{"id":115076,"date":"2024-04-17T08:46:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T12:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/?p=115076"},"modified":"2025-03-25T15:44:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T19:44:37","slug":"witb-helen-carson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/witb-helen-carson\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s in the Box? Librarian Helen Carson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Book Press and the Bookworm: The Rediscovery of Helen Carson<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:600px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc figure{max-width:600px;}.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_3dbccd-dc\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1460\" height=\"889\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=1400,852\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=1400,852\" alt=\"Image of Helen Carson sitting at her desk superimposed on an image of library shelves. Gold text reads \u201cThe Book Press and the Bookworm: The Rediscovery of Helen Carson\u201d\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115089\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271460%27%20height%3D%27889%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201460%20889%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271460%27%20height%3D%27889%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=300,183 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=600,365 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=768,468 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png?resize=1400,852 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/THE-BOOK-PRESS-AND-THE-BOOKWORM-titlecard.png 1460w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1460px) 100vw, 1460px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the United States, April is a big month for Libraries. National Library Week is annually celebrated this month, and April 16th is dedicated as National Librarian Day. Last month, our Senior Archivist Robyn re-introduced the world to <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/curator-corner\/mary-lowell-putnam\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"114970\">Mary Lowell Putnam<\/a>, the author and benefactress whose donations kick-started the library at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/dayton-health-care\/about-us\/history\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Central Branch <\/a>of the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/exhibits\/national-homes-postcards\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"104292\">National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers<\/a> in Dayton. Now that you are familiar with the woman who started this collection, let me tell you the tale of the woman who brought Mary\u2019s collection into the 20th century and would one day become the first Chief Librarian in the History of VA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It isn\u2019t often that researchers who work with historic objects get to know the people who used those objects every day. Sometimes we get lucky and can link artifacts to certain facilities or buildings on a historic VA campus, but usually we must look for more hidden lines of evidence to figure out how an object fits into the history of those who care for our Nation\u2019s Veterans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As nice as it would be, it isn\u2019t as if many artifacts turn up labeled with their owners\u2019 names! So, imagine my surprise when my teammates and I began sweeping Putnam Library for any historic objects left behind before the building was closed for renovation, and found just that, a book press.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:600px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 figure{max-width:600px;}.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_9c2220-d0 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_9c2220-d0\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5212\" height=\"4716\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=1400,1267\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=1400,1267\" alt=\"Cast-iron bookpress used in Putnam Library to repair and re-bind books. The name \u201cHelen Carson\u201d is visible on the top of the platen.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115077\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%275212%27%20height%3D%274716%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%205212%204716%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%275212%27%20height%3D%274716%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=300,271 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=600,543 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=768,695 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=1400,1267 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png?resize=1536,1390 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/bookpress.png 5212w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 5212px) 100vw, 5212px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Cast-iron book press used in Putnam Library to repair and re-bind books. The name \u201cHelen Carson\u201d is visible on the top of the platen, the dark metal plate. This press is approximately the size of a modern microwave and required two people to carry it out of the library. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:400px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 figure{max-width:400px;}.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3660e1-e1 .kb-img img{border-top:0px solid #000000;border-right:0px solid #000000;border-bottom:0px solid #000000;border-left:0px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_3660e1-e1\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"389\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png?w=683\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png?w=683\" alt=\"Close-up of \u201cHelen Carson\u201d carved into the platen of the book press.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115084\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27683%27%20height%3D%27389%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20683%20389%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27683%27%20height%3D%27389%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png?resize=300,171 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png?resize=600,342 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenCarson_Name-e1713368805509.png 683w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>\u201cHelen Carson\u201d carved into the book press&#8217;s platen. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As far as artifacts go, its story seemed simple: book presses like these would have been used to help maintain and repair the thousands of books read in Putnam Library since it opened in 1879. The day that I first got up close and personal with the press, I noticed a woman\u2019s name scraped into the black paint of the <em>platen<\/em> (the technical name for the big metal plate used to hold books together). It said \u201cHelen Carson\u201d in big, legible letters. As we carefully transported the heavy press down the many stairs inside Putnam Library, I looked at the name and thought \u201cHmm\u2026wonder who that is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn\u2019t for several more weeks that I read her name again, but this time it was in a very different place. I was doing some research on the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/curator-corner\/box-president-busts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"114630\">busts <\/a>that once watched over the patrons of Putnam Library and was reading through historic newspaper articles available to me thanks to my public library card. Among the dozens of results, the headline of a full-page article from the <em>Dayton Daily News<\/em> practically shouted at me from the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:600px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff figure{max-width:600px;}.