Los Angeles
County
Biographies
ROBERT
CHESTER GOODWELL
Mr.
Robert Chester Goodwell is an exceptionally able and well qualified person for
the academic and cultural position he holds in the City of Alhambra. As Chief Librarian of one of the most highly
appreciated public institutions in the community, the Alhambra Public Library,
he has in a comparatively short period of two years, since he took over as
Chief Librarian in 1959, improved the facilities by adding equipment for
listening to records. He was
instrumental in forming the organization Friends of the Alhambra Library with
the purpose to develop and foster the constructive friendship of the library
patrons, and stimulate the use and encourage improvement of library
facilities. The goal of the Friends of
the Alhambra Public Library is to provide for the enrichment of the community
by contributing special projects, not usually included in the budget, by
arranging programs of timely, educational and cultural interests, and by
encouraging endowments to the Alhambra Public Library, and special collections
for the institution and the treasures of knowledge it holds.
In
connection with his position, Mr. Robert Chester Goodwell is a member of the
California Library Association, and president of the Audio Visual Round Table
of this Association. He was
vice-president and is president-elect of the Public Library Section of the
California Library Association. He is
past committee chairman, and has been serving in other offices of this section,
which has approximately a thousand members.
Mr. Goodwell also belongs to the American Library Association, is a
member and past secretary-treasurer of the Public Library Executives Association
of Southern California, and a member of the Los Angeles Film Council.
Mr.
Robert Chester Goodwell was born on August 11, 1924, in Valparaiso,
Indiana. His father, Roy Clifford
Goodwell, was a civil engineer for the Indiana State Highway Commission. His mother, Gertrude (Gillam)
Goodwell, was active in community work. Both parents are deceased.
Mr.
Goodwell had his elementary schooling in Plymouth, Indiana, and attended
Arsenal Technical Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana. During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, he
served in the Army Air Corps. In 1946 he
matriculated at Indiana University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree
in 1950. He made his Master’s Degree at
Syracuse University, Syracuse, Indiana.
For
four years, from 1951 to 1955, Mr. Goodwell worked in the largest public library
in the world, the New York Public Library.
In 1955 he moved to California, and was employed as Assistant Library
Director at the Riverside Public Library.
He was there until 1959, when he came to Alhambra as Chief Librarian for
the Alhambra Public Library, his present position.
On
August 31, 1948, Mr. Robert Chester Goodwell married Mary Marguerite Vant. Mrs. Goodwell
is an Alhambra Rotary Ann, and currently is treasurer of Fremont
Parent-Teachers’ Association. She
teaches Sunday school at the First Presbyterian Church in Alhambra. They have two children. Richard Clifford Goodwell who is seven years
old, goes to Fremont School in Alhambra, Jeanne Louise is three years old.
Mr.
Goodwell is very active in civic affairs, and is a board member of the Alhambra
Mental Health Association, a board member of the Alhambra Coordinating Council,
and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce.
He is past district chairman of Organization and
Extension Committee of Boys Scouts in Alhambra.
He is active in Girl Scout work also, being on the Santa Anita Council
as advisory committee member of Community Relations Committee. He is also chairman of the sub-committee on
cultural development of the civic improvement committee of the Alhambra Chamber
of Commerce. Fraternally he belongs to
Phi Lambda Mu, an honorary Library Science Fraternity. He is a member of the Alhambra Rotary Club.
Mr.
Goodwell’s hobbies include bowling, cabinet making
and he enjoys—of course—reading.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 702-703, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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