March is National Women’s History Month. In celebration, this month’s throwback Thursday will focus on the women of West Chester University. March 2nd is also Read Across America Day, in honor of this day our first woman of West Chester is Faye A. Collicott, former children’s and instructional materials Librarian from 1929 to 1968.
Faye A. Collicott was born in Des Moines, Iowa on February 23, 1902 to Nellie M. Clark Collicott and B.F. Loose. She received her degree in Liberal Arts from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and her Library Science Bachelors and Masters Degree from Columbia University. The latter completed while serving as a librarian at West Chester.
During her tenure at West Chester, Collicott actively presented to student organizations on classes about the library’s children’s collection as well as resources for teaching. Collicott regularly partnered with the campus’ Demonstration School, an elementary-level school on campus teaching the children of West Chester professors and staff members as well as local children. Collicott was an active faculty member on campus, regularly meeting with student organizations and giving talks on library materials as well as curating regular exhibits for the library’s annual Book Week in November.
In addition to her time at West Chester, Collicott served as Children’s Librarian at Girard College from 1943 to 1945. She also taught children’s literature and library science courses at the University of Arkansas during summer breaks.
Faye Collicott retired in 1968 and was named Emeriti Professor in 1970. Francis Harvey Green Library dedicated the Children’s room on the first floor in her honor at the time of her retirement. She lived in Longwood until her death on June 19, 1991.
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