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_1beda9-ff img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1beda9-ff .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_1beda9-ff\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"154\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png?w=924\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png?w=924\" alt=\"Headline from the July 23rd 1921 issue of the Dayton Daily News\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115078\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27924%27%20height%3D%27154%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20924%20154%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27924%27%20height%3D%27154%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png?resize=300,50 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png?resize=600,100 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png?resize=768,128 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Headline.png 924w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Headline from the July 23rd 1921 issue of the <em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>. (<em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As soon as I saw her name, I ran downstairs to where the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/va-history-center\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"113148\">National VA History Center <\/a>houses our <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/curator-corner\/artifact-collection\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"103755\">collections<\/a>. I thought the name sounded familiar but needed to see it for myself. Sure enough, it was a match! The article tells the story of how Helen Carson, as the \u201cSupervising Librarian of Military Home Libraries\u201d helped modernize the Putnam Library. When Helen first arrived at the Central Branch in November of 1921, she found the Putnam Library in a bit of a mess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After half a century of use by the countless Veterans living at the Home, the large collection of books had become, in the words of the <em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>, \u201cconsiderably jumbled\u201d. According to records, the Central Branch regularly employed Veterans in the Putnam Library, including a staff of six in 1919. Even so, the Dayton Soldier\u2019s Home hadn\u2019t had a regular, full-time librarian in many years. This must have been a source of frustration for the Veterans living here at the time, who would have needed to search among the collection for hours just to find a single book.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:300px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a figure{max-width:300px;}.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_f8d1d0-8a\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_1921.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"325\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_1921.png?w=325\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_1921.png?w=325\" alt=\"a. Photograph of Helen from the July 23rd 1921 article in the Dayton Daily News\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115079\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27325%27%20height%3D%27346%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20325%20346%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27325%27%20height%3D%27346%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_1921.png?resize=282,300 282w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_1921.png 325w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Helen in the July 23rd 1921 article. (<em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This all changed when Miss Helen Carson came to town; she set up a modern cataloging and classification system for the library and set to work reorganizing the bookcases. This was clearly done with a deep care for both her profession and the wellbeing of the Veterans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take, for instance the fact that when reorganizing the shelves and bookcases, she only used the upper shelves. She explained to the reporter for the newspaper that this allowed Veterans to look over the books on the shelf without needing to stoop over, something that the elderly and <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/object-63-disabled-union-veterans\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"114073\">disabled <\/a>members of the National Home greatly appreciated. Not just stopping at the books, Helen also set out to modernize the lighting system in Putnam Library, replacing old style globes that gave off very little light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She saw that the Home Board approve her request for a modern lighting system, ensuring that Veterans coming into the library could easily find a book and read to their heart\u2019s content. It is very likely that these \u201cconveniently arranged droplights\u201d are the very same light fixtures that hang in the library today. The article continues to sing Helen\u2019s praises, explaining how she saw the bookcases scrubbed and re-varnished, and even that \u201ceach and every book was given attention, and bindings strengthened where necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_8b5416-13.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:500px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_8b5416-13.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 figure{max-width:500px;}.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_8b5416-13 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8b5416-13 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_8b5416-13\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1211\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png?w=1211\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png?w=1211\" alt=\"Selection of four books originally donated by Mary Lowell Putnam with evidence of repair. The original covers were stripped from a damaged board and glued onto a new one. A book press would have held these books in place while the glue dried.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115088\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271211%27%20height%3D%27520%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201211%20520%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271211%27%20height%3D%27520%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png?resize=300,129 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png?resize=600,258 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png?resize=768,330 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/RepairedBooks.png 1211w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1211px) 100vw, 1211px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Selection of four books originally donated by Mary Lowell Putnam with evidence of repair. The original covers were stripped from a damaged board and glued onto a new one. A book press would have held these books in place while the glue dried. