Mabel R. Gillis
The face of a woman, with light skin and dark hair. Her hair is dressed short, with a sweep of hair across her forehead.
Mabel R. Gillis, from a 1919 newspaper.
BornSeptember 24, 1882
Sacramento, California, US
DiedSeptember 6, 1961(1961-09-06) (aged 78)
Sacramento, California, US
OccupationLibrarian
Known forState Librarian of California (1930–1952)
ParentJames Louis Gillis

Mabel Ray Gillis (September 24, 1882 – September 6, 1961) was an American librarian. From 1930 to 1952, she served as the seventeenth State Librarian of California, the first woman to hold that office.

Early life

Mabel Ray Gillis was born in Sacramento, California, the daughter of James Louis Gillis and Kate Petree Gillis. She attended Mrs. Spillman's school in Sacramento,[1] and earned a teaching certificate from the University of California in 1902.[2][3]

Career

Gillis began working at the California State Library in 1904, while her father was the State Librarian.[4] In 1917, she was appointed assistant to his successor, Milton J. Ferguson.[5] She became State Librarian when Ferguson resigned in 1930; she was the first woman to be State Librarian of California. She served under five governors, presided over the library's centennial celebration in 1950,[6] and retired from the office in 1952.[7] "Under her leadership, the state library has grown from a humble beginning to one of the great libraries of the West," commented governor Earl Warren. "I regret to see Miss Gillis retire, but she has earned it."[8]

Gillis's professional interests included library services for blind readers.[9][10] She was head of the state library's Books for the Blind section from its beginning in 1904, and began statewide programs for teaching reading skills to blind readers.[11][12][13] As State Librarian, she worked on improving the status and skills of county librarians, with an annual conference and a certification program. She also expanded California's union catalog, allowing local libraries to offer patrons a wider range of titles through interlibrary loans.[7] During World War II, she headed the library's drive to collect books for American servicemen.[14][15]

Gillis was president of the Sacramento Business and Professional Women's Club (1920-1922),[16][17] and of the California Library Association (1929–1930), and of the National Association of State Libraries (1935).[18] She served on the executive board of the American Library Association.[19]

Personal life

Gillis died in 1961, aged 78 years, in Sacramento.[20] In 2018, she was inducted into the California Library Hall of Fame.[7] A branch of the Sacramento City Library system was named for Gillis.[21] Her papers are archived in the California State Library.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Mrs. Spillman's School". Sacramento Daily Union. July 28, 1894. p. 4. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  2. ↑ "Who's Who in the State's Service: Mabel R. Gillis". Sacramento Union. August 10, 1919. p. 26. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  3. ↑ "Teachers' Certificates are Issued to a Large Number of Graduates". The Berkeley Gazette. 1902-06-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Senate Recalls Service of Gillis". The Sacramento Bee. 1957-05-22. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Mabel Gillis Made Assistant Librarian". Sacramento Union. August 28, 1917. p. 7. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  6. ↑ "State Library Completes Its First 100 Years". The San Bernardino County Sun. 1950-01-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "California Library Hall of Fame: Mabel R. Gillis". California Library Association. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  8. ↑ "State Librarian Resigns After 47 Years' Service". The Sacramento Bee. 1951-03-20. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "State Blind to Have New Books in Braille Type". Calexico Chronicle. July 28, 1931. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Blind Conclave Honors Retired State Librarian". The Sacramento Bee. 1961-04-07. p. 29. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Gillis, Mabel R. (June 1918). "Library Work for the Blind in Relation to the Schools". Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 12 (2): 51–53. doi:10.1177/0145482x1801200206. ISSN 0145-482X. S2CID 220532841.
  12. ↑ Gillis, Mabel R. (1940-12-01). "Kate M. Foley—An Appreciation". Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 34 (5): 137–139. doi:10.1177/0145482X4003400501. ISSN 0145-482X. S2CID 220532269.
  13. ↑ "Talking Books to Serve State Blind". San Pedro News Pilot. September 21, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  14. ↑ "Victory Book Drive Reaches Conclusion". Mill Valley Record. February 13, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  15. ↑ "More Books Wanted for Service Men". Healdsburg Tribune. 2 July 1943. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  16. ↑ "Women Form New Bureau". Sacramento Union. December 18, 1920. p. 14. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  17. ↑ "Sacramento Woman's Club Election Held". Sacramento Union. September 26, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  18. ↑ "State Librarian Resigns Post (continued)". The Sacramento Bee. 1951-03-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Mabel R. Gillis Will Leave on Trip Saturday". The Sacramento Bee. 1938-12-23. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Former State Librarian Dies". The Los Angeles Times. 1961-09-08. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-05-31 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "City Library, Mabel R. Gillis Branch". Calisphere. 31 December 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  22. ↑ "Mabel Gillis correspondence, 1917-1948". Online Archive of California. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
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