--T.S. Eliot, "Choruses from The Rock"
Dr. Charles Darold Patterson died January 27, 2010 at Garden Terrace, in Aurora, CO. of complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was 81 years old.
He was born in Wahpeton, ND on August 8, 1928, the son of Charles Irwin Patterson and Inez Fern (Slagg). The second of three children, he was raised in Bismarck, and Ellendale, ND; Mitchell, SD and Bemidji, MN. He graduated from Bemidji High School, 1946 and received his BS, Bemidji (MN) State University, 1950. He served with distinction and honor in the United State Army during the Korean War from 1950-1952, with postings in both Japan and Korea.
Dr. Patterson continued his education and received his MA, University of Minnesota, 1956; MMus, West Virginia University, 1964; Advanced Certificate, University of Pittsburgh, 1968; and PhD, University of Pittsburgh, 1971.
He was a teacher of music in the Fargo, ND Public Schools, 1950; Junior Reference Librarian at the University of Minnesota Libraries, 1954-1955; Head Librarian at Bemidji (MN) State University, 1955-1958; Director of Libraries, Assistant Professor, Glenville (WV) State College, 1958-1962; Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 1962-1966; Instructor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh, 1966-1971; Assistant Professor, 1971-1972; Associate Professor, 1972-1978; Professor, 1978-1993; and Professor Emeritus, 1993-2010, School of Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Dr. Patterson was the author of, Analysis of Library of Congress Music Subject Headings, 1971; JEL Cumulative Index, 1979; supplement, 1982; (with D.G. Davis) ARBA Guide to Library Science Literature, 1987; Letters From The Far East, 2003; and editor of numerous library publications, 1963-1993.
He was the recipient of Louisiana State University Foundation H.M. Cotton Faculty Excellence Award “for excellence in teaching, research, administration and public service” 1984; the American Library Association Beta Phi Mu Award “for distinguished service to education for librarianship,” 1989. In 1992 he was recognized with the publication of A Service Profession, a Service Commitment: A Festschrift in Honor of Charles D. Patterson , edited by Connie Van Fleet and Danny Wallace. The book is a collection of essays written by Dr. Patterson’s colleagues and former students. In 2004, a scholarship was named for him in the LSU School of Library & Information Science.
Dr. Patterson traveled throughout Europe and Far East. In 1997 he was a delegate with the Citizen Ambassador Program Archivists Delegation to the People’s Republic of China.
He was a member of The American Library Association (Chairman, Scholarship Jury, 1972-73, award, 1989, Distinguished Member Metal, 2005); West Virginia Library Association (Chairman, College and University Library Section, 1960-1961, Executive Board, 1960-1961, 1964-1966); Association for College and Research Libraries (President, Tri-State Chapter, 1972); Association of American Library Schools, (Executive Board, 1980-1988); Louisiana Library Association; Southeastern Library Association; American Association of University Professors (Chapter President, 1985-1986); American Guild of Organists (Chapter Dean, Baton Rouge, LA 1985-1986); Pittsburgh Bibliophiles; Louisiana State University Chamber Music Society (President, 1979-1980); Louisiana Sinfonietta (Executive Board, 1994-2007); and Beta Zeta Chapter, (Louisiana State University) Beta Phi Mu Faculty Advisor, 1974-1993.
Dr. Patterson was a librarian, educator, and mentor of many students. Upon his retirement in 1993 the Alumni Association Newsletter of the LSU School of Library and Information Science stated: “After nearly four decades of work in librarianship, Patterson has said that his greatest satisfaction in teaching has been to see his students, many with whom he maintains contact, go forth and assume positions of leadership and responsibility in the library world, and who distinguish themselves through publication in scholarly journals and by involved participation in professional associations.” Perhaps Dr. Patterson best expressed his attitude toward life when he said: “When one is confident in his own mind that he has, with given abilities, done his very best, then perhaps he has paid for his niche in eternity.”
He is survived by many friends, former colleagues and students, and his family: a brother, Dr. Perry W. Patterson, sister-in-law, Dr. Mary Alice Patterson, Sioux Falls, SD; a sister, Juliann Pulliam, brother-in-law, Wallace Pulliam, Arvada, CO; a niece, Edna Louise Hendershot, her husband, Mike Hendershot, Westminster, CO ; four nephews, Charles Jacob Patterson, Sioux Falls, SD, Daniel Alexander Patterson, his wife, Eleanor May-Patterson, Sioux City, IA, Richard Roscoe Pulliam, his wife, Suzette Pulliam, Bennett, CO, and Charles Harvey Pulliam, his wife, Brittany Pulliam, Redmond, WA; three grand nieces, Angela Patterson, Sioux Falls, SD, Claire Patterson, Sioux City, IA, and Audrey Marie Pulliam, Bennett, CO; and three grand nephews, Seth Patterson, Seattle, Washington, Alexander Patrick Pulliam, and Benjamin Thomas Pulliam, Bennett, CO . Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, Minnesota.
Contributions may be made to: LSU Foundation, Charles D. Patterson Scholarship Fund, School of Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803
or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.