Foster Edward Mohrhardt Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS0290

Staff Only

Content Description

The Foster Edward Mohrhardt Papers consist of Mohrhardt's published papers, speeches, studies, book reviews, and biographical articles. The collection includes a bibliography detailing these publications.

Dates

Creation: 1934-1968

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Biographical Sketch

Foster Edward Mohrhardt (1907-1992) was named director of the library of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1954. During his tenure as director, the library was designated the National Agricultural Library (NAL) by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1962. Mohrhardt promoted the use of information technology, structural reorganization, and expansion of goals to improve the library’s information delivery systems. His accomplishments included overseeing construction of the library's building in Beltsville, Maryland; initiating computerized cataloging and indexing (1965), which preceded the library's AGRICOLA database; publishing the library's card catalog in book form; and developing the library's first agricultural thesaurus. He served as president of the American Library Association from 1967 to 1968. Mohrhardt also presided over several organizations in the field of research, and founded the International Association of Agricultural Librarians and Documentalists (IAALD).