Arthur E. Gropp (1902-1997) Library Survey Papers, 1937-1938
(Collection 121)
A 23-page collection guide in print is available in the office of the Latin American Library.
Collection Overview
1051 photographs.
187 other pieces.
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, December 1994.
Introduction
Arthur Gropp came to Tulane University on September 1, 1931, as Librarian of the then Department of Middle American Research, and in 1941 he became Co-Director along with Maurice Ries of the reorganized Middle American Research Institute. On June 1, 1942, he went on leave of absence to organize and direct the Biblioteca Artigas-Washington in Montevideo, Uruguay, and on July 1, 1945, he resigned his position at the MARI.
During the years 1937 and 1938 while he was Librarian, he conducted an extensive study for the MARI of 538 libraries, archives, and book establishments in Central America and the West Indies, financed with a $17,000 grant by the Rockefeller Foundation. The result of his investigations was published by the MARI as Guide to the Libraries and Archives in Central America and the West Indies, Panama, Bermuda, and British Guiana.
As exhaustive as this 721-page volume would appear to be, it does not contain many of his valuable findings and observations. This collection is composed of such materials: field letters, data, photographs, clippings, and a layout. They had been widely dispersed for many years, with photogrpahs left in boxes later to be cataloged into the photographic archive, notes cataloged as Rare Books, and the layout cataloged with another number. They have now been brought together in one collection where they can be used in conjunction with the printed book.
From January 26 until October 4, 1937, Gropp traveled with his wife Dorothy ("Dee"), who acted as his secretary, to the countries of Central America. On January 23, 1938, the Gropps resumed their travels, this time to the West Indies, including Bermuda and British Guiana, and returned to New Orleans on September 1. Everywhere they went, Gropp met and interviewed everyone possible associated with libraries or books, or was of national importance; he sent voluminous reports, gathered extensive bibliographical information, bought books, and took seemingly limitless photographs not only of the inside and outside of libraries, but of other architecture and archaeological sites. Gropp was tireless, meticulous, and thorough, and so was Dee.
