Herbert Putnam

Herbert Putnam was a renowned American librarian and administrator who served as the Librarian of Congress from 1899 to 1939. During his tenure, he worked closely with President William McKinley, President Theodore Roosevelt, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to expand the Library of Congress and establish it as a major research institution. Putnam's efforts were also influenced by his interactions with notable figures such as Melvil Dewey, Justin Winsor, and Charles Ammi Cutter. He was a key figure in the development of library science and played a significant role in shaping the American Library Association.

● Early Life and Education

Herbert Putnam was born in New York City to a family of Minneapolis origins, and he spent his early years in Minnesota. He attended Harvard University, where he studied under Charles Eliot Norton and Francis James Child, and later earned his law degree from Columbia University Law School. Putnam's interest in library science was sparked by his work at the Minneapolis Athenaeum, which was affiliated with the Minnesota Historical Society. He also drew inspiration from the Boston Athenaeum and the New York State Library, and he was familiar with the work of Samuel Swett Green and William Frederick Poole.

● Career

Putnam's career in librarianship began at the Minneapolis Public Library, where he worked under the guidance of Thomas Montgomery, a pioneer in the field of public libraries. He later moved to the Boston Public Library, where he collaborated with Charles Ammi Cutter and Samuel Swett Green to develop the Expansive Classification system. In 1899, Putnam was appointed as the Librarian of Congress by President William McKinley, and he went on to serve under President Theodore Roosevelt and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During his tenure, he worked closely with Archibald MacLeish, Luther H. Evans, and Verner Clapp to expand the Library of Congress and establish it as a major research institution. Putnam was also involved in the development of the Copyright Law of 1909 and the Federal Depository Library Program, and he interacted with notable figures such as Woodrow Wilson, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Robert Lansing.

● Librarianship and Legacy

Putnam's contributions to librarianship were significant, and he played a key role in shaping the American Library Association. He worked closely with Melvil Dewey, Justin Winsor, and Charles Ammi Cutter to develop the Dewey Decimal Classification system, and he was a strong advocate for the establishment of public libraries and library education programs. Putnam's legacy can be seen in the development of the Library of Congress Classification system, which was influenced by his work on the Expansive Classification system. He also interacted with notable figures such as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan, who supported the development of libraries and museums in the United States. Putnam's work was recognized by the American Library Association, which awarded him the Melvil Dewey Medal in 1945, and he was also honored by the Library of Congress with the establishment of the Herbert Putnam Gallery.

● Personal Life

Herbert Putnam was married to Charlotte Elizabeth Munroe, and they had two children, Herbert Putnam Jr. and Elizabeth Putnam. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Cosmos Club, and he interacted with notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Adams, and Edith Wharton. Putnam was also a strong supporter of the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution, and he worked closely with Archibald MacLeish and Luther H. Evans to establish the National Archives as a major research institution. Throughout his life, Putnam maintained a strong interest in history, literature, and art, and he was a frequent visitor to the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Category:Librarians