# Frederick Goff *American rare book librarian and specialist in incunabula* **Frederick Richmond Goff** (April 23, 1916 – September 26, 1982) was an American librarian who specialized in rare books and in incunabula.[^1] He worked at the Library of Congress from 1940. He was named chief of its Rare Book Division in 1945 and retired in 1972.[^2] His principal work, a 1964 census of fifteenth-century books held in North American collections, was published by the Bibliographical Society of America. It later served as the foundation of the *Incunabula Short Title Catalogue*.[^3] ## Early life and education Goff was born on April 23, 1916, in Newport, Rhode Island.[^4] He completed both a bachelor's and a master's degree at Brown University.[^4] ## Professional life Goff entered the Library of Congress in 1940. A year later he was made Assistant Chief of its Rare Book Division, and in 1945 he became the division's Chief.[^2] In 1961 he chaired the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, which is part of the American Library Association. He was president of the Bibliographical Society of America from 1968 to 1970.[^2] His retirement came in 1972.[^2] In 1974 the University of San Francisco's Gleeson Library and the Gleeson Library Associates awarded him the Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting, "Private Collecting for the Public Good."[^2] ## Publications Goff published extensively on incunabula, the history of the book, and bibliography.[^3] The Bibliographical Society of America issued his principal work in New York in 1964: *Incunabula in American Libraries: A Third Census of Fifteenth-century Books Recorded in North American Collections*. The census subsequently became the basis of the *Incunabula Short Title Catalogue*.[^3] His other works include: - *Catalog of Broadsides in the Rare Book Division* - *Essays Honoring Lawrence C. Wroth* - *Hebraica: Incunabula in Hebrew Type Only* - *The Permanence of Johann Gutenberg* - *The John Dunlap Broadside: The First Printing of the Declaration of Independence*[^3] ## Library of Congress Intermission Broadcasts The Library of Congress Music Division aired Intermission Broadcasts during its concerts, and Goff often served as interviewer on them.[^5] Topics included Christopher Columbus's 1493 letter describing his voyage to America, Shakespeare first folios, and the Gutenberg Bible.[^5] ## Death Goff travelled to London for a conference on incunabula and died in a hospital there on September 26, 1982. The causes were kidney failure and a heart ailment.[^6] His grave is at Swan Point Cemetery.[^6] Princeton University holds his papers, catalogued as the Frederick R. Goff papers, 1916–1982.[^6] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), lead section — full name, birth and death dates, and occupation as rare book librarian and incunabula specialist. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Professional life" — Library of Congress appointments in 1940, 1941 and 1945; ACRL section chair in 1961; Bibliographical Society of America presidency, 1968–1970; retirement in 1972; Sir Thomas More Medal in 1974. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Publications" — the 1964 census and its later use as the basis of the *Incunabula Short Title Catalogue*; his other titles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Early life and education" — birth in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 23, 1916; degrees from Brown University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Library of Congress Intermission Broadcasts" — his role as interviewer and the subjects of the broadcasts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick Goff* (revision 1372739459, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Death" — date, place and causes of death; burial at Swan Point Cemetery; papers at Princeton University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Goff