In Memoriam: Susan Brynteson
Photos courtesy of University Archives and Records Management, Office of Communications and Marketing June 03, 2025
Campus community remembers director who guided UD Library through a period of dramatic growth
Susan Brynteson, who led the University of Delaware Library during a period of dramatic growth from a superior small college library to a nationally respected research-oriented university library, died May 26, 2025. She was 89.
Ms. Brynteson came to Delaware in 1980 as director of libraries. In 2001, she was named May Morris University Librarian, and she was given the additional title of vice provost in 2008.
During her tenure, the University of Delaware Library:
- became a member of the by-invitation-only prestigious Association of Research Libraries in 1983 upon which the Delaware General Assembly passed a congratulatory resolution;
- completed a major addition to the Hugh M. Morris Library in 1986 that doubled the space of the original 1963 building;
- converted from a card catalog system to the online DELCAT catalog, now DELCAT Discovery;
- celebrated the addition of the 2 millionth volume, a Shakespeare Second Folio, in 1991;
- developed a statewide K-12 partnership called UDLib/SEARCH, providing online periodical and encyclopedia databases and teacher training to all public K-12 schools in Delaware since 1997;
- opened the 15,000-square-foot $1.5 million Student Multimedia Design Center in 2007 to meet the needs of increasing numbers of classes that involve creation of multimedia projects and presentations;
- upgraded technology for University students, faculty and staff providing more than 250 state-of-the-art workstations, wireless throughout, loan of laptops and multimedia technology, high speed printing, and more;
- established UDSpace, in which the University of Delaware was an early adopter of DSpace open source software to create an institutional repository for University research;
- acquired the senatorial papers of then-Vice President Joseph R. Biden, as well as the papers of Sen. Edward E. (Ted) Kaufman, Sen. Thomas R. Carper; Rep. Michael N. Castle; Sen. John Williams and Delaware Sen. Thurman G. Adams Jr.;
- became the home of the University of Delaware Press; and
- expanded the membership and programs in the University of Delaware Library Associates, a friends group that works to expand and enrich the Library's research collections.
When Ms. Brynteson announced her plans to retire in 2015, then-UD Provost Domenico Grasso said, “Susan Brynteson has been critical in transforming the University of Delaware Library from a traditional 20th century research university library to a dynamic 21st century institutional resource."
Upon retirement, she became May Morris Librarian Emerita. In 2016, Ms. Brynteson was honored with the University of Delaware Medal of Distinction, presented to individuals who have made humanitarian, cultural, intellectual or scientific contributions to society, have achieved noteworthy success in their professions or have given service to the University, the state and the region. In addition, to honor her service, the University created the Library Director Fund for Innovation and Creativity.
In other honors, the University of Delaware Library Associates passed a resolution recognizing “the varied, numerous and outstanding contributions of Susan Brynteson to the Library Associates, to the University of Delaware Library, to the University of Delaware and to the field of scholarly librarianship,” and the University Faculty Senate approved a resolution acknowledging her commitment, leadership and “her years of outstanding service.”
Colleagues remember
Many of Ms. Brynteson’s colleagues and friends shared reflections about her.
Trevor A. Dawes, vice provost for libraries and museums and May Morris University Librarian:
"When I began my role as vice provost for libraries and museums, I reached out to Susan for advice. Her response—though I can’t recall her exact words—was essentially, ‘You got this!’ That simple but heartfelt encouragement reflected who Susan was at her core: generous, uplifting and unwavering in her support of others. She made me feel capable, seen and valued, especially when it mattered most. Though she is no longer with us, I truly believe her support and spirit remain. I will miss her dearly."
Dan Rich, University Professor of Public Policy Emeritus and former provost:
“Susan Brynteson was passionate about the Library. For three and a half decades, she educated University leaders about the Library’s importance to the University’s success and how the Library could be enhanced. She garnered resources that probably would not have been obtained by a less persuasive and persistent library director. Susan was always looking ahead, with an expansive view of what the Library should become. She pioneered the electronic library but reveled in the printed page, greatly adding to the physical collections. An early proponent of online connections to libraries across the globe, she took great pride in the Library’s Special Collections and in creating a supportive home for the UD Press. She anticipated changing student needs, creating the Student Multimedia Design Center and group study rooms By any measure, Susan Brynteson made the Library stronger, and she also made the University of Delaware better.”
