Ep 128- Understanding Melville Dewey and the Dewey Decimal System episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 17, 2026 · 49 MIN

Ep 128- Understanding Melville Dewey and the Dewey Decimal System

from Understanding Upstate · host Jim Search and Rob Adler

This week we are unpacking the history and impact of Melville Dewey. He didn't just influence library systems, but the entire state through his work in education, not to mention having a hand in the Adirondacks hosting the Winter Olympics. Overshadowing all of those accomplishments though is the fact he was a horrible person (and that's putting it lightly). But is it any surprise that a man obsessed with categorization turned out to be an avowed and unapologetic racist? Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠⁠Grab Jim's comedy album: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cyber Punish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn all about the behind-the-scenes of Jim's album in the documentary: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Understanding Upstate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we are unpacking the history and impact of Melville Dewey. He didn't just influence library systems, but the entire state through his work in education, not to mention having a hand in the Adirondacks hosting the Winter Olympics. Overshadowing all of those accomplishments though is the fact he was a horrible person (and that's putting it lightly). But is it any surprise that a man obsessed with categorization turned out to be an avowed and unapologetic racist? Get your hands on the NEW Understanding Upstate March: ⁠⁠⁠https://understandingupstate.printful.me⁠⁠⁠Grab Jim's comedy album: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Upstate Understandings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out Rob's brand new EP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cyber Punish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn all about the behind-the-scenes of Jim's album in the documentary: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Understanding Upstate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Ep 128- Understanding Melville Dewey and the Dewey Decimal System

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This episode is 49 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 17, 2026.

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This week we are unpacking the history and impact of Melville Dewey. He didn't just influence library systems, but the entire state through his work in education, not to mention having a hand in the Adirondacks hosting the Winter Olympics....

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