Helen Alice Ganser (1891–1990) was an American
librarian. She became the first librarian at Millersville State Normal School
in
Millersville, Pennsylvania (now
Millersville University of Pennsylvania) in 1911. She was the institution's only professional librarian until 1921.
Career
After completing her training as a librarian at the
Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry
Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, Sc ...
, Ganser devoted her entire career to Millersville State Teachers College library and to the cause of school librarianship. She is credited with starting the
library science program at Millersville in 1921.
Ganser was a member of the
American Library Association. On November 27, 1933, Helen Ganser was nominated for membership in the joint committee of the American Library Association and the
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education based on her "Experience giving courses for school and teacher-librarians."
She retired in 1952.
In 1966,
Millersville State College
Millersville University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Millersville University, The Ville, or MU) is a public university in Millersville, Pennsylvania. It is one of the fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher ...
demolished the historic "Old Main" and replaced it with the then-modern 11-story Helen A. Ganser Library in 1968.
The contents of the Archives and Special Collections Library of
Vassar College note the significance of the opening of the Helen A. Ganser Library including material pertaining to the dedication of the Helen Ganser Library at which
Louise Seaman Bechtel
Louise Seaman Bechtel (June 29, 1894 – April 12, 1985) was an American editor, critic, author, and teacher of young children. She was the first person to head a juvenile book department established by an American publishing house.
Biography ...
, the noted author of children's books and former publisher and head of the Children's Book Department of
The Macmillan Company, was present. The personal papers of Louise Seaman Bechtel contained in the archives include several items of correspondence and photographs of Ms. Ganser.
It is rumored that Ganser's ghost haunts the 4th floor balcony of the library named in her honor.
In the summer of 2011, the Helen A. Ganser Library at Millersville University temporarily closed to undergo renovations. The library reopened in August 2013, after having a $25 million makeover. The library was renamed the Francine G. McNairy Library and Learning Forum at Ganser Hall.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganser, Helen A
American librarians
American women librarians
1891 births
1990 deaths
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Drexel University alumni
20th-century American women
20th-century American people