Dunn Named Schlesinger Library Director

Following an extensive nationwide search, Mary Maples Dunn, the outgoing president of Smith College, has been named the new Pforzheimer Foundation Director of Radcliffe's Schlesinger Library.

Dunn, who has held a tenured position at Smith for the last 10 years, is expected to assume her duties as director of the Schlesinger Library in September.

Prior to her time at Smith, Dunn served as Dean of the Undergraduate College at Bryn Mawr College, where she had formerly been a professor of history.

"The position at Schlesinger provides interesting new opportunities," Dunn said in an interview yesterday. "I hope to try to work on the library's collections in a way that rises out of my understanding of what's been going on in the world of women."

Dunn's appointment, which was announced on Wednesday, concludes a year-long search following the death of former Schlesinger Library Director Patricia Miller King '59.

The Schlesinger Library is a noncirculatory research library which preserves the history of 19th and 20th century American women. It holds, among other resources, approximately 2,000 manuscripts, 50,000 photographic images and 50,000 bound volumes on subjects concerning the history of women.

"We had a national search with a search committee which included readers, library staff and scholars as well as the Director of the Advisory Committee for the Library," said Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson. "So [the committee] was a combination of people who use, maintain and guide the library."

Wilson, who ultimately selected Dunn for the position, said Dunn was chosen for her leadership skills and academic background.

"[Dunn] is, first of all, a leader, and that library is a national treasure," Wilson said. "One of our greatest challenges was to find someone who would be excellent enough to lead that institution."

"Ms. Dunn is a strong historian and teacher inwomen's history and a scholar deeply committed towomen's education," Wilson added.

In the absence of an immediate successor,Miller's position was temporarily filled by EvaSteiner Mosley '55, the curator of manuscripts forthe Schlesinger. Though considered a historian ofgreat prominence herself, Mosley declined to be acandidate for the position.

"[Mosley] chose not to be a candidate," Wilsonsaid. "We're very indebted to her for taking onthe role of acting director."

"Eva Mosley really stepped up to the challengeand did a superb job," said Susan Ware, a memberof the Schlesinger Library Advisory Committee andAssociate Professor of History at New YorkUniversity. "But if you know Eva Mosley, she's anarchivist. She loves her sources and I think herheart and soul is with the manuscripts," Wareadded.

Although she has a tough act to follow,confidence in Dunn's appointment has beenwidespread.

"[Dunn is] just so superbly qualified for thisposition, said Anne Firor Scott, chair of theSchlesinger Director Search Committee andProfessor Emerita at Duke University. "She is anexpert on colonial women's history; she and herhusband have edited the papers of William Penn;and she's a wonderful person."

"The Schlesinger Library is an absolutelyremarkable collection and I think that Mary MaplesDunn's appointment is a real coup for thelibrary," said Sidney Verba '53, director of theUniversity Library.

"I am simply delighted," said Joan R.Challinor, Chair of the Advisory Committee for theSchlesinger Library and a member of the SearchCommittee.

"Mary Dunn will be a worthy successor to PatKing. Under her leadership the Schlesinger willcontinue to be the foremost library of women'shistory in America," she said

"Ms. Dunn is a strong historian and teacher inwomen's history and a scholar deeply committed towomen's education," Wilson added.

In the absence of an immediate successor,Miller's position was temporarily filled by EvaSteiner Mosley '55, the curator of manuscripts forthe Schlesinger. Though considered a historian ofgreat prominence herself, Mosley declined to be acandidate for the position.

"[Mosley] chose not to be a candidate," Wilsonsaid. "We're very indebted to her for taking onthe role of acting director."

"Eva Mosley really stepped up to the challengeand did a superb job," said Susan Ware, a memberof the Schlesinger Library Advisory Committee andAssociate Professor of History at New YorkUniversity. "But if you know Eva Mosley, she's anarchivist. She loves her sources and I think herheart and soul is with the manuscripts," Wareadded.

Although she has a tough act to follow,confidence in Dunn's appointment has beenwidespread.

"[Dunn is] just so superbly qualified for thisposition, said Anne Firor Scott, chair of theSchlesinger Director Search Committee andProfessor Emerita at Duke University. "She is anexpert on colonial women's history; she and herhusband have edited the papers of William Penn;and she's a wonderful person."

"The Schlesinger Library is an absolutelyremarkable collection and I think that Mary MaplesDunn's appointment is a real coup for thelibrary," said Sidney Verba '53, director of theUniversity Library.

"I am simply delighted," said Joan R.Challinor, Chair of the Advisory Committee for theSchlesinger Library and a member of the SearchCommittee.

"Mary Dunn will be a worthy successor to PatKing. Under her leadership the Schlesinger willcontinue to be the foremost library of women'shistory in America," she said