1. A Short Story About Dewey

2. Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey
Born December 10, 1851
His intense interest in simplified spelling caused him to once change his name to Melvil Dui
Established the American Library Association in 1876
Co-founded and edited Library Journal
Is the site where this information was found; last accessed 4 OCT 2003.

3. Melvil Dewey
Birth: 1851
Death: 1931
Melvil Dewey is best known as the originator of the Dewey Decimal System. His name was originally Louis Kossuth, he later went by Melville Dewey, then shortened his first name to Melvil. He proposed a decimal-based cataloging system after working in his college library for some time. He was a founding member of the American library Association and also served as director of the new York State library. He and his wife Emily created the Lake Placid Club in New York for promotion of winter sports.
Burial:
North Elba Cemetery, North Elba, Essex County, New York, USA
GPS (lat/lon): ,
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Oct 18, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 13079
Last accessed: 4 OCT 2010
Melvil Dewey died after suffering a stroke on December 26, 1931 at age 80
Buried in New York, Essex County, state near Lake Placid

4. Some years ago, Melvil Dewey devised a system for classifying books
Some years ago, Melvil Dewey devised a system for classifying books. The system has come into use all around the world.
It has been explained that he devised the system by imagining himself as a prehistoric or primitive man and asked himself questions he believed such a man would ask.
This presentation demonstrates those questions in a manner designed to entertain as well as educate.
It has become known as the Dewey Decimal Classification System.

5. Philosophy and Psychology Man thinks about himself.
Who am I?
100
Philosophy and Psychology
Man thinks about himself.

6. Man thinks about his Creator.
Who made me?
200
Religion
Man thinks about his Creator.

7. Who is the man in the next cave?
300
Social Sciences
Man thinks about other people.

8. How can I make that man understand me?
400
Philology – Language
Man learns to communicate with others through words and signs.

9. How can I understand nature and the world around me?
500
Science
Man learns to understand the
nature of air, land, and sea.

10. How can I use what I know about nature?
600
Applied Science/Useful Arts
Primitive man learned about fire and how to
make weapons; over time, he also learned about
the wheel, medicine, planting crops,
cooking food, building useful structures,
and how to make things to ease our burdens.

11. How can I enjoy my leisure time?
700
Fine Arts and Recreation
As time passes, man learns about painting
pictures, creating music, as well
as dancing to music, playing games,
Sports, and hunting.

12. How can I pass on man’s heroic deeds?
800
Literature
Man becomes a storyteller; he creates
sagas, fables, epics, poems, plays about
relatives, friends, and characters; he
writes for others to read, learn, and enjoy.

13. How can I leave a record for people of the future?
900
History, Geography,
and Biography
Man writes about what happened, where it happened, and who made it happen.

14. General Works What else is there? 000
The numbers up to 100 are used for books about books, and for books that contain information on many subjects such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and other reference books; – much of the sorts of books one would find in the reference section of the library.

15.
If you've enjoyed the images that have replaced the original hand-drawn caveman images, please send Rex May a thank you.
Additionally, go visit his most excellent cartoon website: