Talk:Melvil Dewey

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I cut He published a book called "Finding Books at Your Local Library" because I can't find any record of such a volume. Also cut Melvil was also noted for being a great cook and created Boston Cream Pie. - likewise, could not confirm. If someone can confirm either one, please restore it. -- April

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Is calling him a "reformer" of English spelling NPOV? Maybe, but there might be the implication that English spelling was in need of reform, which when we observe that one of the main motives behind the reform was that spelling things the correct way was (allegedly; I don't accept this at all) "too hard" on schoolboys (I guess not as bright as their English counterparts) and thus had to be coddled by the development of an easier spelling. Some might question how seriously we should take the project of someone calling himself "Melvil Dui." --Daniel C. Boyer 14:56, 30 Sep 2003 (UTC)

So you're saying that he was'nt an English Spelling reformer just because you believe that spelling English is easy? And should'nt we call him what he called himself (Melvil Dui)?Cameron Nedland 17:05, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

No, we should call him what the English language calls him; by the same token, English calls everybody who fiddles with spelling a "spelling reformer" whether the reform is wise and practical or not. Septentrionalis 16:11, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Given that the primary source for information is Wayne Wiegand's book entitled: "Irrespressible Reformer," I think we can use the term here. The late 19th century was rife with reform and Dewey saw himself as needing to fix a lot of things that he considered to be broken, of which English language spelling was one. LaMona 23:08, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

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Re the previous comment: I have no trouble with a person wanting to change the spelling of their name, or changing to an entirely different name. That is the prerogative of anybody. But, if he changed his name to "Melvil Dui", why don't we list him under that spelling rather than his original name? Seems somewhat disrespectful of his own wishes. Unless he never really changed it at all, but just toyed with the idea. Does anybody know to what extent he "changed" his name? JackofOz 00:57, 28 Mar 2004 (UTC)

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Relation to John Dewey? The edit "A distant relative of the American educator John Dewey" was inserted by an anon. contributor, all of whose other edits today were irresponsible or vandalism and have all been reverted. Can anyone vet this assertion? --Wetman 09:52, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

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Something is amiss with the claim that "he helped found the American Library Association (ALA)" and that he "spoke at the tenth Annual ALA Conference held in Boston, Massachusetts in 1876." If the ALA had its tenth annual convention in 1876 it must have been founded no later than 1866 -- when Dewey was only fourteen. I doubt he founded the ALA at that age.

Anonymous contributors have been having a lot of fun with this article during the past year. I just went through and reverted them, checking facts in the book Irrepressible Reformer : a Biography of Melvil Dewey by Wayne A Wiegand. We'll have to keep an eye on this article. GUllman 23:14, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

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I'd be careful with using such a strong statement as anti-woman. According to the Biography Reference Bank (AN: 82040662) Dewey, upon being hired at Columbia University, in 1887, initiated the first library school in the country, which was also the first school of its kind (other than women's prepetory colleges) to admit women. Though a controversial figure in many ways, it is well documented that he fought to teach women library science. This article needs further research. Also, in regards to spelling his name Melvil Dui, his first name change stuck, but surname did not according to author Paul N. Frame's article "St. Dui," found in Colorado Libraries (Sept. 1975), because a bank would not honor his checks with his new last name (p. 6).

Regarding the controversial statement of racism and sexism, while essentially true it would be better couched in some historical fact. Much of it comes up regarding his ownership and running of the private Lake Placid Club, which did not admit non-Christians or any racial minorities. Wiegand quotes from the club's brochure, so this is well-documented. (Wiegand, p. 264) Dewey's exclusion of Jews became something of a scandal, but it's not clear that the racial exclusion was considered unusual for the time. As for women, Dewey was almost single-handedly responsible for introducing women to librarianship and was heavily criticized for allowing them into his school. This was not in the interest of women's liberation -- Dewey recognized that women would be ideal librarians at a lower wage than men could command, and therefore were economically advantageous to libraries. (See: Dee Garrison, Apostles of Culture, p. 178)He was nothing if not practical.66.245.22.206 01:47, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

This weird warning has been in the article for far too long. I'm removing the claim and warning (it is possible but highly harmful, see Template:Fact) and if someone finds appropriately sourced information they can re-include it. -Reagle 15:05, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The move to Dui

This move shouldn't have been done without a consensus or further research. I will copy here the LoC's authority record for Melville Dewey. Note the 670 field near the end which gives the justification for the final form of the name in the authority file.

LC Control Number: n 79091588

HEADING: Dewey, Melvil, 1851-1931

000 00906cz a2200217n 450

001 31731

005 19911210132303.4

008 800428n| acannaab |a aaa

010 __ |a n 79091588

035 __ |a (DLC)n 79091588

040 __ |a DLC |c DLC |d DLC |d MnHi

100 10 |a Dewey, Melvil, |d 1851-1931

400 10 |a Dui, Melvil, |d 1851-1931

400 10 |a Dīwī, Milfil Luwīs Kūst, |d 1851-1931

400 10 |a Dyui, Melbil, |d 1851-1931

400 10 |a Tyui, Melbil, |d 1851-1931

400 10 |a Dewey, Melville Louis Kossuth, |d 1851-1931

670 __ |a His D.D.C. pullyupʻyo. Chonggyo punya, 1982: |b t.p. (Melbil Dyui) t.p. verso (Melvil Dewey)

670 __ |a Rider, F. Melvil Dewey, 1944: |b p. 3 (Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey (he successively dropped, first the "Louis", then the "Kossuth", then the "le" of "Melville"--and finally, for a while, tried to shorten the "Dewey" to "Dui"))

952 __ |a RETRO

953 __ |a xx00 |b bl25

...So, clearly, the Library of Congress considers him as not finally changing his last name to Dui, saying he only attempted to make the change for a while. I think Cameron Nedland should move it back and take care of the double redirect based on this. I would do it but I have a weak grasp of double redirect problems. By the way, I advocate using LC authority records to determine the authoritative form of names on wikipedia, where possible. Rlitwin 16:45, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

Are you waiting for someone to second the motion to move the article back to Melvil Dewey? The Library of Congress research appear conclusive that this is the name by which he is commonly known. (See: Wikipedia:Naming_conventions_(people)) Whoever knows how to revert title changes without having double redirects, please do so quickly. GUllman 05:26, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

Actually I think it has to be done by an admin. I will look for one to look at this. Rlitwin 13:05, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

Moving an article back to an unedited redirect does not require an admin; so I did it. Septentrionalis 16:09, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

it state he was born Melvil Louis Kossuth Dewey, later in the article it state that he considered changing his name from Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey. did he change it to Melville sometime after his birth? or should it say he was born as Melville? Thesleepless 06:00, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

From everything I've read or heard he was born Melville, and made the change of name as an adult. The article should remain under Melvil Dewey, but the error in his birth name needs changing- by someone with more authority than me, I should add. Saxophobia 00:06, 28 January 2007 (UTC)