Sandra Millard, retired Deputy University Librarian and Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Outreach:
“I worked directly for Susan Brynteson for 28 years. Susan worked successfully with six presidents, nine provosts and countless faculty and staff since she began in 1980. When I arrived in 1987, the major expansion and renovation of the Hugh M. Morris Library for which she advocated had been completed the year before--a major project that had the support of the University president, provost, Board of Trustees and Library Associates. Susan witnessed libraries changing dramatically from 1980 to 2016, and she was relentless in seeking support and funding from the University to meet rapidly growing needs for resources, staffing, space and technology. She wanted the University of Delaware to be on the forefront of the future of libraries. She was a strong leader, a detail-oriented manager, who, when a big new idea was suggested, often said yes, what will it cost and how soon can it be done! She supported the adoption of the latest technologies, and the staff to manage them. She continually advocated for funds allocated for research resources as well as Special Collections. Susan worked carefully with Delaware elected officials to ensure that their papers became part of the University of Delaware Library. Susan assembled an excellent staff from around the country, provided support for professional development, and as a result, many University of Delaware Library staff became leaders in the library world. Susan never forgot to send special Christmas cards to the staff in the administrative office and wear her unique pumpkin hat to staff Halloween parties. She looked forward to spending time with her family and to volunteering at her beloved Yaddo, the prestigious writers' colony, for several weeks every summer. Even at Yaddo she worked daily for the library, sending work back and forth. She was proud to be a member of the Yaddo board and a lifetime member of the Yaddo Corporation. Her length of time leading the University of Delaware Library was rare in the library world. One staff member who responded to learning of her passing commented, ‘I thought she was immortal…’”
Paul Anderson, retired assistant director for library administrative services:
“Susan’s long career of service is notable for numerous accomplishments. Among the most important were qualifying for membership in the Association of Research Libraries, completing a major renovation of the Morris Library, establishing the online catalog, DELCAT, developing a more informed and effective staff through professional development and supporting collaborative efforts in the state of Delaware and nationally to improve library and information services.
“These accomplishments greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the Library in meeting the research needs of students and faculty as well as the presence of the University of Delaware on the national stage.”
Deborah Rae, retired head, Cataloging Department:
"I knew Susan throughout her entire tenure at the Library. I was a new librarian when Susan interviewed for the directorship. I can still see her in the meeting with Library staff–so full of energy, with folders of articles she had already collected about the University and the state. She arrived several months later and in a whirl of energy began the profound transformation of the library. She maintained a great deal of that astonishing energy throughout the years, as we all wrestled to keep up. It was that energy that allowed Susan to have three No. 1 priorities during construction and renovation of Morris Library. And it was her relentless drive that convinced artist Lance Hidy to create a poster of the new atrium when he had no time to do so. Susan broke, no shattered, the glass ceiling and encouraged other women to reach their full potentials. She was my mentor, my inspiration, my friend. What I will remember most fondly about Susan, is that in all the years, I never knew her to make a decision or request that was self-serving. She was unwavering in her dedication to the Library, librarianship and the University of Delaware."
Rebecca Johnson Melvin, retired librarian and head of the Manuscripts and Archives Department:
“Susan Bryntenson was a fierce advocate for libraries and librarianship. My husband and I, both now retired from careers as librarians at UD, feel like we worked in the golden age of academic librarianship under Susan's helm. Morris Library matured during Susan's tenure as library automation, integrated library systems, subscription databases and the Internet advanced access to global information sources and services. She was of the generation that brought the modern library and it is no small feat that she led UD into the Association of Research Libraries. To face enormous technological and workflow changes, she supported continuing education and professional development for library staff, which reached 150 at one point. Especially important was Susan's engagement with campus administrators, faculty and community on behalf of the Library. With support from a very strong University of Delaware Library Associates (UDLA), she hosted exhibitions, lectures, receptions, annual dinners and other programs that put the Library front and center of intellectual and social events. Susan loved creative people--from solar scientists to Pulitzer Prize-winning poets--and she loved print culture and she enjoyed bringing people together to celebrate reading and libraries. She served on boards of the Delaware Theatre Company, the Lincoln Club of Delaware and Yaddo, examples of how her networks benefitted the Library. Susan must also be remembered for the profound growth of Special Collections after she came to Delaware, as she cultivated many important collection donors and UDLA made regular monetary gifts to support acquisitions. Stellar literary collections--such as the Donald Justice papers, Alice Dunbar Nelson papers, Paul Bowles papers, Ishmael Reed papers, Brian Coffey papers, and many more--bring scholars from around the world to Delaware. Beginning with the gift of the senatorial papers of John J. Williams, Susan led a robust program to collect the papers of Delaware's political and public policy leaders. These also include the House papers of Tom Carper and John Carney, and the senatorial papers of J. Allen Frear, Jr., Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and most recently Tom Carper. These archives support modern scholarship but are vitally important to promote an understanding of the democratic processes of government. Susan really connected the Library to Delaware, not just UD. We are lucky to have had her.”
