the Kryptogamen-Flora by
Rabenhorst; the reports of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, of the
Jardin Botanique de Buitenzorg in Java, of the Missouri Botanical
Garden in St. Louis, of the New York Botanical Garden, and of
the United States National Herbarium; and the following serials
(a number, however, being incomplete): American Botanist, American
Fern Journal, American Journal of Botany, Botanical Abstracts,
Botanical Gazette, Botanical Review, Botanische Zeitung, Botanisches
Zentralblatt, Butler University Botanical Studies,
California University Publications in Botany, Deutschen Botanische
Gesellschaft, Dutch East Indies, Instituut voor Plantenziekten,
Mededeelingen, Florida, State Plant Board, Circulars, Monthly
Bulletin, Quarterly Bulletin, Reports, Insecutor Inscitiae Menstruus,
Jahresbericht über die Fortschritte in der Lehre von den
Gärungs-Gebiete der Pflanzenkrankheiten, Journal of Mycology,
Minnesota Botanical Studies, Minnesota Plant Studies, Botanical
Series of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota,
Montreal University Contributions du Laboratorie de Botanique,
Mycologia, New Phytologist, North American Flora, Pennsylvania
University Botanical Laboratory Contributions, Phytopathology,
Plant Physiology, Plant World, Revue Général de Botanique, Rhodora,
Royal Botanic Club, Notes, Société Mycologique de France,
Bulletin, Southern Appalachian Botanical Club, Journal, Torrey
Botanical Club, Bulletin, Wyoming University Publications in
Science, Botany, Zeitschrift für Botanik, Zeitschrift für
Pflanzenkrankheiten.
At the University of Virginia Library there are approximately
1,800 volumes in botany, the majority being books, not serials.
Some of the earlier works are represented; there are Engler's
Das Pflanzenreich, the Index Kewensis, the Natürlichen Pflanzen-Familien,
and Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora; and the publications
of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, of the
Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, of the New York Botanical
Garden, of the Jardin Botanico of Rio de Janeiro, and of the
United States National Herbarium are currently received.
A general collection in botany is maintained at the College
the collection consisted of 575 volumes.
Of volumes in ZOOLOGY the University of Virginia has approximately
2,400. This is a general collection with some early
works, such as Buffon's Histoire Naturelle (both in the original
and in translation); with several monumental sets, for example,
Audubon's Birds of America, Bronn's Klassen und Ordnungen der
Thier Reichs, and Lankester's Treatise on Zoology; and with a
fair representation of reports of marine laboratories, zoological
gardens, and zoological serials. For purposes of research the
most significant part of the collection probably consists in the
material — books, periodicals, and pamphlets — on ornithology,
this being largely the gift of J. H. Riley, Esq., of the United
States National Museum.
The Library at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute contains
1,090 volumes in zoology. This also is a general collection.
It includes runs of thirty-eight serial publications, in addition
to which there are the reports (chiefly annual) from twenty-two
government departments or laboratories.
The State Library in Richmond has approximately 1,000 volumes
in zoology, the collection being general but with some
emphasis on popular zoology and birds. About 200 of the volumes
are the publications of state departments of fisheries. Special
sets include Audubon's Birds of America, the Cambridge Natural
History, Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, Jardine's Naturalist's Library,
and Kingsley's Riverside Natural History.
Section I. Psychology.
In psychology there are about 2,400 volumes at the University
of Virginia Library. These include twenty-two periodicals
currently received and two or three which are no longer being
published, the sets being complete in the majority of cases.
The collection deals with general psychology, but there is considerable
emphasis on child psychology and on educational
psychology.
The library at the Randolph-Macon Woman's College contains
a total of 1,042 volumes in psychology. There is a good selection
of the files of the more important journals, American, English,
and German.
There are five libraries in Virginia which have collections
of about 500 volumes in psychology. These are the Mary Helen
Cochran Library at Sweet Briar College, which has 566 volumes,
a good working collection for undergraduate study in the history
psychology; the library of the College of William and Mary, with
520 volumes, showing some special interest in child psychology
and in physiological psychology; the libraries at the University
of Richmond and at Washington and Lee University, each with about
500 volumes; and the library at the Union Theological Seminary,
with 450 volumes, mainly on abnormal psychology, child psychology,
and the psychology of religion.
Section J. Medicine.
There are three medical collections of note in Virginia; the
libraries of the Medical College of Virginia and of the Richmond
Academy of Medicine, which occupy adjacent buildings and supplement
each other; and the library of the medical department of the
University of Virginia. Research workers in these libraries have
the advantage of proximity to the great Army Medical Library in
Washington, which uniformly maintains a high degree of courtesy,
generosity, and effectiveness in inter-library loans.
The research worker at the Medical College of Virginia can
also draw on the science sections of other libraries in Richmond,
this process having been expedited by a union list of
periodical holdings in nine collections in that city. (See Part
One, Section B., Bibliography.[19]
) In the total of 24,472 volumes
recorded for this particular library, however, there are included
2,384 volumes of periodicals in general science (694), physics
(89), chemistry (941), general biology (225), botany (192), and
zoology (243). This collection, therefore, affords a considerable
degree of independence of outside resources. The medical material
itself is well distributed over the various fields of medical
activity. But the subjects that are perhaps most adequately
equipped are general medicine, pathology, practice of medicine,
surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology, and therapeutics. There are
also strong sections in anatomy, physiology, and bacteriology.
Altogether there are files, a fair proportion being complete, of
330 periodicals or society publications, the total number of volumes
of serials being in excess of 14,000.
The Miller Library of the Richmond Academy of Medicine[20]
contains
approximately 3,500 volumes of old medical works (including
some incunabula) in Greek, Italian, German, French, and English.
In time these works range from the tenth century to the early
nineteenth; and in subject they include general medicine, surgery,
dentistry, pharmacy, and such allied sciences as nursing. This
medical journals are transferred to the neighbouring library of
the Medical College of Virginia.
The research worker at the University of Virginia of course
has ready access to the various science collections on the same
campus. The medical collection itself numbers 17,747 volumes,
including files of somewhat over one hundred periodicals. There
is also an extensive and carefully filed accumulation of pamphlets
and reprints. The collection is general in character, but
there is some emphasis on cancer research, dermatology, neurology,
radiology, surgery, pediatrics, pathology, physiology, bacteriology,
and the history of medicine.
In addition to these Richmond and Charlottesville centers
for medical books there is at least an interesting suggestion in
a special collection in Norfolk. This is maintained by the Norfolk
County Medical Society for its members, and consists of
approximately 8,000 volumes in medicine, surgery, medical history,
and medical biography.
The collection at the Richmond Academy of Medicine is
accessible for research work within the library, but the books are
not available for outside loans.
Section K. Allied Medical Sciences.
In HYGIENE AND STATE MEDICINE the Medical College of Virginia
has 2,319 volumes, including government, state, and municipal publications
and runs of fifteen periodicals. There are somewhat
smaller collections at the University of Virginia and at the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute.
In PHARMACY AND MATERIA MEDICA the collection at the Medical
College of Virginia numbers 1,142 volumes, of which 868 are periodicals
representing twenty-four titles. The State Library has a
collection of 1,617 volumes in these subjects, the proportion of
periodicals being, in this case, smaller.
The Medical College of Virginia contains 815 volumes on
DENTISTRY, of which 382 are miscellaneous textbooks and 443 are
serials, nineteen varieties being represented.
On the subject of NURSING both the Medical College of Virginia
and the University of Virginia have collections of about 300
volumes. The library at the University subscribes to seven
periodicals dealing with this subject.
| A survey of research materials in Virginia libraries, 1936-37 | |