The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-08
NEW LIBRARLANTO
REACH CITY TODAY
DR.. McIlwaine Will Take Steps
to Qualify for Office at
Once.
NOT DISCUSSING MATTER YET.
Board Acted Much Earlier Than
He Had Anticipated General
Approval Of Selection.

That the selection OF DR.. Henry r.
McIlwaine as State Librarian to sue
coed Mr.. John Kennedy will end the
long controversy. which has upset the
affairs of the institution and Will bring
about an era of peace and goodwill,
is an opinion expressed on many sides
in Richmond yesterday
Approval OF the selection appeared
to be general and genuine. DIR. Nc
Ilwaine Is regarded as a scholarly and
capable man. Though always OF a
literary turn OF mind he has for
number OF years been in the profess
sors chair, and such has been his sue
cess at Hampden- Sidney that his
friends feel sure no will measure up
to the requirements in executive and
administrative lines. DR.. McIlwaine is
a graduate of Hampden-sidney Col
| lege, with the B. A. degree. having
| been first honor man In his class.
| and Is Phi. D. OF Johns Hopkins Uni
versity. Baltimore. For number OF
years he has been professor of Eng
| lish and Of historical and political
| science at Hampde Sidney College.
| He has always enjoyed great per-
! sonal popularity with the student body
/ Of the college among whom he is af-
/ fectionately known as "Baldic." possi-
bly, a schoolboy reference to his class
| sio brow.
He is an active member OF the Beta
4 Theta Pi fraternity.
| Not Talking Yet.
| DR.. McIlwaine spent yesterday VS.
iting relatives In Petersburg. When
4 approached by a representative OF The
/ Times Dispatch with reference to his
| purposes and plans In the admins-
tration OF his new office, he stated that
/ he was not prepared to say anything
on the subject as yet the Library
Board having reached decision In
the matter much earlier than he had
/ anticipated. He declared that he had
received formal notice Of his cleo
ton, and that the board had requested
him to take charge as soon as pos
! sible. He stated, frTthcr, that Tie
a would come to Richmond this morn
ing. and at once take tho necessary
4 steps to qualify for his new posi-
Il ton.
Peace und Hard Work Now.
Mr.. Edward s. Evans. the assistant
librarian, said last night that the Sc
lection of DR.. McIlwaine was most sat
isfactory to the library staff. and that
he sincerely hoped an ern OF peace
and hard work would now encue.
Mr.. Evans continued: II believe that
| the action OF the hoard has delighted
: the entire library stan. Dr. AIcIlwaIne
, is personally known to nearly all of
u.s. and is regarded as both a scholar
/ and gentleman
The assistant said that there was
great deal OF work to be done in
the library'-n1uch that should be ac-
complished before the Legislature meets
and that he hoped all hands would
now buckle down to 1t with vim
and energy which has been lacking
for a long time. ts
AS to Assistants.
Some inquiry has been made as to
whether or not any other changes in
the library staff will follow. and on
this point It seems difficult to get
anything definite until the new libra
rian has taken hold of affairs The
: Library Board took no action on satur-
! day night with regard to the assist
: ants In the officet.thA action of the
/ BODY being confned:tto the librarian
The regulations provide that the
9 board has the selection of every en-
= ploye OF the library from the janitor
: up. and the custom heretofore has
: been for the members to act on the
: recommendation of the librarian Ger.
: tatnly all the present library force
came into office on the recommends.
J, tion of Mr.. Kennedy. Though tho
= board has absolute discretion in the
matter. man whoals close to tlle
. situation said last night that he did
not suppose that the board would In
any way tie the hands OF the new II
: brarian. At any rate, no immediate
changes seem to be anticipated elthe,
by the members Of the Library
Board or by the library staff Even
. those who favored the retention of
: Mr.. Kennedy now express the hopo
II that the library will settle down to
It substantial work with less friction
e than has been noticeable for the pas
q ten months.
n Nothing is known as to the plans
e Of Mr.. Kennedy. The former librarian
- left the city yesterday for Washing
It ton. where his wife is receiving medl.
n cal treatment.
"a