Dewey Decimal: The Surprising History of the Man Behind the System
Summary
This episode explores the life of Melville Dewey, the obsessive and controversial inventor of the Dewey Decimal Classification. It details his early career, the founding of the American Library Association, and his tenure at Columbia University, where he pioneered professional librarianship. The narrative also covers his personal life, including his marriage to Annie Godfrey and his discriminatory, exclusive resort, the Lake Placid Club. Finally, the summary examines how the classification system has evolved to address historical biases and adapt to modern digital needs.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and introduction
Overview of Melville Dewey and the DDC
Dewey's early life and love for order
Library chaos at Amherst College
The metric system and obsession with the number 10
Developing and testing the classification system
Expanding influence and meeting Annie Godfrey
The 1876 publication and DDC structure
Founding the American Library Association
Library Bureau and Library Journal
Collaboration with Richard Rogers Bowker
Metric and spelling reform efforts
Marriage to Annie Godfrey
Moving to Columbia College
The Wellesley Half Dozen and library success
Conflict over women in librarianship
Resignation and move to New York State Library
Founding the Lake Placid Club
Discriminatory policies and harassment allegations
Retirement, later life, and death
Evolution of DDC and OCLC acquisition
Criticisms of DDC and legacy
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