Many thanks to Shalimar for sharing this very sad news with the ARLIS/NA community.

I was lucky to have counted Mary Clare as a friend and mentor; in fact, I doubt I would have become a librarian but for Mary Clare’s example and inspiration. I had the good fortune of beginning my PhD in art history at Harvard the year after she joined the Fine Arts Library as Reference Librarian and can say, without exaggeration, that she was perhaps the finest reference librarian I ever worked with (at a time when being a reference librarian was very difficult and going through huge transitions—I remember her introducing me to Netscape and the web when these were new things (1996); she was always ahead of these developments; when I needed a $1,500 manuscript facsimile form my dissertation research, she found a way for it to arrive ten days later; she could handle all the traditional functions superbly as well). And everything she undertook, she did with incredible grace and poise, a true pleasure to work with.

Her example very much led me to consider a career in librarianship after my PhD; she freely gave advice and encouragement, both in her office and over drinks at Shay’s Pub on Massachusetts Avenue. When I applied to Library School, she was a reference, as a young professional, she was a mentor. Today, I am fairly senior in the field and still try to interact with students and faculty as Mary Clare did. She was (and continues to be) truly an inspiration, and a great friend, and a wonderful woman. She will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Eric

Logo

From: ARLIS/NA List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Shalimar Abigail Fojas White
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARLIS-L] Mary Clare Altenhofen

EXTERNAL EMAIL

Dear colleagues,

I am very sorry to share the news that our esteemed colleague, Mary Clare Altenhofen, has passed away. We are all still reeling here at the Fine Arts Library, and we know that Mary Clare touched so many in the ARLIS community, in ways profound and immeasurable.

We join you in loving remembrance and deep sorrow,

Shalimar

______________________________________

Shalimar Abigail Fojas White

Herman and Joan Suit Librarian

Fine Arts Library

Harvard University

1805 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Tel. 617-495-0678; Email [log in to unmask]

From: HLComms <hlcomms-bounces+shalimar_white=[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Hyry, Thomas A. <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2020 8:44:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [hlcomms] Mary Clare Altenhofen

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Mary Clare Altenhofen passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020.

During her 24 year tenure at Harvard University, Mary Clare had a deep and lasting impact on the Fine Arts Library and the visual arts community at Harvard. She came to the Fine Arts Library in 1992 as its first reference librarian, transforming the library’s public services over 18 years as Associate Librarian for Research and Public Services. From 2010-2013, she served as Acting Librarian for the Fine Arts Library before being appointed the Herman and Joan Suit Librarian in 2013, a position she held until her retirement in 2016. Throughout, she employed her keen organizational skills and impeccable design sense to shepherd FAL’s collections and staff through space improvements at its former home at 32 Quincy Street and eventual move to two locations in the Littauer Center and Sackler Building. Prior to coming to Harvard, Mary Clare served as Research & Collections Librarian at the Rotch Library of Architecture and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Acquisitions Librarian at the Graduate Theological Union Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

Beyond these professional accomplishments, Mary Clare was deeply engaged in research, teaching, and learning, guiding generations of faculty, students, and researchers through the rich collections of the Fine Arts Library. She was a distinguished art librarian, actively engaged in the Art Libraries Society of North America, as well as national and international collaborations such as the Ivy Plus Libraries Art & Architecture Group and the Digital Cicognara Library. A knowledgeable librarian and compassionate leader, Mary Clare touched so many with her fine intellect, generous spirit, and inimitable style. She earned the respect and love of a legion of colleagues, friends, and admirers in the library and campus community at Harvard and in the wider profession of art librarianship and beyond for whom this loss is deeply felt.

In accordance with Mary Clare’s wishes, there will be no memorial service, and burial will be private.

Thomas Hyry

Florence Fearrington Librarian of Houghton Library

Director of Arts and Special Collections of Harvard College Library

Harvard University

(617) 495-2441 | [log in to unmask] | Profile

Building An Accessible Future | Houghton Library Renovation

Pronouns: he/him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/membership/join-arlisna Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.arlisna.org Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~