Dorothy W. Lessenhop
-Nebraska Library Commission Archives
b. 3-7-1910, d. 7-1-1990
Interim Executive Secretary 1944, 1949-50
Dorothy Lessenhop was a woman of many talents - talents she shared with the Nebraska Library Commission for 43 years. Nellie Williams, Executive Secretary of the Nebraska Public Library Commission, hired her in 1930. The depression had made jobs hard to find and she was one of six graduates out of 60 to find a library job.
The Toledo, Ohio, native was planning on staying a couple of years in Nebraska and ended up by spending her life here. The impetus for staying was the friendliness of the people.
She witnessed many changes through the years. She said, "I might say that I've had my ups and downs while working here. We started in a basement and I'm ending in a basement." Her first basement was in the University of Nebraska's social science building in a former men's restroom. From there she moved to the first floor of the Capitol and then to the eighth floor of that building. Her last move was to the basement of the Nebraska Web Press Building at 1420 P Street.
The WPA played a significant role in the life of the Commission during Lessenhop's years. They provided the shelving to house books at the Capitol. They were instrumental in building the Union Catalog at 30 cents a tray, as well as providing funds for filling those trays with cards.
Do, as she was known, experienced many changes from the growth of the Nebraska Library Association's convention from 87 to over 400 in attendance, to the movements to de-commission the Commission, to the instituting of state aid, to name changes for the Commission.
While working for the Commission she held positions as reference librarian and assistant secretary, librarian for the blind, audio-visual and interlibrary loan librarian, head of circulation, assistant executive secretary for reference and technical services and acting executive secretary in 1944 and again in1949-50.
"In 1972 she received the NLA Mari Sandoz award for her "...significant contributions throughout her career to the book world of Nebraska." The award was especially meaningful to her because she was a personal friend of Miss Sandoz.
Do's wit and charm are unmatched as is her remarkable memory and stamina. As one co-worker state that Do is one of a kind and was born before her time. She is one of those rare people who has the ability to do anything well and could have chosen from a hundred careers, but honored librarianship.
She has been called "Mrs. Library" and to many, indeed she is. "(Overtones, v. 2, #12).
She retired from the Commission in April 1975. A staff dinner on March 14 and an open house honored her on March 31.
Overtones from the Underground, v.2, #12
Files of Nebraska Library Commission Archives