One of the most outstanding leaders in 20th century American librarianship,
Dr. Edward G. Holley, died peacefully Thursday, February 18 in Durham, NC.
A highly respected dean and professor at the School of Information and
Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from
1972 to 1985 and William Rand Kenan, Jr. Professor from 1989 until he
retired from the School in 1995, Dr. Holley was known as a giant in the
library world.
Holley was born in 1927 in Pulaski, Tenn. In 1949 he earned a B.A. in
English from David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tenn. He then received an
M.A. in library science in 1951 from George Peabody College for Teachers,
also in Nashville. In 1961 Holley completed a Ph.D. in library science at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He began his professional
academic career at the University of Houston, and he spent nine years in
Texas before coming to Chapel Hill in 1972 to assume the position of dean
and professor in UNC at Chapel Hill's SILS.
Holley served as president of the American Library Association (ALA) from
1974-75 and received nearly every major award his profession bestowed,
notable among them the ALA Scarecrow Press Award for his published
dissertation, Charles Evans, American Bibliographer (1964); the ALA Melvil
Dewey Award (1983); the ALA Joseph Lippincott Award (1987); Distinguished
Alumnus Awards (Peabody Library School, Vanderbilt University, 1987;
Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois
at Champaign-Urbana, 1988); the Academic/Research Librarian of the Year
Award (Association of College and Research Libraries, 1988); and the Beta
Phi Mu Award (1992). In 1994, he was honored with a festschrift, For the
Good of the Order: Essays in Honor of Edward G. Holley, the title bearing
witness to his tireless professional devotion.
An eminent historian, Holley produced over 100 books, articles and essays
on topics as diverse as library biography, the history of library
education, copyright, library administration and the place of personal
morality in public life. He served on countless high level committees,
worked for accreditation standards, defended the MLS, testified before
Congressional committees and acted as library consultant. As ALA president
during turbulent times (1974-1975), he was largely responsible for
establishing a federated system for ALA ("every tub on its own bottom").
While dean of SILS, Holley established a doctoral program, hired
distinguished faculty and expanded the master's program to two years,
providing a core curriculum known famously to students during his years as
"The Block." In 1975 he established the internship program at the
Environmental Protection Agency Library that still exists today. As
professor and advisor, he was an inspiration to his students.
"Ed was not only a distinguished professional, but also a caring and
compassionate individual," said Dr. Barbara B. Moran, interim dean of SILS.
"He was one of the most unselfish people I ever met and was always
concerned with the good of others. He was a wonderful mentor and someone
who cared deeply about the students, the faculty and the School. Using his
own term, he always put the "good of the order" before his individual
needs. He was truly a remarkable person and one who will be missed deeply
by those who had the opportunity to know him."
Dr. Holley was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Lee Holley. He is
survived by four children, Gailon Holley, Jens Holley, Amy Holley and Beth
Holley; and three grandchildren, Melody Holley, Faith Holley and Julia
Ruth. A special memorial to honor Dr. Holley is being planned. Details will
be shared as they become available.
Gifts in memory of Dr. Holley may be directed to the "Edward G. Holley
Student Research Fund" at SILS. For more information on how to make
donations in Dr. Holley's name, please contact the SILS office at
919-843-8337 or send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Portions of this news story have been reprinted from "Interview with Edward
G. Holley" by Tommy Nixon, which was published in North Carolina Libraries,
56(2), Summer 1998, p.65-70.)
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Wanda Monroe
Director of Communications
School of Information and Library Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
100 Manning Hall
Campus Box 3360
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3360
Phone: 919.843.8337
Web site: sils.unc.edu
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