17 Facts About Herbert Putnam

Herbert Putnam was the eighth Librarian of Congress from 1899 to 1939.

Herbert Putnam implemented his vision of a universal collection with strengths in many languages, especially from Europe and Latin America.

George Herbert Putnam was born in New York City at 107 East Seventeenth Street, the sixth son and tenth child of Victorine and George Palmer Putnam.

In 1886, Herbert Putnam married Charlotte Elizabeth Munroe of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and together they had two daughters, Shirley and Brenda Putnam.

Herbert Putnam had few intimates, even among his closest colleagues, but he was fond of good company and good conversation" as well being "painfully modest, a family man who had an unreciprocated view of his staff as family.

Herbert Putnam died at his home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on August 14,1955.

Herbert Putnam was elected city librarian of the Minneapolis Public Library at that time and served while simultaneously being admitted to the Minnesota bar of Law.

In 1891, Herbert Putnam resigned his Minneapolis post due to his mother-in-law's ill health and promptly returned to Boston to be near her.

Herbert Putnam "was admitted to the Suffolk bar, and practiced law in Boston until the 18th of February 1895" when he was appointed Librarian of the Boston Public Library.

When Winsor died shortly thereafter, Herbert Putnam served the remainder of his term as President of the ALA.

However, Herbert Putnam was well aware of what needed to be done.

Herbert Putnam's request was granted by the United States Congress, and thus an appropriation bill was passed on April 17,1900.

Herbert Putnam established an interlibrary loan system, and expanded the Library of Congress's role and relationships with other libraries, through the provision of centralized services.

Herbert Putnam was elected an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1902, and elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1907.

Herbert Putnam appealed to ALA members to donate books and volunteer for service, and by June 1918 the association had purchased 300,000 books, sent 1,349,000 gift books to camps, and distributed 500,000 magazines.

Herbert Putnam was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership in 1940.

Herbert Putnam was succeeded in 1939 by Archibald MacLeish, who served from 1939 until 1944.