Grolier Club. Library

Beatrice (Becker) Warde was born in New York City. After graduating from Barnard College, she worked at the American Typefounders' Company Library in Jersey City for four years. In 1925 she went to England and began to write articles on printing history under the name "Paul Beaujon," and was then recruited by the Monotype Corporation. At Monotype Warde edited the Monotype recorder and eventually became director of publicity. She was married to book designer and typographer Frederic Warde, who died in 1939.

The Grolier Club was established in 1884 by seven New York City book collectors with the object, as stated its constitution, "of literary study and promotion of the arts pertaining to the production of books." It mounts four public exhibitions each year, publishes catalogs and other materials, and sponsors some lectures on the book arts. The first librarians of the Grolier Club were members of its Council and served in an honorary capacity. In September 1900, Henry Watson Kent was engaged as Assistant Librarian to help Richard Hoe Lawrence and carried out the bulk of the day-to-day work. In 1903 he was appointed librarian and remained until April 1905. Ruth Shepard Granniss, the cataloger, took over the running of the library and was officially appointed Librarian in 1906. George Leslie McKay, who had served as Curator since 1924, succeeded Granniss, holding both positions concurrently until his retirement at the end of 1958. His successor, Alexander Davidson, came from a career as a dealer in Americana, and served through 1960. He was succeeded by J. Terry Bender (1961-1964), Gabriel Austin (1964-1969), and Harvey Simmonds (1969-1970).

Collecting area: Books and papers relating to book collectors, book production, and other subjects relating to books.

Founded 1884 by a group of seven New York City book collectors with the object, as stated in its constitution, "of literary study and promotion of the arts pertaining to the production of books." Soon after its founding the Grolier Club created the remunerated position of curator. Under the aegis of the House Committee, the curator had general responsibilities for day-to-day operation of the club, including overseeing purchases, deliveries, maintenance and catering. The curator also carried out work for the officers, particularly for the secretary and treasurer, and responded to membership inquiries. The first curator, Hector Alliot, was appointed in 1884. He was succeeded by Henry Manning (1884-1893) and Joseph L. Morton (1893-1916). Between 1916 and 1924, three men held the position: Arthur K. Jolliffe (1916-1917); H. B. Chilson (1917-1918) and William R. Billings (1918-1924). With the appointment of George Leslie McKay in 1924, a professionally trained librarian, the curator's role further evolved to include assisting the librarian with inquiries and exhibitions.

The Grolier Club was established on 1884 January 23 by a group of seven New York City book collectors with the object, as stated its constitution, "of literary study and promotion of the arts pertaining to the production of books." It mounts three public exhibitions each year, publishes catalogs and other materials, and sponsors some lectures on the book arts. The first librarians of the Grolier Club were members of its Council and served in an honorary capacity. In September 1900 Henry Watson Kent was engaged as Assistant Librarian to the honorary librarian and carried out the bulk of the day-to-day work. Ruth Shepard Granniss succeeded him in 1905, followed in1944 by George Leslie McKay, who had served as Curator since1923. Succeeding librarians were: Alexander Davidson (1958-1961); J. Terry Bender (1961-1964); Gabriel Austin (1964-1969), and Harvey Simmonds (1969-1970).

Robert Nikirk, with a background in art history and the antiquarian book business, became the eighth librarian of the Grolier Club in May 1970 and served until his final illness in 1990. He further developed the Library as a scholarly resource for bibliography and book collecting and forwarded major exhibitions, events, and publications. Under his direction the Library became a member of RLIN (Research Library Information Network) and began to lay the groundwork for the online catalog that would debut in September 2003, He was assisted at various times by, among others, Philip Sperling (1973-1976), Allen Asaf (1982-1986), and Kimball Higgs (1987-1993). The first of the annual Robert Nikirk Memorial Lectures was held at the Club in November 1990. Nikirk's successor was Martin Antonetti (1991-1997), who had a background in the book arts and library administration. When Eric Holzenberg succeeded to the position in July 1997, he was given the title of Librarian and Director.