Dean of the College of Agriculture from 1916 to 1931 and Dean of the College of Human Ecology from 1925 to 1931, Mann described the college library facilities as "positively atrocious" in 1923. A 1904 graduate of Cornell's College of Agriculture, he served as secretary to Liberty Hyde Bailey during the preparation of Bailey's monumental work, the Cyclopedia of American Agriculture . Mann was also assistant professor of dairy industry, professor of rural social organization, registrar, editor, and Director of Cornell's Experiment Station. During his career, he made many efforts to upgrade the library, calling it "the educational center" of the college. Mann became Cornell's first Provost in 1932 and served in that position until 1937. He died in 1947, shortly before construction began of the library building which bears his name. The Albert R. Mann Library is now internationally renowned for its collections, its preservation program, and its information technology developments.
(Information taken from Education and Agriculture by Gould Colman and A History of Cornell by Morris Bishop.)
Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University
last updated by jpk15@cornell.edu on August 18, 1998
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