Bern Dibner and the Legacy of the Burndy Library
Beyond his professional achievements in electrical engineering, Bern Dibner dedicated his life to the preservation and study of the history of technology. Starting in the 1930s, Dibner became an ardent collector of original scientific works, rare books, and thousands of portraits of influential scientists, driven by a desire to document the evolution of human ingenuity.
A Passion for Scientific History
Dibner's intellectual curiosity was particularly sparked by the intersection of art and technology, most notably in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. This fascination served as a gateway to broader interests, leading him to explore the history of electricity and Renaissance technology before expanding his scope to the general history of science and technology.
He was not merely a collector but a scholar who contributed to the field through writing. In 1955, he published Heralds of Science, a significant bibliography of scientific history, and in 1959, he authored The Atlantic Cable, which detailed the history of the transatlantic telegraph cable.
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Recognition and Honors
Dibner's contributions to the field were recognized by prestigious institutions. In 1976, the History of Science Society awarded him the Sarton Medal. Later, in 1983, the University of San Francisco Gleeson Library and the Gleeson Library Associates honored him with the Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting, citing his commitment to "Private Collecting for the Public Good."
The Evolution of the Burndy Library
To formalize his efforts to advance scholarship, Dibner established the Burndy Library as a separate institution in 1941. The collection grew rapidly, exceeding 25,000 volumes by 1964, which prompted the opening of a dedicated facility in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Following Dibner's passing, the library underwent several transitions:
- 1992: The collection moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving as the research library for the Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- 2006: The entire collection, which had grown to 67,000 rare volumes and a variety of scientific instruments, was donated to the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
Today, the Huntington Library maintains the Dibner History of Science Program, which supports an annual conference, a lecture series, and various fellowships for scholars.
The Smithsonian Dibner Library
In 1974, Dibner donated one-quarter of the Burndy Library's holdings to the Smithsonian Institution. This gift formed the foundation of the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, established in 1976. This was a landmark addition, as it provided the Smithsonian Institution Libraries with its first rare book collection.
The collection features major works from the 15th to the early 19th centuries, covering diverse fields such as:
- Engineering and Transportation
- Chemistry and Physics
- Mathematics, Electricity, and Astronomy
Originally housed in the National Museum of History and Technology, the library—containing 35,000 volumes—reopened in the spring of 2010 within the National Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington DC. To ensure global accessibility, the Smithsonian catalogued the manuscripts and books into the SIRIS (Smithsonian's online catalog) and the OCLC (an international bibliographic database).
Key Facts
- Founder: Bern Dibner, an electrical engineer and historian of technology.
- Major Works: Author of Heralds of Science (1955) and The Atlantic Cable (1959).
- Burndy Library Final Size: 67,000 rare volumes and scientific instruments.
- Current Locations: The Huntington Library (California) and the Smithsonian Institution (Washington DC).
- Key Awards: Sarton Medal (1976) and Sir Thomas More Medal (1983).
| Institution | Year of Integration | Collection Size/Scope | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Library | 2006 | 67,000 rare volumes & instruments | Available to scholars; funds fellowships |
| Smithsonian Institution | 1976 | 35,000 volumes (15th–19th century) | Housed in National Museum of American History |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bern Dibner?
Bern Dibner was an electrical engineer and a dedicated collector and historian of science and technology who amassed one of the world's most significant collections of rare scientific texts.
What is the Burndy Library?
Established by Dibner in 1941, the Burndy Library was an institution created to advance scholarship in the history of science, eventually consisting of 67,000 rare volumes.
Where can the Dibner collections be found today?
The primary Burndy Library collection is located at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, while a significant portion of the holdings is housed at the Smithsonian Dibner Library in Washington DC.
What subjects are covered in the Smithsonian Dibner Library?
The collection includes major works from the 15th to the early 19th centuries focusing on engineering, transportation, chemistry, mathematics, physics, electricity, and astronomy.
Which awards did Bern Dibner receive for his work?
He was awarded the Sarton Medal by the History of Science Society in 1976 and the Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting in 1983.