Spencer Routh papers and oral history interview
Collection
In an interview conducted by Christina Ealing-Godbold, Senior Librarian, State Library of Queensland, Dr Spencer James Routh discusses a range of topics including: his school school days and parents; his academic success and time at university; his work in the University library and his passion for reference librarianship; as well as his reminiscences of early State Library, how he used State Library collections and what his favourite collections were.
Spencer Routh topped the Queensland Scholarship, Junior and Senior public examinations at secondary school level before graduating Bachelor of Arts, Honours, from the University of Queensland in 1958. He was a junior lecturer in the English Department, then became the University's first reference librarian in 1959. His library career includes a Master of Science degree from the School of Library Science, Columbia University, New York; and he earned the gratitude of researchers and students, many of whom paid tribute in their publications and theses for his "legendary assistance". The award of an Australian Dictionary of Biography Medal in 2003 cited Mr Routh as a "Sherlock Holmes of researchers". Source of biographical information: http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Spencer-Routh/908705319
In copyright.