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is what I like to call a \u201cHistoric Home Run\u201d: it directly links a person in history to a significant event and provides direct evidence of the kinds of tools and equipment (in other words, artifacts) that they would have used. We already knew that Helen was associated with this book press, because her name was inscribed on it. What we didn\u2019t know is that behind that name was a 42-year career that took her from her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri all over the country in service of Veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:500px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 figure{max-width:500px;}.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_c1c68d-35 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_c1c68d-35\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"763\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png?w=763\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png?w=763\" alt=\"Photograph of Helen Carson at her desk from a Dayton Daily News article about prominent businesswomen in Dayton.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115083\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27763%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20763%20768%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27763%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png?resize=298,300 298w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png?resize=596,600 596w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenAtHerDesk_1926.png 763w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Helen Carson at her desk from an article about prominent businesswomen in Dayton. (<em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, who was Helen Carson? In the 1922 write up in the<em> Dayton Daily News<\/em>, she is described as \u201ca charming little lady whose love of the historical goes hand in hand with her love for books and pictures\u201d (she\u2019d fit in perfectly here at the History Center!). It was reported that her friends \u201cnumber everyone who has met her or come to know her.\u201d Her peers celebrated when she came to town and missed her when she left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to her social skills, she was quite gifted in the management and maintenance of library collections. It is unclear where she went to school, but census records indicate that she completed three years of education. Once she began working as a librarian on the campus of the Western Branch of the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/topics\/national-home-for-disabled-volunteer-soldiers\/\">National Homes<\/a>, she worked her way up and stayed employed at VA until her retirement in 1952.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:358px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d figure{max-width:358px;}.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_2a6e7e-6d\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"606\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png?w=836\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png?w=836\" alt=\"Photograph of the Hancock Library at the Western Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, where Helen Carson began her career.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115086\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27836%27%20height%3D%27606%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20836%20606%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27836%27%20height%3D%27606%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png?resize=600,435 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png?resize=768,557 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Leavenworth-Library.png 836w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Hancock Library at the Western Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, where Helen Carson began her career. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She first appears in the papers in 1909 as a guest visiting the National Home located in Leavenworth, Kansas. By 1910 she became the librarian at the Hancock Library, where she worked for nearly a decade. Outside of work, she was hosting and attending bridge parties, progressive dinners, and other social events held at the National Homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1917, she even helped throw a \u201cWar Dance\u201d to raise money for the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/clara-barton-missing-soldiers-office\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"105035\">American Red Cross<\/a>. Later that year, she was registering <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/object-26-admission-first-female-veteran\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"104456\">women <\/a>of the Home for the Women\u2019s National Defense League. This was a national organization in which women could register for service to their communities to help the home front during World War I. According to <em>The Leavenworth Times<\/em>, Helen \u201cshowed considerable enthusiasm in what she seemed to consider duty to our country.\u201d Helen continued to do her part to support the war effort in planting a \u201cLiberty Garden\u201d behind the library and helping raise $1,500 (equal to more than $30,000 today) for the United War Work Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:650px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d figure{max-width:650px;}.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_3294b2-5d img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_3294b2-5d .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_3294b2-5d\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1832\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=1400,318\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=1400,318\" alt=\"Photographs of three National Home libraries that Helen would have worked at during her career. From left to right, Northwestern Branch Library in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Mountain Branch Library in Johnson City, Tennessee; Danville Branch Library in Danville, Illinois.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115087\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271832%27%20height%3D%27416%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201832%20416%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271832%27%20height%3D%27416%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=300,68 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=600,136 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=768,174 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=1400,318 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png?resize=1536,349 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Libraries.png 1832w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1832px) 100vw, 1832px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The three National Home libraries that Helen would have worked at during her career. From left to right, Northwestern Branch Library in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Mountain Branch Library in Johnson City, Tennessee; Danville Branch Library in Danville, Illinois. