A Fun Conversation

Last Friday, I got called to substitute teach. While having lunch in the teacher's lounge, a librarian struck up some conversation with me. I mentioned that I'm a bit of an authority on 1908 Olympic Gold Medalist Johnny Hayes. I mentioned my favorite "librarian fact," that Melvil Dewey, the Dewey Decimal System guy, was a big proponent of the simplified spelling movement of that era. So, while Dewey was born as Melville Dewey, he wanted to be Melvil Dui, but because the government felt surname changes would cause problems with public records, he died as melvil Dewey. Theodore Roosevelt was also a proponent of simplified spelling.
She left interested in this unusual characteristic of the American most associated with library science. BTW - I asked her about the difference between Dewey Decimal and the Library of Congress cataloging system.

Mention of how he liked to spell his name here. And here. There's a pretty extensive history of spelling reform here.

Good-Bye, Teacher Man

I heard on the news this morning that Frank McCourt has passed away. Mr. McCourt spent most of his career as a teacher in the New York City school system. He achieved fame through his three books; Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man. While I cared little for his middle book, 'Tis, his other two were gems, and I'd urge you to seek them out. Mr. McCourt died of cancer at age 78.