John Davis Barnett
Encyclopedia
John Davis Barnett was an early Canadian curator-librarian. Barnett collected
the materials to create one of the significant early personal Ontario libraries and was a vocal
proponent of education through the use of freely available printed materials. He is a renowned
collector writing extensively on the ideas of inter-library loans, classification scheme trends,
the national library for Canada movement, collections development, scientific management theory
and his own personal reference theory. Involved with books from an early age he collected widely
and worked throughout his life to ensure that knowledge was available to all. His personal
donation of some 40,000 volumes to the University of Western Ontario
, his work as a lecturer at
the first provincial library school and commitment to the first Ontario library institute make him
a notable Canadian librarian from the beginning of the confederation era right through to the
period between the two world wars.
England or London, England. At the age of 17 he emigrated to Montreal, Canada.
Barnett studied civil engineering and design under J. Armstrong at Wolverhampton, London and
Swindon England. John’s father, George Barnett had worked in the railroads and made arrangements
for his son to study and work in the railroads.
In 1919, Barnett was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Western Ontario
.
in Montreal. With experience in draughting, he quickly moved to the draughting room advancing
steadily through the posts in the mechanical side of railroad work. He contributed widely to the
engineering journals of North America. His posts included:
history and science and technology. The Barnett literary collection concentrated on
Shakespeariana, literary criticism and classical literature with some foreign works. Monographs,
magazines, bulletins, clippings and prints were collected contributing to the collections diverse
nature. In history, Barnett collected a large section on Canadian history, with other large
sections of American history. The War of 1812
and the Rebellion of 1837 were of special interest.
Government publications are also included in this section. European, African and Asiatic history
were also represented.In the science and technology section, Barnett collected everything he could
find on railroads and the development of the Canadian railroads.
The main body of the Barnett’s collection, some 40,000 volumes were donated to the University of Western Ontario
,10 August 1918. Barnett was actively involved with the collection until 1922.
The Barnett collection was presented to the Library and Archives Canada
in 1975.
Pamphlets and other published material became part of the Public Archives Library; photographs to
the National Photography Collection; Maps and plans to the National Map Collection.
Barnett was the head of the Grand Trunk Railway Mechanics Institute during the many years he
worked for the GTR. Later when this evolved into the Grand Trunk Railway Mechanics’ Institute, he occupied
the chief post.Barnett was a strong advocate for Mechanics Institutes. He wrote and spoke
frequently about the virtues of providing a venue where knowledge, and especially technical
knowledge, could be transferred from one person to another for either professional improvement or
personal pursuits.
.
In 1907, Barnett was a delegate to the first Ontario Library Institute Twenty-one libraries were represented at a meeting held at the Brantford Public Library and funded by a grant from the Ministry of Education (Ontario)
. Immediately after the meeting, 10 Institutes districts were formed and in 1908 the Institutes were held. In 1909 an
Act was passed providing for permanent establishment of Library Institutes under the Province of
Ontario Department of Education. Barnett participated in the early evolution of Ontario public libraries through lectures at Ontario Provincial Library Training School beginning in 1910 and at Ontario Library Institutes.
Barnett is one of the first advocates for a Canadian national library. At the opening of the 20th century the Canadian identity is just awakening and the need for national cultural and educational institutions is beginning to be discussed within the broader political arena. Barnett is vocal in his thoughts. Beginning in 1910, J D Barnett saw the function of a national library as storage, lending and inter-library lending with a leadership role in a joint-action agreements between provincial library and a national library with regard to joint functions such as inter-library lending. He saw the primary role of a library as education; a national library’s role within the national educational context. He was also a vocal advocate of advertising any library, but particularly a national library where one had yet to be founded. More controversial at the time, he supported a collections management strategy of quality and not demand. In May 1918 Barnett wrote an article for the Ontario Library Review advocating a national library. Unfortunately timing was not in his favour, and it was not until nearly 20 years after his death that the National Library of Canada was created by an Act of Parliament in 1953 and later as the Library and Archives of Canada.
