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This article examines the career of James Gillis, California's state librarian from 1899 to 1917. It reviews the role politics played in library staffing prior to Gillis's appointment and considers the extent to which Gillis filled his own staffwith patronage hires. It then discusses why and how Gillis ended the state library's spoils system and professionalized operations. While duly crediting Gillis's importance as a library administrator, this article highlights the role California's Progressive movement played in the state library's modernization. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

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Key topics
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California;
Professionalization;
Library
Subject
Libraries;
Politics;
Recall of government officials;
Democracy;
Modernization;
Patronage;
Transformation;
Staffing;
Progressive movement
Location
California; Sacramento California; San Francisco California; United States--US
Company / organization
Name:
State Library-California
NAICS:
519210
Identifier / keyword
California; Professionalization; Library
Title
Depoliticizing the California State Library: The Political and Professional Transformation of James Gillis, 1899-1917
Author
Hansen, Debra Gold
Publication title
Information & Culture; Austin
Volume
48
Issue
1
Pages
68-90,178
Number of pages
24
Publication year
2013
Publication date
2013
Publisher
University of Texas at Austin (University of Texas Press)
Place of publication
Austin
Country of publication
United States
Publication subject
Library And Information Sciences, History--History Of North And South America
ISSN
21648034
e-ISSN
21663033
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Journal Article
Document feature
References
ProQuest document ID
1288357278
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/depoliticizing-california-state-library-political/docview/1288357278/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Copyright University of Texas at Austin (University of Texas Press) 2013
Last updated
2025-11-16
Database
ProQuest One Academic