Frank Quigg Helms

Frank Quigg Helms of Cochranville Frank Quigg Helms, 73, of Cochranville, former Director of Library services for West Chester University, died Nov. 20 after a recurrence of metastatic melanoma. He passed away in the care of Hospice and family at his home. During Frank's distinguished 35 year tenure at the University he oversaw significant expansion of the library and played major roles in a number of West Chester University and statewide higher education organizations. Outside of his career at WCU, Frank was an avid book, antique, art, Native American and American crafts collector. Frank was born in 1937 in Wilmington, Delaware to Elizabeth and Sidney Helms. He graduated from Wilmington High School and the University of Delaware as a biology major. He earned his Masters degree in library science from Rutgers University and later worked as the Agricultural Librarian at the University of Delaware. During this time he enlisted in the Delaware Air National Guard and went on to serve for 20 years before retiring with the rank of Major. In 1964 Frank returned to Rutgers University and worked on his PhD and in 1966 accepted the position as Director of Library Services at West Chester University. While at WCU, Frank served as the chair of the State System of Higher Education Library Council (SSHELCO) two times. As SSHELCO chair he was instrumental in the foundation of the Keystone Library Network (KLN) which provides consortial library automation and purchasing for all 14 PASSHE Universities, the state Library of Pennsylvania, and other private and public Universities in the Commonwealth. He was a founding member of TCLC, the Tri-state Library cooperative, and served on the Board of directors of PALINET, the Delaware Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries Association, and the Interlibrary Loan Delivery Service. He also served two terms on the Pennsylvania Library Association (PLA) Board of Directors and one term as the PLA Treasurer. Frank was very active in West Chester University affairs, serving as chair of several search committees and a member of numerous others. He was also Chair of the Frederick Douglass Institute and Co-Chair of the College Task Force for Alumni Relations, the University Millennium Committee, and the 125th University Anniversary Committee. In 2002, Frank was awarded Emeritus status by West Chester University and quoting the President of WCU at the time "Mr. Helms' vision and innovative spirit kept the Francis Harvey Green Library on the cutting edge". He also received the Distinguished Service Award of the Pennsylvania Library association. In retirement Frank turned the pastime of antique collecting into a business selling at the Chadds Ford Antique Mall. Locally, he was an active member of the West Chester Rotary Club and for many years led its Rotary Readers Program to promote reading among local primary school children. His other passions were the theatre, museums and movies. He spent many weekends in NYC attending Broadway shows and seeing any new exhibit at numerous museums. He loved to brag about his sons' achievements and the many adventures of his grandchildren. Frank is survived by sons Colin and Eric, former spouse Judy Shaw, grandchildren Jackson and Audrey, sister Sara Jacobs, brother Charles Helms, five nieces and nephews and many loving friends and co-workers. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2011 at the Phillips Autograph Library, Phillips Hall, West Chester University. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.