BLUE HILL – Virginia Phillips Whitney, 92, died peacefully at her home, June 9, 2007, after an extended period of declining health. She was born Dec. 1, 1914, in Medford, Mass., the elder daughter of Hervey B. and Wilhelmine (Richert) Phillips. She attended public schools in Albany, N.Y., and East Orange, N.J., and in 1936 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science from Middlebury College, Vermont. Mrs. Whitney married Raymond L. Whitney (Middlebury ’35) May 27, 1939. While raising their three children, she worked at East Orange Public Library as a library assistant. She earned her Master of Library Science from Rutgers University in 1962 and became the librarian for the Urban Studies Center at Rutgers University. She was named the librarian for Douglass College in 1967. In 1971, she became the university librarian for Rutgers University, which included 19 separate libraries and 260 full-time employees. At that time, Mrs. Whitney was the first woman administrator of a university-wide library system in the country. One of her first initiatives was the computerization of the network of libraries. Additional professional affiliations included the American Library Association, The Association for Research Libraries, advisory councils for Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and teaching at the Rutgers Graduate School for Library Science. In 1976, she received an honorary doctorate from Middlebury College, in recognition of her achievements. After she retired from Rutgers University, Mrs. Whitney spent a year as interim librarian for Dartmouth College. Mrs. Whitney had very close ties to Maine, spending nearly every summer at her cottage in Surry. Eventually she retired to her 1803 home in Blue Hill, which she had lovingly restored. She enjoyed the fact that she could trace many of her ancestors to Ellsworth and Blue Hill. She became involved with the George Stevens Academy, the Blue Hill Garden Club, the Blue Hill Historical Society and was on the board of the Jonathan Fisher Memorial, Inc. During her 30 years in Blue Hill, she enjoyed her bridge and reading groups, and she traveled widely, including China, Europe and the Caribbean. She was predeceased by her husband, Dan Whitney, in 1971; her sister, Phyllis Bemiss, in 1989; her son, Larry Whitney, in 1996; and her daughter, Michele Whitney, in 2006. She is survived by her daughter, Pat Messler of Rockport; her grandson, Tim Messler of New York City; her daughter-in-law, Irene Whitney of Surry; nieces, Andrea Archer and Ann Stadden; nephew, Steve Bemiss and his son, Steve, of Surry; a number of other nieces and nephews who reside out of state. The family expresses their profound thanks to the wonderful caregivers who assisted Mrs. Whitney in such a loving and compassionate way so that she could remain in her home. At her request there will be no funeral. Friends and family are invited to stop at her home for a gathering of remembrance 2 p.m. June 30. If friends so desire, the family suggests contributions be sent in Mrs. Whitney’s memory to the Blue Hill Congregational Church, P.O. Box 444, Blue Hill, ME 04614 or to the Jonathan Fisher Memorial, Inc., P.O. Box 537, Blue Hill, ME 04614. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 141 South St., Blue Hill. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
VIRGINIA PHILLIPS WHITNEY