Anne Boylan, professor emerita of history:
“My sincere condolences to Susan's family. She was a steadfast advocate for the Library (and for libraries generally), a stalwart supporter of faculty research and a fierce defender of the First Amendment. In 2013, when the History Department planned a semester-long commemoration for the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, she not only threw the Library's support and resources behind it, but she arranged to have the Library's rare copy of the Proclamation put on display, and she personally attended some events. Hers was a consequential life.”
Margaret Stetz, Mae and Robert Carter Professor of Women's Studies and professor of humanities:
“Susan Brynteson was the Queen of the Library. Although she laughed whenever I called her that, she never denied that it was true. Like a monarch, she was a beloved and benevolent ruler, but she could also be imperious and demanding, because the Library mattered so much to her. More than once, like Lewis Carroll's Red Queen, she shouted the equivalent of ‘Off with their heads!’ when things weren't done the way she thought was right--or rather, the way she knew to be the only right one. She was famous for having the license plate 'DELCAT,' because she was always thinking about the Library, no matter where she went. (And she went everywhere far too fast; she was a terrible driver.)
“When it came to the Library, no detail was too small for her notice. Everything in the building had to be up to her very high standards, and she always made sure that it was. If major storms were predicted, she stayed in her office all night and walked around the building to ensure that there was no damage, no leak anywhere.
“She built up and cared for the Library's print and manuscript collections with the same loving attention. It thrilled her to make major acquisitions, such as senatorial papers. And she adored dealing with celebrities, whether political or literary. In their presence, she turned fluttery and girlish, even though, with her many years as the librarian for Yaddo, the writers' colony, she was used to dealing regularly with famous authors and receiving inscribed copies of their books as tokens of their gratitude. But no one was more grateful for her understanding of the importance of print resources and unique archives than my partner, Mark Samuels Lasner, and I were. We never would have come to UD in 2002, if it hadn't been for her welcoming of Mark's collection of Victorian manuscripts, first editions, letters and works on paper--and for her welcoming, too, of Mark's expertise as senior research fellow. They became co-conspirators and allies, dedicated to spreading the Library's reputation as a home for scholarly materials available nowhere else. She was an ally in other areas, too, especially when it came to advancing work on women and to feminist projects. She and the late Mae Carter, who did so much to establish Women's Studies (now the Department of Women and Gender Studies) at UD, worked closely together, celebrating and preserving women's achievements and trying to ensure that future generations of women didn't have as hard a time rising professionally as theirs did. When monarchs die, there are usually state funerals and official periods of mourning. Susan Brynteson, however, said that she wanted no memorial service. She knew that the distinguished reputation UD's Library enjoys among scholars everywhere would be her memorial. The Queen is dead, but long live the Library.”
Steven M. Burke, composer and friend at Yaddo:
“Susan—you were a remarkable person. Thank you for being such a strong supporter of the arts and Yaddo especially. You were a silent benefactor and a model of humility. I will always remember the laughter and good times we shared. You were one of the most generous, thoughtful and caring souls I have encountered. Thank you for all the inspiration and the love you shared. You will be sorely missed.”
About Susan Brynteson
Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Ms. Brynteson earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and her master’s degree in library science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received the 2015 Distinguished Alumna Award from the UW School of Library and Information Studies.
Before coming to Delaweare in 1980, she held several senior library administrative positions at the Indiana University Libraries in Bloomington, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Ms. Brynteson served as a member of the Board of Directors of Yaddo, the prestigious artists' community in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity through residencies for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment. Yaddo residencies are provided through a juried process to creative artists from all nations and backgrounds, including writers, painters, sculptors, composers, photographers, printmakers, choreographers, film- and video-makers and others. In 2006, she was elected to lifetime membership in the Corporation of Yaddo in recognition of her longtime association as the volunteer librarian and special adviser at Yaddo.
Ms. Brynteson served as president of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services and as a member of its governing body, the American Library Association Council. She chaired major American Library Association policy committees dealing with publishing, federal legislation and intellectual freedom. She was on the board of directors of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago and was a member of the by-invitation-only Grolier Club in New York, America's oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts.
Ms. Brynteson is survived by her sister Betty Dieckmann Dechert (Douglas), nephews Kenneth Dechert, James Dechert (Kimberly), and niece Susan Shafer Cline (Donald); eight grand and eight great-grand nieces and nephews.
Memories can be shared at https://rtfoard.com/location/newark-de/. Memorials can be made online to Yaddo at https://yaddo.org.
To read her complete obituary, visit R.T. Foard Funeral Home.
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