Remembering
Jerry Newsome
Library
Education and Library Science Associate Professor Emeritus
Louane "Jerry" Newsome, 97, who passed away May 21,
2004, will be remembered for her boundless enthusiasm for
children's books, reading, and libraries as well as being
a stellar storyteller.
Newsome received her bachelor's degree from Pomona College
(Calif.) and a degree in library science from the University
of California at Berkeley. She was director of the Public
Library in Petaluma, Calif. for 13 years and both an Army
and a Navy librarian for three years during WW II. She supervised
the River Forest, Ill., public school libraries for three
years before joining the College of Education faculty in 1957
to teach courses in library science and children's literature
for students desiring school librarian certification.
During her 20 years at The University of Iowa, library science
developed from a program in the College of Education offering
four courses for the certification of school librarians, to
an accredited graduate library school providing training in
all areas of librarianship.
Former University of Iowa President Sandy Boyd says Newsome
was a great advocate for and pivotal in the creation of the
University's School of Library Science in 1967. "She was the
most exuberant and encouraging person I've ever met," Boyd
said.
"She was always glad to see you and you always felt like
a million bucks after you'd seen her."
Paula Brandt (BGS '73/MA '74), director of the College's
Curriculum Lab, who had Newsome as an instructor over 30 years
ago says, "Whether she was talking about wonderful books or
awful books, she talked about them with great energy and passion,
and she expected us to do so as well."
Brandt says she can still hear her telling a Carl Sandburg
story, can still see her holding Where the Wild Things
Are as she read aloud to us, and can still hear her uproarious
laughter over the goody-goodiness of that twit, Elsie Dinsmore.
"So much of where I am today and how I approach literature
is due to Mrs. Newsome," Brandt said.
When Newsome retired in 1973, former College of Education
Dean Howard Jones described Newsome as a "complete librarian."
He wrote, "Ours is an age of specialization. Before becoming
a teacher of library science, Mrs. Newsome served successfully
as a public librarian, special librarian, school librarian,
and academic librarian. Without her, the fires that fueled
the burning desire of hundred of students to become qualified,
professional, and proud librarians would not have been kindled."
Newsome's contagious enthusiasm wasn't just felt by the students
on campus. She vivaciously served the community through many
civic and professional boards and associations. Her legacy
continues giving through the Louane L. Newsome Annual Lecture
that brings a children's book author to campus every year
that she established upon her retirement, as well as the Newsome/Watergate
Fund established for the purchasing of children's books at
the Iowa City Public Library.
University Ombudsperson Maile Sagen said she knew Newsome
best as a good friend and as a wonderful story teller, not
only to her own children but to many children in the community.
"She read and told stories to children clear up to the end...she
was a remarkable person."
In
Memoriam
1920s
Mae A. Huebsch (BA '24)
Elizabeth Bjork (BA '27)
Ann D. Zugelder (BSSS '27)
1930s
Dorothea Western (BA '33)
William J. Price (BA '36)
J.R. Cochran (MA '39)
Theodore B. Fluegel (MA '39)
Pauline L. Whitacre (BA '39)
1940s
Catherine M. Kessler (BA '40)
Clinton G. Kelley (MA '41)
Duane I. Lundgren (BA '41)
Raymond E. Peterson (MA '42)
Gerald L. Greer (BA '43/ MA '53)
Betty Kopp Gorshe (BA '47)
John A. Kunz (BA '47)
Milton M. Ohringer (BA '47)
Lillian V. Olson (BA '47)
Lois J. Sackett (BA '47/ MA '51)
Dixie J. Maul (BA '48)
Edward C. Mickey (MA '48)
Filmore Turner (BA '48)
Warren L. Hudson (BSPE '49/MA '52)
William G. Nusser (BA '49)
Ned N. Sweitzer (MA '49)
1950s
Roger R. Grove (BA '50)
Glenn O. Hompland (BSC '50/ MA '57)
Thomas S. Maine (BA '50)
Walter T. Petty (MA '50/ PhD '55)
Deane R. Savage (BA '50)
Sam Spurchise (BA '50)
Franklin W. Strong (BA '50)
David J. Walton (BA '50)
Arthur L. Watt (BA '50)
Bob G. Woods (PhD '50)
Beryl W. Markwell (BA '51)
Louis Rains (MA '52)
Robert E. Slye (BA '52)
James C. Ulum (MA '52/ PhD '69)
S. Thompson Walker (BA '52)
Mary Frances Flournoy (PhD '53)
Robert L. Miller (MA '53)
Loren E. Court (MA '54)
Lois A. Shkolnick (BA '54)
Desmond L. Cook (PhD '55)
Dale C. Guldberg (MA '55)
Chester D. Ryan (MA '55)
Bruce C. Tucker (MA '55)
Marion J. Weaver (BA '55/ MA '58)
Ann L. Kent (BA '57)
Lila M. Clement (BA '59)
Edward J. Evans (MA '59)
1960s
Marjorie Clatterbaugh (MA '60)
Alfred E. Hall (MA '60)
Donald R. Hipple (MA '60)
Lois L. Shover (MA '60/ EdS '68)
Marjorie M. Carstensen (BA '61)
Lester E. Zimmer (MA '61)
Nancy E. Hawtrey (BA '62)
Margoree Soderberg (BA '62)
Donald E. Critchlow (PhD '64)
James A. Frahm (BA '64)
Marcella K. Reese (BA '65)
Verdon L. Farmer (MA '66)
Kathleen K. Beninga (BS '67)
Kathleen A. Allie (BA '68)
Leonard J. Hartl (BA '68)
Gerald D. Bisbey (PhD '69)
Janice L. Johnson (BA '69)
1970s
Dana M. McMican (BA '72)
Dixie P. Dunnick (MA '73)
Linda E. Glass (MA '73)
Earl-Clayton Grandstaff (MA '73)
Michael T. Shanley (BS '73)
Janet L. Cook (BA '74/ MA '88/BSN '98)
Mark A. Frye (BS '75)
James E. Plett (BS '75)
Michael R. Bailey (PhD '76)
Michael P. Lawler (BS '79)
1980s
Christopher Hewitt (MFA '81)
Patricia A. Zahniser (MA '81)
Thomas D. Donis (BLS '83/ MA '86)
Diane E. Siglin (MA '83)
Eveard C. Hartson (BS '84)
Mark W. Kaalberg (BGS '87)
1990s
Sarah J. Kelley (MA '91)
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