Oral history interview with Douglas J. Foskett 2001 December 4

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Oral history interview with Douglas J. Foskett 2001 December 4

Douglas J. Foskett begins the interview by describing how he entered the field of information science and began working at Ilford Public Library. After serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps for six years, he returned to Ilford and met his wife Joy. Eventually, Foskett left the Public Library to take over Barbara Hill's position of running the information section at the Metal Box Company Ltd. When the Metal Box research department relocated to Swindon, Foskett decided, as an alternative to moving, to join the University of London's Institute of Education. During his twenty-one year career at the University of London, Foskett became director of the University Library and Goldsmiths' Librarian. In his interview, Foskett next discusses the formation of the Classification Research Group [CRG] to address the need for new ways to classify scientific literature. Foskett has been a member since CRG's formation, and Foskett developed faceted classification schemes for education and safety and health that are still in use. Foskett also met with NATO representatives and secured five thousand pounds of funding for the CRG to develop a new general classification scheme. Foskett then recalls S. R. Ranganathan's influence in the field of information science. Ranganathan was the first person to demonstrate that facet analysis could be applied to terms in a system of classification. Foskett next describes the theory of integrative levels and why the Dorking Conference was so significant. Foskett concludes his interview by addressing the expansion of the Library Association to include special librarians and the eventual formation of the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureau [ASLIB].

Sound recordings ; cassettesTranscript : (27 leaves) ; 29 cm.

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

Foskett, D. J.

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Born in London, England on 27 June 1918. Died on 7 May 2004. Education: B.A., Queen Mary College, London (1939), M.A., Birbeck College, University of London (1954). Employment: 1940-1948 Ilford Municipal Libraries ; 1940-1946 Royal Army Medical Corps/Intelligence Corps ; 1948-1957 Metal Box Company Ltd ; 1957-1978 University of London. From the description of Oral history interview with Douglas J. Foskett 2001 December 4 (Chemical Heritage Foundation). WorldCat record id: 77062371 ...

Chemical Heritage Foundation.

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Classification Research Group

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Metal Box Company

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Ranganathan, S. R. (Shiyali Ramamrita), 1892-1972

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International study conference on classification research

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University of London.

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The University of London was established in 1836 out of the principle of a more inclusive approach to education, free from religious tests and more affordable. With its power to grant degrees the University worked generally in close alliance with University College and King's College London as well as numerous other colleges around Britain. In terms of degrees awarded, the University was the first in England to introduce a Bachelor of Science, tending away from the more ...

Rayward, W. Boyd, 1939-

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