Bibliographical Society of America

The Bibliographical Society of America (BSA) is the oldest learned society in North America dedicated to the study of books and manuscripts as physical objects.[1] Established in 1904, the society promotes bibliographical research and issues bibliographical publications. It holds its annual meeting in New York City in late January, during which time an annual address is presented by a guest speaker followed by three papers from young scholars selected as part of the society's New Scholars Program. It also sponsors lectures, an annual fellowship program, and three prizes for work published in the fields of printing and publishing history.[1]

In addition, the society publishes the quarterly Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America.[2] The first issue of what was then called The Bulletin of the Bibliographical Society of America was published in May 1907.[3]

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in bibliography, including bibliographers, collectors, librarians, professors, and students.[1]

History of American Bibliographies

Charles Evans (1850–1935), supported by myriad people, wrote the first book on the history of printing and books, from Colonial times to the Federal Era, entitled American Bibliography.[4] Almost 50 years after Evans, Ralph Shaw (1902–72) and Richard Shoemaker (1907–70) began to catalogue where Evan left off. This began a regional catalogue that evolved into a national catalogue called the National Union catalogue.[5]

Presidents

In 1988, Ruth Mortimer, then of Smith College, was elected president of the BSA, the first woman to take on the role. She served until 1992.[6]

See also

References
  1. "The Bibliographical Society of America". Bibliographical Society of America. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  2. "Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America". Bibliographical Society of America. Archived from the original on 2010-04-07. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  3. Lane, W. C. (May 1907). "The Bulletin of the Bibliographical Society of America Including a Record of American Bibliography". Bulletin of the Bibliographical Society of America. Bibliographical Society of America. 1 (1): 1–2. doi:10.1086/bullbiblsociamer.1.1.24306445.
  4. Krummel, D.W. (2005). "Early American Imprint Bibliography and Its Stories: an introductory course in Bibliographical Civics". Libraries & Culture. 40 (3): 239. doi:10.1353/lac.2005.0050.
  5. Krummel, D.W. (Summer 2005). "Early American Imprint Bibliography and Its Stories: an introductory course in bibliographical civics". Libraries & Culture. 40 (3): 239–50. doi:10.1353/lac.2005.0050.
  6. "Collection: Ruth Mortimer papers | Smith College Finding Aids". findingaids.smith.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-31.


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