When Edith Coulter came to UC Berkeley in 1911 as a senior assistant librarian, it launched a 52-year career at the University capped by her role as the first female acting chair of the School. She became a beloved professor known for her lively, witty lectures and, with Sidney Mitchell, co-founded the Department of Librarianship in 1918 — the first full-time program in librarianship. Three years after she retired as emeritus professor of librarianship in 1949, the annual Coulter Lecture on western books was established. Said one of her former students, “Any superlatives you care to use about Miss Coulter will be understatements.”

Read more about the women from the School of Information: https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/about/history/150w