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Gertrude Hill Muir Papers 1862-1980 (bulk 1950-1980)

MSS-61

Biographical Note

Gertrude Frances Hill was born to Edwin Bliss and Clara Ella (Hood) Hill in Phoenix, Arizona on October 26, 1909. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Geology (1937) and her M.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Art (1938) from the University of Arizona followed by her B.S. in Library Science (1945) from the University of Denver. Hill also completed a Library Certificate at the Riverside Library Service School in Riverside, California (1929).

Hill began her career as an Assistant Cataloger at the El Paso (Texas) Public Library (1928-1933). After completing her degrees at the University of Arizona, she worked as the City Librarian at the Flagstaff Public Library (1938-1945). Hill returned to the University of Arizona in 1945 and served as Head of the Circulation Department until becoming a Cataloger and First Assistant Librarian at the Dean Hobbs Blanchard Memorial Library in Santa Paula, California in 1949. She moved to the Museum of New Mexico Library in 1951, where she served as Assistant Librarian (1951-1953) and Head Librarian (1953-1960).

Hill was appointed Special Collections Librarian at Arizona State University in 1960 but left this post to become Head of Technical Services at the New Mexico State Library in 1962. She returned to Arizona State University as Special Collections Librarian in 1963 and married Robert Muir in approximately the same year. Despite her failing health, Muir continued to work at the Library until 1973 by arranging car pools with other library employees. She formally retired in 1975 and died in Phoenix, Arizona on May 6, 1981.

Scope and Content Note

The Gertrude Hill Muir Papers contain bibliographies, research cards, correspondence, biographical and genealogical information, and news clippings dating from 1862 to 1980. The bulk of the collection consists of bibliographies on various topics relating to Arizona and the Southwest that were produced during Muir's career as a professional librarian (1950-1980).

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Related Material

Interested researchers may also wish to consult MS SC HI: Edwin Bliss Hill Papers, 1882-1973.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Gertrude Hill Muir Papers, MSS-61, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

Gertrude Hill Muir donated these papers to Archives and Special Collections between 1974 and 1978 (ACC# 78-058).

Other Finding Aids

A calendar that describes each item in the collection is available in the Luhrs Reading Room upon request.

Container List