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the war, Helen began traveling from the Western Branch to the other National Homes to improve their library collections. In August of 1919 she traveled to Milwaukee, where she cataloged the Wadsworth Library at the Northwestern Branch. She returned to Leavenworth in December of that year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In February of 1920, during the \u201c4th Wave\u201d of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, she caught a bad case of the flu. Sometimes we have so much more in common with figures of the past than we ever thought. Those of us who remember what it was like to work and live during the peak of the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/object-37-covid-19-vaccine-vial\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"106123\">COVID-19<\/a> pandemic may feel a connection with Miss Carson. She too, understood what it was like to live in interesting and uncertain times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than a year after her recovery, she traveled to the Southern Branch in Hampton, Virginia to help arrange the collection there. She stayed at Hampton for several months before moving on to Dayton, Ohio where her efforts were immortalized in the \u201cUncle Sam\u2019s Bookworm\u201d article. In the spring of 1922, an \u201cunofficial report\u201d was published in <em>The Leavenworth Times<\/em> that she had been appointed Inspector of Libraries for all the National Military Homes, with headquarters at the Central Branch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is confirmed in subsequent articles, including a report that names her as a member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/054-1870-annual-report\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"115203\">Board of Managers<\/a> for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. This role required her to travel to all ten of the National Homes and direct the organization and maintenance of their library collections. While the papers give Miss Carson several different titles including \u201cSupervising Librarian\u201d and \u201cInspector of Libraries,&#8221; she is identified as early as September of 1922 as \u201cChief Librarian,&#8221; the title that she would continue to hold for the remainder of her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the next eight years, she would continue traveling the country, using her expertise to improve the quality of libraries at the Soldiers Homes, no doubt making friends and connections everywhere she went. During this time, she published some of her own writing in the <em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>, including a whole page write-up outlining the history of the National Homes and particularly, the Central Branch. She truly paved the way for all of us here at the National VA History Center, and it is so awesome to be able to give to her the same spotlight that she gave the historical figures she wrote about nearly a century ago. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_34f821-e4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:550px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_34f821-e4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 figure{max-width:550px;}.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_34f821-e4 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_34f821-e4 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_34f821-e4\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1120\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png?w=1120\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png?w=1120\" alt=\"Headline and photographs from an article about the library written by Helen for the April 5, 1926 issue of Dayton Daily News.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115082\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271120%27%20height%3D%27736%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201120%20736%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271120%27%20height%3D%27736%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png?resize=300,197 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png?resize=600,394 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png?resize=768,505 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/HelenArticle_1926.png 1120w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Headline and photographs from an article about the library written by Helen for the April 5, 1926 issue of <em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>. (<em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is unclear exactly what roles Helen held as the National Homes transitioned into the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/va-created\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"104138\">Veterans Administration<\/a>, as her inclusion in newspaper columns becomes scarce as time goes on. Nevertheless, she was just as dedicated to serving those who have served the nation. In 1952, she told <em>The Journal Herald <\/em>\u201cYou can\u2019t discount the intelligence of your veterans\u201d; a belief that she truly seemed to live by. Earlier in that article, she shares a tale of one such Veteran, who initially \u201cwasn\u2019t too interesting in reading. I started him on the <em>Memoirs of John Quincy Adams<\/em>\u201d, but 12 volumes later, this old soldier was hooked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of her interview, she shares that the same Veteran now \u201ctakes 15 books a week from the cart that passes through the wards.&#8221; Many of the books cataloged by Helen, including the same memoirs she recommended to that Veteran have survived to present day. Nowadays, these books are part of the archival book collection managed by Deanna Ulvestad, one of my fellow team members at the History Center.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_5efe85-98.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:500px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_5efe85-98.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 figure{max-width:500px;}.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_5efe85-98 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_5efe85-98 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_5efe85-98\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"7620\" height=\"4816\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=1400,885\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=1400,885\" alt=\"The 12-volume series of the memoirs of John Q. Adams, as they appear in our archival collection. These books too show evidence of repair, perhaps by Helen herself.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115085\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%277620%27%20height%3D%274816%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%207620%204816%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%277620%27%20height%3D%274816%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=300,190 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=600,379 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=768,485 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=1400,885 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png?resize=1536,971 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/jqa_memoirs.png 7620w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 7620px) 100vw, 7620px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The 12-volume series of the memoirs of John Q. Adams, as they appear in our archival collection. These books too show evidence of repair, perhaps by Helen herself. