1. Henriette Davidson Avram was a computer programmer and systems analyst who developed the MARC format, the international data standard for bibliographic and holdings information in libraries.
21 Facts About Henriette Avram
1. 2.
Henriette Avram Regina Davidson was born in Manhattan on October 7,1919, to a father who was a watch material distributor and a mother who was a Philadelphia Ledger reporter.
3.
Henriette Avram Davidson dreamed of finding a cure for cancer, which was prevalent in her family.
4.
In 1941, she married Herbert Mois Henriette Avram, who was enlisted in the Navy.
5.
Once settled in Virginia, Henriette Avram left her life of homemaking behind.
6.
Henriette Avram began studying mathematics at George Washington University and joined the National Security Agency in 1952 as one of the first computer programmers working with IBM 701.
7.
Henriette Avram hired a librarian to assist her in the design process.
8.
Henriette Avram did consulting work with Frederick Kilgour, father of the Online Computer Library Center, on OCLC's first attempt at computerizing bibliographic information.
9.
In March 1965, Henriette Avram heard of an opening at the Library of Congress, and was hired as a systems analyst in the Office of the Information Systems Specialist.
10.
Henriette Avram was hired in 1965 by the Library of Congress to analyze cataloging data for computer processing.
11.
Henriette Avram studied ALA rules and LC filing rules to learn all that she could about bibliographic control.
12.
Henriette Avram became a part of the development of the International Standard for Bibliographic Description for Monograph Publications when she attended an International Meeting of Cataloguing Experts sponsored by the International Federation of Library Association in 1969.
13.
Henriette Avram continued to head the MARC and RECON projects, but was responsible for all of the automation involved with LC's processing activities.
14.
Henriette Avram was then in charge of coordinating library networking and bibliographic resources and standards at both the national and international levels.
15.
When Henriette Avram became the Assistant Librarian for Processing Services three years later, her staff doubled.
16.
Henriette Avram was now in charge of cataloging, acquisitions, overseas operations, and development of networking and automation planning.
17.
Henriette Avram was a key figure in the revolution of librarianship into information science.
18.
Henriette Avram is the author of the book, MARC, its history and implications, published by the Library of Congress in 1975.
19.
Not content with earning the national standard in 1971, Henriette Avram continued lobbying until MARC became an International Organization for Standardization standard in 1973.
20.
Henriette Avram was one of the original planners of the Linked Systems Project.
21.
The couple remained active through St Mary's College, where Henriette Avram often arranged for Library of Congress officials to be guest speakers.