Gerould, James Thayer, 1872-1951

James Thayer Gerould was Librarian of the University of Minnesota, 1906-1920.

James Thayer Gerould, A.B. Dartmouth College (1895). Assistant, General Theological Seminary (1896-1897). Serials Supervisor, Columbia University (1897-1900). University Librarian, University of Missouri (1900-1906). University Librarian, University of Minnesota (1906-1920). University Librarian, Princeton University (1920-1938).

James Gerould was born October 3, 1872 in Goffstown, New Hampshire. He received his A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1895. After serving in library positions in New York City at the General Theological Seminary and Columbia University, Mr. Gerould accepted the position of University Librarian for the University of Missouri in 1900. William Watts Folwell, then University Librarian, Professor of Political Science, and former University President, hired Mr. Gerould in 1906 to serve as the new University Librarian at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Gerould served as University Librarian until 1920, when he was named University Librarian at Princeton University. He retired from his position at Princeton in 1938 as librarian emeritus.

At the University of Minnesota, Mr. Gerould was credited with bringing about administrative reorganization for the Libraries as well as overseeing the growth of the collection, from 50,000 to nearly 250,000 volumes, and the work to re-catalogue and reclassify the collection. He helped develop plans for the University’s new Library, opened in 1924 and later named Walter Library (1959).

He was heavily involved in the publication of the first Union List of Serials in the United States (1927) and served as chairman of the committee producing the second edition of the Union List in 1943. Mr. Gerould received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Dartmouth College in 1932.

James Gerould died June 8, 1951 in Williamsburg, Virginia.