Sydney B. Mitchell

Sydney Bancroft Mitchell (June 24, 1878 – September 22, 1951) was a Canadian librarian, teacher and gardener, though he spent most of his career in the United States. He was named one of the one hundred most important leaders in Library Science by the American Libraries journal in 1999.

Sydney Mitchell was much more than a librarian and more than the founder of one of the first Masters in Library Science degree programs in the early part of the twentieth century. His love of his hobby, gardening, motivated him to advocate the importance of not focusing only on one's career. He is remembered in the field of horticulture just as much as in the profession of librarianship.

Biography

Early life Mitchell was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1878. His degrees included a Bachelor of Arts and a master's degree in literature from McGill University. He received an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Occidental College. He studied Library Science at the New York State Library School.

Mitchell remained fluent in both French and English, having spent his boyhood in a predominantly French Canadian neighbourhood. Mitchell's boyhood is discussed in great detail in his memoirs,

Library career Among his accomplishments was holding both the Presidency of the California Library Association (1938–1939) and the California Horticultural Society (1933–1945). During those early years in the development of the first master's degree in librarianship at the University of California, Berkeley, it is estimated that he earned more income from practice of his hobby and authoring of several volumes on the topic, than he did in his prestigious university appointment in librarianship.

Mitchell began his work in California at Stanford University. He moved to the University of California, Berkeley in 1911 to head the purchasing department for the University Library. During World War I he was acting librarian at the university. In 1924, he was named department chair, the first director for that department. Three years later he was named director of the School of Librarianship. He served in that capacity where, in 1926, he founded the nation's third graduate program in library science west of the Mississippi. He was named dean of the university in 1944 and held the office until his retirement two years later.

He served as advisory editor to The Library Quarterly journal, Executive board member of the American Library Association, Vice President of the California Library Association, President of the Association of Library Schools and Fellow of the American Library Institute.

Much writing about Sydney Mitchell points to his humanitarian efforts with regard to students and fellow library organizations. It appears he maintained a somewhat open door policy with profound ability to remember his students in regard to both their academic and personality profiles. His advice was frequently sought and followed to individual success by both those planning their careers and those who sought individuals to fill library positions.

While Mitchell appeared to have comfortable relations with all those he encountered, one rivalry was significant. When Mitchell came to work at Berkeley after having spent three years in a library administrative position, his supervisor, Harold Leupp, was too close in age and credentials to assume a mentorship or successive opportunity.

A lifelong love of the Iris flower, in addition to his presidency with the California Horticultural Society, provided him the editorship of Sunset and authorship of four books on gardening. Mitchell helped organize the American Iris Society, whose Sydney B. Mitchell Medal, the highest award for Pacific Coast irises, is named for him, ) and the American Fuchsia Society.

While his physical appearance might have caused initial surprise, due to a somewhat frumpy wardrobe and unique gait, accounts of his great compassion and interest in others, his broad awareness of the world beyond the borders of his home and work, and his ability to see all sides of argument and decision made him one whose physical appearance was quickly forgotten when engaged in entertaining conversation.

He died at home on September 22, 1951.

Books Gardening in California; A Guide for the Amateur on the Pacific Slope (Doubleday, Page & Company, 1923) Adventures in flower gardening (American Library Association, 1928) From a Sunset Garden (Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1932) Your California Garden and Mine (M. Barrows and Company, 1947) Iris for Every Garden (Barrows, 1949) Mitchell of California: the memoirs of Sydney B. Mitchell, librarian, teacher, gardener (California Library Association, 1960)