Virginia Vesper - The image of the librarian in murder mysteries in the twentieth century.pdf

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Vesper, Virginia
The Image of the Librarian in Murder Mysteries in the
Twentieth Century.
Middle Tennessee State Univ., Murfreesboro.
[94]
21p.
Reports
Descriptive (141)
MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage.
*Characterization; Females; *Fiction; *Librarians;
Salaries; Sex Differences; *Social Attitudes;
IDENTIFIERS
*Stereotypes; Technological Advancement
*Mysteries (Literature); *Twentieth Century
ABSTRACT
This document, which discusses the image of
librarians in 20th century murder mysteries, suggests that the image
initially evolved from an elitist spirit that was the result of the
missionary zeal and cultural superiority of early librarians, and
that the image of the old maid librarian was probably based on the
reality that early women college graduates were forced to choose
between marriage or career. Examples of the stereotyping of
librarians in various murder mysteries are provided, in addition to
later works that indicate the movement away from the stereotype.
Topics include the difference between the portrayal of male and
female librarians, the growth of concern about the librarian image,
salaries, the image of the library director, and the entrance of
technology such as online catalogs and online searching. (Contains 27
references.) (AEF)
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The Image of the Librarian in Murder Mysteries
in the Twentieth Century
Virginia Vesper
Todd Library
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37133
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1
Whether librarians are amused or annoyed, one of the most
recognizable professional stereotypes is that of the librarian.
A
bespectacled female, with her graying hair pulled back in a bun,
sensible shoes on her feet, and her finger upon her pursed lips,
shushing any noisy library patron has been the favored image of the
media.
The grim spinster and other unflattering images have been
haunting librarians for over a century.
American
In the first issue of
celebrated the end
Library Journal in 1876, Melvil Dewey
of the image of the librarian as a "mouser in musty books".
But, there is usually some truth in all stereotypes.
Was there any
truth in the portrayal of the librarians in popular fiction?
A
perfect place to search for such stereotypical images of the
librarian in popular fiction would be in murder mysteries and
detective fiction which rely on plot rather than character.
Do the
characterizations in these novels give readers only the image that
they expect,
library world.
or do they accurately reflect librarians
and the
Looking at the librarians that appear in mystery
the
novels
during
twentieth
century,
there
is
a
definite
transformation in the image of the librarian from the grim
spinster
to.the information specialist, who is amused by the
older image.
Venturing back to the beginning of the twentieth century, we
find that the image is firmly planted in the
public's mind, and
even the eminent librarian, Edmund
Pearson commented on one aspect
of the image when he noted the fondness of women
librarians for a
pince-nez that is fastened to the hair by a small
gold chain.
2
Though Pearson took a humorous look at the image, he acknowledged
that librarians had a legitimate quarrel with the "preposterous
caricatures of librarians in popular fiction. (Pearson 3)
Where did the image come from that was already so prevalent at
the beginning of the century,
and was it true?
There was an
element of truth in the image.
Early members of the Library
profession were expected to have a college education, belong to a
highly respectable family, and to possess a moral fervor to shape
the reading public.
Missionary zeal and cultural superiority
combined to form an elitist spirit that was still prevalent when
women
began
entering
the
profession
in
large
numbers.
Librarianship was a profession that for women fit in with accepted
feminine limitations.
Acting as moral guardian, cultural guide and
gracious hostess was seen as an extension of the maternal and
biological role(Garrison 185).
"When the elitist spirit of public
library leadership interacted with the predominance of women in the
profession, the result was the "library hostess," a respectable
middle-class lady who demonstrates some of the stereotypical
traits
of that grim, prim spinster librarian who has become a commonplace
figure in American popular thought.
(Garrison xiv)
The image of
the old maid librarian was probably based on the
reality that early
women college graduates were forced
to choose between marriage or
career since society did not
allow them to do both.
The librarian in Streaked with Crimson is an example
of the
prim spinster.
Written in 1929 by Charles Dutton,
this novel
4
3
includes Miss Abigail Tripp, town librarian and scion of one of the
oldest families in Mansfield. In fact, few people could think back
far enough to remember when she had not been the town librarian.
She is described as a thin, nervous librarian, whose age wus around
sixty, and whose mannerisms both
amused and exasperated.
She was
a fussy, talkative woman, whose opinions were very set and
with a
curiosity which was never satisfied; nosy and judgmental not only
about books but about people and the way they live their lives
(101).
As you would expect in a murder mystery, this only leads to
trouble for old Miss Tripp.
Miss Tripp certainly reflects the
image of the era. Her insatiable curiosity is a trait that is going
to reappear in almost every librarian populating a murder mystery.
Also the tradition of the small town librarian being from one of
the founding families in the community
does not die out easily, at
least in mystery novels.
Adams,
killed.
1992,
In All the Crazy Winters by Deborah
the librarian of the Jesus Creek Public Library is
The assistant librarian expects to take her place but
the
board appoints a young women who is thinking about
going to Library
School as head of the library, "since as a member of an old and
trusted family,
(she) would be more acceptable to the patrons. As
a board member states,
" It is traditional for the head librarian
to be a member one of the original families"
(158).
Librarians of the thirties, judging by the articles
that
appeared in Wilson Library Bulletin were extremely sensitive to the

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