Keyes Dewitt Metcalf, Class of 1911

Image courtesy of the Oberlin College Archives.

 

Keyes Dewitt Metcalf was one of Oberlin's most distinguished alumni librarians, beginning his library career in Spear Library (the precursor to the college's Carnegie Library) at the age of thirteen. His work in libraries spanned eight decades, and included positions as head of the Research Library at New York Public Library and as the first professionally trained Librarian of Harvard University. He also served as Acting Librarian of Oberlin College, filling in twice during sabbaticals taken by Azariah Smith Root. He received an honorary doctorate from Oberlin in 1938.