Purd B. Wright (1910-1911):
Purd Wright served as City Librarian in Los Angeles at the time Andrew Carnegie was interested in Los Angeles as the base for his philanthropic library work. Carnegie proposed to Wright the $210,000 (about $2 million today) to build the branch libraries (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 57). Before coming to Los Angeles, he grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and served as a librarian for 14 years at the Free Public Library in the town of St. Joseph. Throughout his life, Wright had served on boards that pertain to libraries. For instance, he was a member of the Executive Board and the Council of the American Library Association. He was also a member of the American Library Institute, the Missouri Library Commission. He was also a former vice-president of the Missouri Historical Society (pp. 57-8). His goal was to always make sure that a library is a “distinct factor in [a] community,” such as what he had achieved with the St. Joseph Library (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 57).
Wright, who was known to be “practical in his work,” served as the City Librarian until March 31, 1911, when he resigned to serve as the City Librarian of Kansas City, Missouri (which he continued to administer well into his 70s). In his eight months as City Librarian, Wright had enacted multiple changes to the public library system, which had greatly developed under his leadership (pp. 57-9).
Everett Robbins Perry (1911-1933):
Everett Perry, who had served as City Librarian for 22 years, was the most prominent and influential out of all the City Librarians in Los Angeles’ history. Known for his integrity and thrift, Perry was well-liked among his contemporaries and was considered to be a man with good values and charm (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 65). Perry was born on October 5, 1876 in Worcester, Massachusetts (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 65). According to the Los Angeles Examiner, he was educated in schools in his hometown and earned his degrees from Harvard University (in 1903) and the New York State Library School (“E.R. Perry,” 1933; Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 61). In 1911, he came to Los Angeles and became City Librarian that same year (“E.R. Perry,” 1933; Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 61). Under his leadership, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Public Library’s volumes grew from 166,000 to over 1,400,000. In addition, the Los Angeles Public Library System expanded, with 48 branches and a main library (“Friends Mourn,” 1933).
During his time, the Vermont Square Library and other branches were built. In 1917, he became president of the California Library Association. In the 1920, he was vice-president of the American Library Association and ultimately became its president in 1930 (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 64). Two years later, on October 30, 1933, Perry succumbed to death at the age of 57. Southern Californians mourned his death, for they had lost an exceptional community leader (“Friends Mourn,” 1933).
-Everett Perry
Perry had greatly contributed greatly to the city of Los Angeles and its public library system. According to the Los Angeles Times, he was known for his “fine vision and ability” and turning the city’s library system into one of the most outstanding ones in the United States (“Friends Mourn,” 1933). Perry had served on many library committees and raised the professional standards of librarianship (Los Angeles Public Library, 1934, p. 65). Also, he enacted many changes in the library system. For instance, in 1918, the library’s Training Class, which had turned into a Library School, was admitted into the Association of Library Schools. In 1926, it was then “accredited as a junior undergraduate college by the Board of Education for librarianship” (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, pp. 62-4). In addition, the Central Library building was built in 1926 (p. 65). Perry had thus raised the status of the Los Angeles Public Library System. Hence, until his death, Perry kept working immensely, advocating on behalf of libraries and supporting the library system (Los Angeles Public Library, 1934, pp. 64-5). The city of Los Angeles and its library system, therefore, owes a lot to Everett Perry, according to the Los Angeles Examiner (“E.R. Perry,” 1933).
Althea Warren (1933-1947):
Althea Warren succeeded Everett Perry as City Librarian, serving for 14 years. According to her biography, she was known for her straightforwardness and her efficiency at problem-solving (Los Angeles Public Library, n.d., p. 4). Warren was born to Lansing Warren and Emma Newhall Blodgett on December 29, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio. In her early childhood, her family moved to Waukegan, Illinois, where she was educated in public schools. She graduated from Waukegan High School in 1904 and enrolled at the University of Chicago. She received her Bachelor’s degree from there in 1908. Three years later, in 1911, she received graduated from the University of Wisconsin’s Library School (p. 4). Upon graduating, she landed her first job as a librarian at the Burr School Branch of the Chicago Public Library. She worked there from September 1911 to June 1912; afterward, she became a librarian for the Sears & Roebuck Company, working from June 1912 to July 1914. In August of 1914, she moved to San Diego, California. Warren worked as the reorganizer of the San Diego Public Library from January 1, 1915 to February 1, 1916, and as a librarian for ten years (p.4). In May of 1926, she relocated to Los Angeles and became First Assistant Librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library. She was later appointed Chief Assistant Librarian and became in charge of the library’s branches. She was very effective in her position, enacting different changes and developing the branch libraries (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, pp. 68-9). On November 8, 1933, she was elected as City Librarian by Mayor Shaw, which was reported by the Illustrated Daily News (“Woman Named,” 1933).
