The following profile is part of an interview series chronicling the experiences of researchers who use New York Public Library collections for the development of their work.

Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D., established the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment in 1999 as a researcher focusing on employment issues in settings for young children, the relationship between good jobs and the quality of services available to children and families, and appropriate and accessible professional preparation for teachers. Dr. Whitebook received an NYPL Short-Term  Research Fellowship in 2017. 

When did you first get the idea for your research project?

As a young college graduate interested in child development and women's equality, I was perplexed by limited options for early care and education. During a visit to New York City in 1975, I decided to investigate whether the New York Public Library had any relevant historical documents about early childhood that might shed light on the situation.

To my delight, I discovered the National Federation of Day Nurseries Conference Proceedings from the early 20th century. I only had time to review two volumes among many, but I consider the couple of days I spent in the reading room as a watershed, a moment when I began to understand how the present was shaped by the past, and how the politics and ideology of those at decision-making tables influence the terms of debate, and policies and programs that are enacted. The following year, I focused my master's thesis on the founders of the day nursery movement in the U.S.

What brought you to the Library?

I vowed to return to the NYPL to continue my investigation, but it took me until 2017 to do so. The intervening 40-plus years had been consumed by advocating for better early childhood policy and documenting the inequities of the current system. So, after decades of early childhood policy discussions—with students, advocates, and practitioners—I was ready to resume my investigation.

Describe your research routine.

Before I start working each day, I decide what my focus will be—whether I am gathering or perusing resources to explore, or digging into a specific book or report. I take notes, either by hand or on the computer. At the end of the day or in the evening, I review my notes, and transfer them to various spreadsheets I have developed to keep track of information by subject or era. I have learned the hard way that it is really important to document what I am doing every day and to be sure to keep my reference list up-to-date. It takes more time on the front end, but it pays off.

What's your favorite spot at the Library?

I loved my time in the Shoichi Noma Reading Room (219) where I had a dedicated shelf for materials. On subsequent visits, I spent time in the Wallach Division Art and Architecture Room (300) and the Dorot Jewish Division (111), both of which equal Shoichi Noma in beauty—and there are still so many more to spots I have yet to discover. Perhaps my favorite spot is the breathtakingly beautiful Rose Main Reading Room (315), which is further enhanced by a community of people of all ages and backgrounds, deeply absorbed in discovery and learning. I am moved every time I enter!

What's the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently?

Delving into the perspectives of the Progressive Era-early childhood advocates in NYC has been confounding at multiple points. I have been perplexed by seemingly contradictory points of view expressed by various players in the kindergarten, day nursery, and settlement house movements. Mike Wallace's Greater Gotham: A History of New York City from 1898 to 1919 paints a detailed landscape of players, alliances, and interactions across multiple aspects of NYC urban life that explained the context and discourses that helped me to interpret what I was discovering in period documents.

Ibram Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning explains how American ideas about race over centuries have been used to justify discriminatory policies, and how thought leaders in different eras promoted contradictory racist and anti-racist beliefs. Kendi's analysis has helped me to recognize these dynamics among early childhood reformers and the institutions they established—and that continue to echo in our system and discourse today.

What research tool could you not live without?

I wrote my master's thesis in the mid-1970s, prior to personal computers, and without access to affordable and efficient ways to make copies, let alone online resources. Today, I still cannot live without a dedicated notebook and a special pen to take notes or keep track of my investigation, or to record a hunch or random idea that pops into my mind when I am not actively working on the project.

Describe a moment when your research took an unexpected turn.

In my 1976 thesis exploring the attitudes of the leaders of the day nursery movement, I was struck by their deep ambivalence about offering support to working mothers. They referred to day nurseries as a necessary evil, even as they worked diligently at establishing them, and appeared to be genuinely concerned about the children who attended. When I returned to my historical investigation a couple of years ago, I had the advantage of the internet, and a wide array of documents and information inaccessible in the 1970s. So, I googled the founder of the National Federation of Day Nurseries to see if I might discover more about her background. A chill ran down my spine when I read that she was a well-known "anti," a woman who actively worked against suffrage. Many things fell into place for me at that moment.

What's your guilty pleasure distraction?

Especially when I have been reading all day, I love to watch or listen to a good mystery, preferably of the binge-worthy variety, often while knitting. I like picking up a story with familiar characters—family dramas or comedies work too!

Where is your favorite place to eat in the neighborhood?

Typically, I get so absorbed in what I am doing that I forget to eat. But when I take a food break, I am eager to return quickly to my research. My favorite routine is to pack a lunch (or pick something up at Whole Foods) and find a spot to eat in Bryant Park, sometimes augmenting my fare with a good midday cup of coffee. The Fifth Avenue steps are another great picnic spot. If it is raining or snowing, or just too hot outside, Amy's Bread Cafe at the Library offers good, affordable food.

Is there anything you'd like to tell someone looking to get started with research?

Take the time to discuss your primary research question and hypotheses with colleagues, friends, and strangers. I always find that helps me to clarify what I am trying to learn. And don't hesitate to ask people about your project—especially the librarians at NYPL. Again and again, they directed me to sources I would never have thought of on my own. Expect your initial approach to your subject to morph over time as you expand into new areas, or discover others are dead ends. It's all part of the process.

Marcy Whitebook received one of the Library's Short-Term Research Fellowships in 2017. We are currently accepting new fellowship applications to support scholars from outside the New York metropolitan area engaged in graduate-level, post-doctoral, and independent research. You can find more information here.