18211823Joseph Estabrook, Professor Latin and Greek, Librarian
1821Alexandrian and Athenian Societies, student literary societies, established; society libraries soon follow
1822Library located in North College, 4th floor room
18231824Zenas Clapp, Tutor and Librarian
18241827Samuel M. Worcester, Professor and Librarian
1827First library catalog published
18271853Library located in Johnson Chapel, 3rd floor
18271852Ebenezer Snell (AC 1822), Professor and Librarian
1831Substantial increase to the Library because of John Tappan gift of $500
1836Athenian Society publishes catalog
1844Sears Fund of Literature and Benevolence established
1850Library holdings are approximately 6,000 volumes
18511965Memorabilia Room established
18521863Lucius Boltwood (AC 1843) named first full-time Librarian
1853New building opens, houses library; later named Morgan Hall
1855Library holdings are approximately 12,000 volumes; Second library catalog published; second Athenian Society catalog also published1863Julius H. Seelye, Teacher and Librarian (without pay)
18641878William Montague (AC 1855), Librarian, Registrar, and Professor of French, Italian, and Spanish
1864First alphabetical author card catalog
1867Merger of Athenian, Alexandrian, and College libraries discussed
1871Supplement to library catalog published; open hours change from 3 hours/week to 6 hours/day except closed Sunday18741876Melvil Dewey (AC 1874) Assistant Librarian, starts subject catalog on cards
1878Thomas P. Field, (AC 1834) Librarian
18791883Walter Biscoe, (AC 1874) Acting Librarian
1883Library expands; building named for Henry T. Morgan
18831911William I. Fletcher, Librarian
1885Library holdings are approximately 43,000 volumes
18911905William I. Fletcher runs Summer course in Library Economy
1908Robert S. Fletcher (AC 1897, son of W.I. Fletcher) named Assistant Librarian
19111939Robert S. Fletcher, Librarian
1917Converse Memorial Library opens
19351939Henry deForest Smith, Library Director; Robert S. Fletcher on medical leave
1938Addition built on Converse Memorial Library; First rare book room established in Converse addition (19391970Newton F. McKeon (AC 1926), Library Director
19511978Hampshire Inter-Library Center (HILC) established (initially Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, later Hampshire College) to provide cooperation among the libraries
19641965Charles T. Laugher, Assistant Library Director
1965Robert Frost Library opens; Friends of the Amherst College Library founded; Memorabilia Room moves from the Hitchcock Room in Morgan Hall to the Frost Library and renamed the College Archives19651970Charles T. Laugher, Associate Library Director
1968Merrill Science Library opens; Music Library opens
19701974Richard J. Cody, Librarian of the College
19701975Charles T. Laugher, Library Director
1971Audio-Visual Department established in Frost Library
1974Library joins OCLC for cataloging purposes (substituted Library of Congress classification system for Dewey Decimal Classification System)1975Willis Bridegam, Librarian of the College
1978College Archives given mandate by Board of Trustees
1980House libraries discontinued
1986Frost C-level opens (compact shelving installed 1985; Deweys moved to C-level 1986)
1988First Five College on-line catalog system (LS/2000) installed (provides access to holdings at the University of Massachusetts and Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, as well as Amherst)
1994Second Five College automated library system (III) installed
1994Amherst College Depository opens
From the guide to the Amherst College Library Records, 1833-1977, 1876-1933, (Amherst College Archives and Special Collections)