Ralph Hopp papers

Collection

Identifier: uarc 459

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains correspondence and reports relating to his consulting activities outside of the University of Minnesota, talks and writings, and some teaching materials. Materials relating to Hopp's tenure as University Libraries Director and University Librarian, including planning documents regarding the design of Wilson Library, were removed from his personal papers and added to the Libraries Records.

Dates

1948-1979

Creator

Hopp, Ralph Harvey, 1915- (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials in English

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Biographical Sketch of Ralph Hopp (1915-2003)

Ralph Harvey Hopp, B.S. University of Nebraska (1943); M.S. University of Illinois (1950); Ph.D. University of Illinois (1956). Assistant Director, Associate Director (1953-1965), University Librarian and Associate Director of Libraries (1965-1971), Director of University Libraries (1971-1976), Director of Libraries Development Office (1976-1978), Director of Institute of Technology Libraries (1978-1982) at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Library Assistant, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (1939-1940, 1944-1945). Engineering Librarian, University of Nebraska (1941-1943). Research Fellow, Mellon Institute of Industrial Research (1943-1945). Research Librarian, Battelle Memorial Institute (1946-1949). Assistant Professor and Divisional Librarian for Science and Technology, University of Nebraska (1951-1953).

Ralph Hopp was born October 24, 1915 in Cook, Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.S. in chemical engineering in 1943 and earned his M.S. (1950) and his Ph.D. in librarian science (1956) from the University of Illinois.

After serving in several librarian and research positions at various institutions, Dr. Hopp accepted the position of Assistant Director for Administration and Readers Services at the University of Minnesota Libraries in 1953. He went on to serve as Associate Director, and in 1965, Dr. Hopp was named University Librarian and Associate Director of Libraries. In this position, he served as the administrator for day-to-day management of library facilities and services, including patron and technical services, personnel and budget administration, building and equipment maintenance, and student relations. Under the Libraries administrative structure, Dr. Edward Stanford served as Director of University Libraries, responsible for overall library policy, planning, and coordination. When Dr. Stanford resigned as Director in 1971, Dr. Hopp was named Director of University Libraries - Twin Cities. In 1976, Dr. Hopp stepped down as Director and assumed leadership of the University Libraries Development Office and then the Institute of Technology Libraries. In 1982, Dr. Hopp retired.

During his tenure in University Libraries administration, Dr. Hopp was heavily involved in the planning for and design of the O. Meredith Wilson Library on the West Bank (opened in 1968), approval by the University of the Library Constitution, and planning for cooperative programs such as MINITEX and INFORM. He served as president of the Association of Research Libraries and the United States Book Exchange.

Ralph Hopp died February 7, 2003 in St. Paul, Minnesota.