ADELAIDE UNDERHILL
1860 - 1936
The faculty of Vassar College desires to place on
record a tribute to Adelaide Underhill, Librarian
Emeritus, who died April 23, 1936.
Following her graduation from Vassar in 1888, Miss
Underhill entered the first professional school for
librarians at Columbia College. Called to Vassar
in 1892 by the Librarian, Miss Frances A. Wood, to
install a modern library system she recorded, clas-
sified and catalogued, almost single-handed, the
collection of 15,000 volumes and showed a growing
power of organization in carrying forward plans for
developing the book collections and making them fully
available. She served the library actively for thirty
six years, retiring as Librarian Emeritus in 1928.
Her gentle aspect might have suggested her love of
books and learning but did not betray the zeal of
the dauntless book collector, the ardor of the de-
voted friend, the passion for peace and justice,
which inspired her loyalties.
Her vision and resourcefulness brought friends and
books and funds to the library where her silent wit-
nesses stand in every alcove. The lamps which light
the path to the library were given by Miss Lucy M.
Salmon in honor of Miss Underhill and the Class of
1888. They are inscribed with the same legend which
appears on Miss Underhill's bookplate in her own
books, her final gift to the library, "Light is given
us to discover onward things."
Eloise Ellery
IX - 331