Theodore Wesley Koch
Encyclopedia
Theodore Wesley Koch was the Director of Northwestern University
's library (1919–1941), and the Director of the University of Michigan
Library (1905–1915). He also held positions at the Cornell University Library
and the Library of Congress
.
Koch was the Director of the Library of Northwestern University
(1919–1941), during which time he planned and raised the funds for the Deering Library
at Northwestern. His bust is carved into a pillar next to the entrance to the stacks.
During World War I
, while on the staff of the Library of Congress
, Koch played an instrumental role in ensuring that scientific publications from Germany and other combatants continued to be available to American researchers. He also organized programs to provide books to American soldiers in the trenches, and after the end of the war was very active in organizing American support for the rebuilding of European libraries that had been destroyed during the war.
He was a translator of Italian poetry
and essays; scholar of Dante; widely published on issues of libraries and public education
from the 1910s to the late 1930s.
In 1940 he received the Cross of the Legion of Honor from the French Government, for his lifelong work in translating, promoting, and enhancing the appreciation of French literature in the United States. <1>
He died in 1941, a few months short of his scheduled retirement.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
's library (1919–1941), and the Director of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Library (1905–1915). He also held positions at the Cornell University Library
Cornell University Library
The Cornell University Library is the library system of Cornell University. In 2010 it held 8 million printed volumes in open stacks, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, more than of manuscripts, and close to 500,000 other materials, including motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and...
and the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
Biography
Koch was born in Philadelphia in 1871, the son of William Jefferson Koch a descendant of German immigrants ("Pennsylvania Dutch"). Koch receive a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a second BA and an MA from Harvard University (1893 and 1894 respectively) in Romance Languages. He went on to study in Paris, before returning to Cornell University in 18xx, where he was responsible for producing a detailed, annotated catalogue of Cornell's extensive collection of Dante's works <1>.Koch was the Director of the Library of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
(1919–1941), during which time he planned and raised the funds for the Deering Library
Deering Library
Charles Deering Library is located on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Deering Library houses the Government Publications Department and the Northwestern University Archives on the first floor, the Music Library on the second floor, and the Map Collection,...
at Northwestern. His bust is carved into a pillar next to the entrance to the stacks.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, while on the staff of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, Koch played an instrumental role in ensuring that scientific publications from Germany and other combatants continued to be available to American researchers. He also organized programs to provide books to American soldiers in the trenches, and after the end of the war was very active in organizing American support for the rebuilding of European libraries that had been destroyed during the war.
He was a translator of Italian poetry
Italian poetry
-Important Italian poets:* Giacomo da Lentini a 13th Century poet who is believed to have invented the sonnet.* Guido Cavalcanti Tuscan poet, and a key figure in the Dolce Stil Novo movement....
and essays; scholar of Dante; widely published on issues of libraries and public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
from the 1910s to the late 1930s.
In 1940 he received the Cross of the Legion of Honor from the French Government, for his lifelong work in translating, promoting, and enhancing the appreciation of French literature in the United States. <1>
He died in 1941, a few months short of his scheduled retirement.