Fonds GB 0372 GOSS - GOSS, Charles William Frederick (1864-1946)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0372 GOSS

Title

GOSS, Charles William Frederick (1864-1946)

Date(s)

  • 1832-2001 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

2 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Charles William Frederick Goss was born in Denmark Hill in 1864, and at the age of 16 moved to Birkenhead, where he became a junior assistant in the local public library; at the age of 23 he was appointed sub-librarian at Newcastle upon Tyne Public Library, and in December 1890 was chosen from among nearly 300 applicants as first librarian of Lewisham, where he took up the post in February 1891; took an active interest in Library Association affairs and, intensely disatisfied with the existing leadership of James Duff Brown, Goss and several London colleagues formed the Society of Public Librarians in 1895. Following a dispute with a local dignitary over public library services in Lewisham, Goss was forced to resign and shortly after in August 1897 became the librarian of the Bishopsgate Institute. In 1901 Goss installed the indicator system of closed access within the lending library after years of thefts and was involved over following years in a bitter 'Battle of the Books' conducted in the pages and correspondence columns of library periodicals between advocates of closed and open access public libraries. The Society of Public Librarians and Goss remained firm advocates of closed access. He also built the collections at the Institute library and remained a keen and active local historian. His publications included Crosby Hall: a chapter in the History of London (1908), The London Directories, 1677-1855 (1932) and A Descriptive Bibliography of the Writings of George Jacob Holyoake (1908). Goss retired as Librarian of the Institute in 1941 and died in 1946.

Archival history

GB 0372 GOSS 1832-2001 Fonds 2 boxes Goss , Charles William Frederick , 1864-1946 , librarian and bibliographer

Charles William Frederick Goss was born in Denmark Hill in 1864, and at the age of 16 moved to Birkenhead, where he became a junior assistant in the local public library; at the age of 23 he was appointed sub-librarian at Newcastle upon Tyne Public Library, and in December 1890 was chosen from among nearly 300 applicants as first librarian of Lewisham, where he took up the post in February 1891; took an active interest in Library Association affairs and, intensely disatisfied with the existing leadership of James Duff Brown, Goss and several London colleagues formed the Society of Public Librarians in 1895. Following a dispute with a local dignitary over public library services in Lewisham, Goss was forced to resign and shortly after in August 1897 became the librarian of the Bishopsgate Institute. In 1901 Goss installed the indicator system of closed access within the lending library after years of thefts and was involved over following years in a bitter 'Battle of the Books' conducted in the pages and correspondence columns of library periodicals between advocates of closed and open access public libraries. The Society of Public Librarians and Goss remained firm advocates of closed access. He also built the collections at the Institute library and remained a keen and active local historian. His publications included Crosby Hall: a chapter in the History of London (1908), The London Directories, 1677-1855 (1932) and A Descriptive Bibliography of the Writings of George Jacob Holyoake (1908). Goss retired as Librarian of the Institute in 1941 and died in 1946.

Deposited at the Bishopsgate Institute by Charles Goss, date unknown.

Papers of librarian and bibliographer Charles Goss (1864-1946) including: personal material concerning the life and family of Charles Goss, including typescript chronology, information regarding his home in Kevington, birth and marriage certificates, articles on Goss by C.W.J.Harris and photographs of Goss at various stages of his career, c1891 - 2001; papers concerning the professional career of Goss, including papers concerning his appointment as librarian at the Bishopsgate Institute, annotated copies of his books Crosby Hall: A Chapter in the History of London and The London Directories, 1677-1855 with correpondence used in their completion and letters concerning Goss's activities, 1832 - 1968; press cuttings of letters, articles and book reviews by Goss from various newspapers on topics including librarianship, biography, Christmas and the benefits of novel reading, along with cuttings of reviews of Goss' works Crosby Hall: A Chapter in the History of London, The London Directories, 1677-1855 and A Descriptive Bibliography of the Writings of George Jacob Holyoake, 1889 - 1936.

The collection is divided into the following sections:
GOSS/1: Personal Papers
GOSS/2: Professional Papers and Publications
GOSS/3: Press Cuttings

Open

Documents cannot be photocopied at present. Digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law.
English

Copy of handlist available in Library Reading Room.

The Bishopsgate Institute also holds the papers of the Society of Public Librarians. The Institute archives also contains material concerning Goss' tenure as librarian from 1897-1941.

Entry compiled by Stefan Dickers.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

31 July 2006 Bishopsgate Institute Goss , Charles William Frederick , 1864-1946 , librarian and bibliographer History Information/library administration Information/library management Information/library personnel Librarians Libraries Local history Society of Public Librarians

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited at the Bishopsgate Institute by Charles Goss, date unknown.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of librarian and bibliographer Charles Goss (1864-1946) including: personal material concerning the life and family of Charles Goss, including typescript chronology, information regarding his home in Kevington, birth and marriage certificates, articles on Goss by C.W.J.Harris and photographs of Goss at various stages of his career, c1891 - 2001; papers concerning the professional career of Goss, including papers concerning his appointment as librarian at the Bishopsgate Institute, annotated copies of his books Crosby Hall: A Chapter in the History of London and The London Directories, 1677-1855 with correpondence used in their completion and letters concerning Goss's activities, 1832 - 1968; press cuttings of letters, articles and book reviews by Goss from various newspapers on topics including librarianship, biography, Christmas and the benefits of novel reading, along with cuttings of reviews of Goss' works Crosby Hall: A Chapter in the History of London, The London Directories, 1677-1855 and A Descriptive Bibliography of the Writings of George Jacob Holyoake, 1889 - 1936.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection is divided into the following sections:
GOSS/1: Personal Papers
GOSS/2: Professional Papers and Publications
GOSS/3: Press Cuttings

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Conditions governing reproduction

Documents cannot be photocopied at present. Digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Bishopsgate Institute also holds the papers of the Society of Public Librarians. The Institute archives also contains material concerning Goss' tenure as librarian from 1897-1941.

Finding aids

Copy of handlist available in Library Reading Room.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Bishopsgate Institute

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area