Cara Bertram on The American Library Association Goes To War

February Luncheon

The numbers are staggering. Millions of dollars in fundraising. As many as 10 million books and magazines. 500 existing locations. 36 from-scratch fully functioning locations. All in just months. All by an organization whose membership included only 3,300 people.

Behind these numbers are the remarkable stories of how the American Library Association mobilized to serve the doughboys during WWI … all brought to life out of the ALA archives, which are managed at the University of Illinois in Urbana by our speaker Cara Bertram, who is a graduate of the northernmost university in the contiguous states. (As she’s introduced, you’ll find out where it is.)

Bertram has access to accounts and documents you won’t see anywhere else. Come and learn about how the work the ALA membership began more than a century ago lives on today, here at home and overseas.

February 14 Luncheon: Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Boulevard. Buffet opens at 11:30 am; program 12:30-1:30. Luncheon is $35. Program free but please let us know you’re coming. Reserve and pay at caxtonclub.org, call 312-255-3710, or e-mail caxtonclub@newberry.org.