Letter from Elma Whitney to Carolyn Wetherholt, June 1, 1953

This one-page, typed letter is from Worthington Public Library Head Librarian Elma A. Whitney to Carolyn Wetherholt, welcoming her to her new job as children's librarian at the library. It mentions the library board's contract for Wetherholt to sign and return, explains the library's work schedule, a room for rent in Worthington and transportation needs for Wetherholt, suggestions for summer work to prepare for the job, and a guide to the job of children's librarian.

In the second paragraph of the letter, Whitney writes, "Frankly, I'd rather have you 'Miss' but I guess I'll have to settle for the 'Mrs'," a reference to Wetherholt's marriage to Evan Roderick, which took place on September 5, 1953 in Gallia, Ohio.

An article in the October 1, 1953 "Worthington News" references Wetherholt's appointment as children's librarian at the library on September 1, and mentions that she was a graduate of the University School at The Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and Simmons College of Library Science. A native of Gallipolis, Ohio, she and her husband moved there after he completed The Ohio State University School of Dentistry and military service, and she served as librarian at Rio Grande College. Later, they moved to North Carolina, where she worked at the library of Carteret Community College until her retirement.

Elma Whitney was Head Librarian at Worthington Public Library from 1943 to 1967, overseeing an era of immense change and growth in Worthington. At the time, the library was in the James Kilbourne Memorial Library building at 752 High Street. In 1948, Whitney was the "featured librarian" in the October 30 issue of "Publisher's Weekly," and during her tenure at Worthington she also served as vice president at the Ohio Library Association, president and secretary of the Franklin County Librarians Council, program chairperson of the Worthington Newcomer's Club, press reporter for the Worthington Women's Club and board president of the Public Employees Retirement System, and provided weekly radio book reviews and spoke at library conferences and meetings throughout the country.