David H. Stam, University Librarian Emeritus for Syracuse University, and the former Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries of The New York Public Library, died on February 7, 2023, at the age of 87.
Stam began his 40-year career in libraries as a journalist second class in the US Navy Reserve, where his final assignment of his two years of service was ship’s librarian on the USS Galveston. After that, he became a clerk typist at the New York Public Library (NYPL) in 1959 and then assistant editor of library publications at NYPL from 1959 to 1963. Subsequent appointments were as librarian of Marlboro College, associate librarian of the Newberry Library, and librarian of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University. In 1978, Stam returned to NYPL as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries. In 1986, he was appointed university librarian at Syracuse University.
When he retired as University Librarian Emeritus in 1998, Stam was named Senior Scholar in the Syracuse University History Department, where he devoted his energy to the history of polar exploration. He served as a trustee of The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation for almost 30 years and became Trustee Emeritus when he retired from that board in 2012.
Stam earned a BA in English from Wheaton College in 1955, an MLS from Rutgers University in 1962, and a PhD in history from Northwestern University in 1978.
In the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Stam served on the Board of Directors in 1992–1995 as well as numerous committees and working groups: he served on the Committee on Preservation of Research Libraries Materials in 1976–1985 (chair 1976–1982), the Task Force on Coordinated Development and Use of Collections in 1983, the ARL Microform Project Preservation Program Committee in 1983–1984, the North American Collections Inventory Project Advisory Committee in 1987–1988, and the Working Group on Review of the NEH Preservation Program in 1992–1993. Stam served on the ARL 60th Anniversary Committee in 1992 and wrote a brief history of the Association, “Plus Ça Change,” which he presented at the 60th anniversary celebration. Additionally, Stam was the ARL representative to the National Conservation Advisory Committee in 1981–1984, the National Collections Inventory Project in 1984–1985, and the National Institute of Conservators in 1985–1993.
A memorial event will take place in the spring. Contributions in Stam’s name may be made to the New York radio stations WAER, WCNY, WRVO, and WXXI.
To learn more about Stam’s life and career, see his obituary in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
