Dahlgren Memorial Library (DML) began as the library for the Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1912. It was founded by George M. Kober, Dean of the School of Medicine. His private library, the private library of Surgeon General John B. Hamilton, and donations from the faculty formed the nucleus of the collection, which was located in the medical school building at H Street, NW. Over the years, the library grew to support the educational, research, and clinical programs of the Georgetown University Hospital and the School of Medicine. In 1931, a grant from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching extended the library collection to include the Dental School. In 1956, the Nursing School collection was added. With the collections combined, the library became the “Georgetown University Medical Center” Library and was named the McNally Memorial Library. In 1930, the library moved to the new Medical Dental Building (built in 1928). Over time, both the collections and the classes for medicine, nursing and dentistry as well as Georgetown University Hospital, grew, and a new building was dedicated in January 1971 as the John Vinton Dahlgren Memorial Library, more familiarly known as DML.
The first known librarian / library director was P. A. Corrigan, serving from 1921-1926. Succeeding librarians / library directors were Allen R. Crutchley, 1927-1930; John P. Cooney, 1930-1937; Margaret C. O’Byrne, 1937-1972; Bobby R. Carter, 1973-1978; Naomi C. Broering, 1978-1996; and Jane L. Blumenthal, 1996-2005. The current director and Senior Associate Dean for Knowledge Management is Jett McCann, appointed in 2007.
