Helen Eaton

Helen Eaton began her UMD career in 1953 as the first librarian of Bradford Durfee College of Technology. She also received a joint appointment as instructor, assisting with Freshman English classes and teaching bibliography courses. In 1956 she was promoted to Assistant Professor, increasing the bibliographic instruction she was responsible for, while relinquishing Freshman English responsibilities. At the same time she took on editorial work for the college catalog and student handbook. After consolidation, Helen Eaton remained as librarian of the Fall River Branch. In 1964 she relinquished the title of librarian and became a full time assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. When the new library opened in 1965 in Group I, she was appointed Archivist of SMTI, because of her extensive knowledge of BDCT’s history, by President Driscoll. For a short time after the new building opened, she ran the archives out of the room on the third floor designed for Special Collections, until her retirement later in 1972.

Helen Eaton, center, seated, here pictured in the 1958 yearbook with fellow department of Social Sciences, Languages, and Business Administration professors (seated, left to right) William Wild, Walter Cass,(standing, left to right) Rudolf Lavault, and Frederick Winter.

They are posed in the library. Notice the sloped “bookcases,” designed originally as textile exhibition cases.

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