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When interviewed about receiving an award for her many years of service, she put it plainly: \u201cThe Veterans Administration has given me the best years of my life.&#8221; We may never know the entire impact of her work on the Veterans she served, but the newspapers give us a window into how this woman\u2019s remarkable career developed and flourished. This is sort of ironic, given that one of Helen\u2019s first accomplishments here in Dayton was using newspaper archives to uncover the story behind Mary Lowell Putnam, another legendary female figure in VA History. Not to mention, Miss Carson did all that research <em>without<\/em> the conveniences of modern, digitized newspaper collections; she is truly an icon.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:500px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f figure{max-width:500px;}.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_8896f7-9f img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_8896f7-9f .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_8896f7-9f\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_latecareer.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"507\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_latecareer.png?w=507\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_latecareer.png?w=507\" alt=\"The final images of Helen published in a 1952 issue of the Dayton Daily News, in articles about receiving her VA Distinguished Service Pin and her retirement, respectively.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27507%27%20height%3D%27374%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20507%20374%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27507%27%20height%3D%27374%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_latecareer.png?resize=300,221 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/Helen_latecareer.png 507w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The final images of Helen published in  1952 in articles about receiving her VA Distinguished Service Pin and her retirement, respectively. (<em>Dayton Daily News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as she rediscovered the contribution of \u201cLady Putnam\u201d to the Soldier\u2019s Home in the 1920s, the life and career of \u201cMiss Carson\u201d has now been unearthed more than a century from her first visit to Dayton. Her work impacted the lives of countless Veterans, and her legacy shines as testament to public service. Like the many librarians who have come before and since, Helen Carson is a great American hero, and it is an honor to bring her story into the 21st Century.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:500px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 figure{max-width:500px;}.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .image-is-svg, .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 img.kb-img, .kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60 .kb-img img{border-top:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image115076_1ef1bd-60\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1769\" height=\"924\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=1400,731\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=1400,731\" alt=\"Helen Carson\u2019s signature, as written in the front of a copy of the 1919 Annual Report of the Board of Managers.\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-115081\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271769%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201769%20924%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271769%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=300,157 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=600,313 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=768,401 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=1400,731 1400w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png?resize=1536,802 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/04\/helen_signature.png 1769w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1769px) 100vw, 1769px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Helen Carson\u2019s signature, as written in the front of a copy of the 1919 Annual Report of the Board of Managers. (VA)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Happy National Librarian Day from the NVAHC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It isn\u2019t often that researchers who work with historic objects get to know the people who used those objects every day. Sometimes we get lucky and can link artifacts to certain facilities or buildings on a historic VA campus, but usually we must look for more hidden lines of evidence to figure out how an object fits into the history of those who care for our Nation\u2019s Veterans. As nice as it would be, it isn\u2019t as if many artifacts turn up labeled with their owners\u2019 names! So, imagine my surprise when my teammates and I began sweeping Putnam Library for any historic objects left behind before the building is closed for renovation, and found just that.<\/p>\n<p>As far as artifacts go, its story seemed simple: book presses like these would have been used to help maintain and repair the thousands of books read in Putnam Library ever since it first opened in 1879. The day that I first got up close and personal with the press, I noticed a woman\u2019s name scraped into the black paint of the platen (the technical name for the big metal plate used to hold books together). It said \u201cHelen Carson\u201d in big, legible letters. As we carefully transported the heavy press down the many stairs inside Putnam Library, I looked at the name and thought \u201cHm\u2026wonder who that is?\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[23,17,114,28,127,33,32],"class_list":["post-115076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-curator-corner","tag-national-home-for-disabled-volunteer-soldiers","tag-national-va-history-center","tag-people-in-va-history","tag-veterans-administration","tag-whats-in-the-box","tag-womens-history-month","tag-world-war-i"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/witb-helen-carson\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What\u2019s in the Box? Librarian Helen Carson","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/witb-helen-carson\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/witb-helen-carson\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/CC016-Feature.png?w=300","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/CC016-Feature.png"},"articleSection":"Curator Corner","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"}],"creator":["Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA History","logo":""},"keywords":["national home for disabled volunteer soldiers","national va history center","people in va history","veterans administration","what's in the box","women's history month","world war i"],"dateCreated":"2024-04-17T12:46:38Z","datePublished":"2024-04-17T12:46:38Z","dateModified":"2025-03-25T19:44:37Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"What\\u2019s in the Box? 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