During her first year as City Librarian, she faced many difficulties. The budget had fallen, per capita income had been lowered from $1.00 to 75¢, and a heavily-drained book stock remained. However, over the years, she dealt with these issues in a swift and efficient manner. Therefore, under her leadership, the public library system’s budget was balanced by measures such as the reduction of staff salaries and personnel. In addition, Warren ensured that the library’s departments and branches cooperated together, and she enforced regional branch meetings. Hence, she aided in the professional advancement of the Los Angeles Public Library System (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, pp. 65-8).
Ever since she came to California in 1914, Warren, a bibliophile since childhood, had been actively involved with numerous library committees and worked on several different projects within them. She served as president of the California Library Association and many other committees. She was also a member of the following: the Executive Council for the American Library Association, American Library Association Committee of Fellowships and Scholarships (under the Carnegie Corporation of New York), and the American Library Institute (Los Angeles Public Library, 1933, p. 67-9). In addition, she had written articles for a variety of library journals and publications (p. 68). Warren continued to participate in the library field until her death in 1958 at the age of 101, according to the Los Angeles Times (“Obituary,” 1958). She thus has always been remembered for her hard work, passion, and strong leadership in the library community (Los Angeles Public Library, 1936, p. 65, 68; “Woman Named,” 1933).
Harold Louis Hamill (1947-1970):
Harold Hamill was Althea Warren’s successor as City Librarian and served for nearly 30 years. He was born to John E. Hamill and Minnie Bell on March 23, 1908 in Washington, D.C. Information on his early childhood and education is unknown. However, it is known that he graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree and from Columbia University’s Library School in 1935 (Los Angeles Public Library, n.d., pp. 1, 3). According to the L.A.P.L. Broadcaster, after he finished his education, he moved to New York and held positions in several libraries (“Hail! Harold Louis Hamill,” n.d., para. 3). For instance, he was an Order Assistant at Mount Vernon Public Library from 1935 to 1938. His next job was as an assistant librarian at the Yonkers Public Library in 1939. Then from 1940 to 1941, he was a librarian at the Schenectady Public Library. In 1941, he transferred to the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland (para. 3). After working there for a few years, he became a librarian for the Kansas City Public Library in Missouri. Under his leadership, he “headed a citizens’ council,” secured “a one million tax for his library,” and brought a “$1.20 per capita appropriation for 1947” (para. 4). He also served as president of the Missouri and American Library Associations, and chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the ALA. It was also during that time that state aid was voted for libraries, according to the L.A.P.L. Broadcaster (“Hail! Harold Louis Hamill,” n.d., para. 4; Los Angeles Public Library, n.d., p. 4). In 1947, he moved to Los Angeles and was appointed City Librarian on October 1st of that year (Los Angeles Public Library, n.d., p. 5). He served as City librarian until 1970, when he resigned from his post after three decades. According to the newspaper El Pueblo, Hamill died on May 17, 1986, he died at the age of 78; he thus, left behind a great legacy in the library field (“Obituary,” 1986, p. 11).
While Hamill served as City Librarian, the Los Angeles Public Library expanded, with 52 community branch libraries and four bookmobiles. 28 new buildings were added to the library system, a $6.4 million building program was voted by voters, and inadequate library facilities were renovated. The amount of people who used the library also had reached its peak under his leadership. New services were added and library hours were elongated in order to meet each community’s needs. In addition, under Hamill, the Los Angeles Public Library System became one of the largest and most prominent library systems in the United States (Los Angeles Public Library, 1968, pp. 1-2). Therefore, he was a major contributor in turning the Los Angeles’ library system into an important institution in modern times.
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