the materials to create one of the significant early personal Ontario libraries and was a vocal
proponent of education through the use of freely available printed materials. He is a renowned
collector writing extensively on the ideas of inter-library loans, classification scheme trends,
the national library for Canada movement, collections development, scientific management theory
and his own personal reference theory. Involved with books from an early age he collected widely
and worked throughout his life to ensure that knowledge was available to all. His personal
donation of some 40,000 volumes to the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, his work as a lecturer at
the first provincial library school and commitment to the first Ontario library institute make him
a notable Canadian librarian from the beginning of the confederation era right through to the
period between the two world wars.
Early life
John Davis Barnett, son of George Barnett, was born in 1848 or 1849. Sources have him born in Liverpool,England or London, England. At the age of 17 he emigrated to Montreal, Canada.
Education
Swindon England. John’s father, George Barnett had worked in the railroads and made arrangements
for his son to study and work in the railroads.
In 1919, Barnett was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
Railroad engineer
In 1866 when Barnett emigrated to Canada he became an apprentice in the Grand Trunk Railroad shopsin Montreal. With experience in draughting, he quickly moved to the draughting room advancing
steadily through the posts in the mechanical side of railroad work. He contributed widely to the
engineering journals of North America. His posts included:
- Asst. Mechanical Superintendent, Grand Trunk Railroad
- Mechanical Superintendent, Midland RailroadMidland RailroadThe following railroads have been named Midland Railroad:*Florida Midland Railroad *Florida Midland Railroad *Midland Railroad *Midland Railroad *New Jersey Midland Railway...
Engineering society memberships
- Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK)
- Engineering Club of London
- American Master Mechanics Association
- Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
- Master Mechanics Institute
Collector
John Davis Barnett collected what became a research library with special emphasis on literature,history and science and technology. The Barnett literary collection concentrated on
Shakespeariana, literary criticism and classical literature with some foreign works. Monographs,
magazines, bulletins, clippings and prints were collected contributing to the collections diverse
nature. In history, Barnett collected a large section on Canadian history, with other large
sections of American history. The War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and the Rebellion of 1837 were of special interest.
Government publications are also included in this section. European, African and Asiatic history
were also represented.In the science and technology section, Barnett collected everything he could
find on railroads and the development of the Canadian railroads.
The main body of the Barnett’s collection, some 40,000 volumes were donated to the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
,10 August 1918. Barnett was actively involved with the collection until 1922.
The Barnett collection was presented to the Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
in 1975.
Pamphlets and other published material became part of the Public Archives Library; photographs to
the National Photography Collection; Maps and plans to the National Map Collection.
Mechanics' Institutes contributions
Barnett was the head of the Grand Trunk Railway Mechanics Institute during the many years he
worked for the GTR. Later when this evolved into the Grand Trunk Railway Mechanics’ Institute, he occupied
the chief post.Barnett was a strong advocate for Mechanics Institutes. He wrote and spoke
frequently about the virtues of providing a venue where knowledge, and especially technical
knowledge, could be transferred from one person to another for either professional improvement or
personal pursuits.
Early Ontario libraries
In 1896, Barnett was involved in organizing the Free Public Library in Stratford, OntarioStratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
.
In 1907, Barnett was a delegate to the first Ontario Library Institute Twenty-one libraries were represented at a meeting held at the Brantford Public Library and funded by a grant from the Ministry of Education (Ontario)
Ministry of Education (Ontario)
The Ministry of Education is the agency of the Ontario government in the Canadian province of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary and secondary schools.This Ministry is responsible for...
. Immediately after the meeting, 10 Institutes districts were formed and in 1908 the Institutes were held. In 1909 an
Act was passed providing for permanent establishment of Library Institutes under the Province of
Ontario Department of Education. Barnett participated in the early evolution of Ontario public libraries through lectures at Ontario Provincial Library Training School beginning in 1910 and at Ontario Library Institutes.
National Library of Canada movement