These materials date primarily from Mr. Ellsworth’s years as director of the State University of Iowa Libraries, 1944 to 1958. They are organized chronologically within each series and sub-series. Some subjects are addressed in more than one series. For example, folders regarding the Shambaugh Heritage Library may be found in the Correspondence series and in the Library Committees series.

One of the largest series in this collection documents the professional organizations Ellsworth served with, including the Midwest Inter-Library Center (MILC); American Library Association (ALA); American Research Libraries (ARL); American Association of University Professors (AAUP); Iowa Library Association (ILA); and correspondence from the Board of Regents for the state of Iowa.

Through ALA in 1956, Ellsworth served as Chair of Region IV of the Library of Congress Project to secure adequate representation of regional library holdings in the published National Union Catalog. He also worked through this organization for centralized interlibrary loan and centralized cataloging. He was a strong voice for establishing the Midwest Inter-Library Center (MILC) in 1949 for deposit of little-used books and journals submitted by member institutions, as well as newspapers on microfilm. Today this is an international organization called the Center for Research Libraries. Land for the MILC building was supplied by the University of Chicago and construction was made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation. The organization was supported by the member institutions. Another large series is correspondence. Ellsworth’s candid correspondence with President Virgil M. Hancher reveals his frustration as they worked to fund the library building in several stages.

Through ALA in 1956, Ellsworth served as Chair of Region IV of the Library of Congress Project to secure adequate representation of regional library holdings in the published National Union Catalog. He also worked through this organization for centralized interlibrary loan and centralized cataloging. He was a strong voice for establishing the Midwest Inter-Library Center (MILC) in 1949 for deposit of little-used books and journals submitted by member institutions, as well as newspapers on microfilm. Today this is an international organization called the Center for Research Libraries. Land for the MILC building was supplied by the University of Chicago and construction was made possible by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation. The organization was supported by the member institutions. Another large series is correspondence.

Ellsworth’s candid correspondence with President Virgil M. Hancher reveals his frustration as they worked to fund the library building in several stages.

In addition, Ellsworth worked to grow the library collections at Iowa. The Gifts sub-series of correspondence provides the provenance for important library collections, such as the leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, acquired in 1952. In 1946, Ellsworth created the Tensions File (later named the Social Documents Collection) and began collecting right-wing publications. He established the Iowa Authors Collection in 1947.

Correspondence reveals that planning for the Shambaugh Heritage Library began in 1945. Located in the northwest corner of the first floor, this was created to benefit freshmen students with their core courses. The space occupied by the Heritage Library was reassigned during June 1953 due to a lack of space.

Library training courses at SUI began in fall 1900. The Library training sub-series provides course titles and instructor names. The librarians who taught library courses during Ellsworth’s tenure received retirement benefits and faculty status (the latter was twice defeated by Faculty Council). Library training became a separate school in 1966 and was later named the School of Library and Information Science.