Newberry Library. Board of Trustees

In 1887, the Newberry Library was started by Newberry estate trustees E. W. Blatchford and W. H. Bradley. On April 13, 1892, the Library was organized under Illinois law with a governing board of thirteen trustees, who met April 25, 1892, and formally accepted the Charter of Incorporation.

The new Board took seriously its role as delineated in the Bylaws to administer the Library and oversee book selection. Originally elected for life, the self-perpetuating Board met monthly. As Trustee involvement in daily library administration decreased, the Board met less frequently (quarterly by 1936). During the 1960's and 1970's Bylaws revisions codified the transfer of administrative responsibility from the Board of Trustees to the President and Librarian, increased the number of trustees to twenty-five, limited terms to five years (renewable), set retirement ages, and changed the title of the President of the Board of Trustees to Chairman.

Presidents and Chairmen of the Board include E. W. Blatchford, 1892-1914, E. L. Ryerson, 1914-1928, Horace S. Oakley, 1928-1929, Alfred E. Hamill, 1929-1953, Everett D. Graff, 1953-1964, Hermon Dunlap Smith, 1964-1975, Edward F. Blettner, 1975-1979, Chalkey J. Hambleton, 1979-1982, Howard Byron Smith, 1982-1988, Charles C. Haffner, 1988-.

Annual reports filed with the State of Illinois pursuant to the 1891 Illinois legislative act to encourage public libraries in the state.

From the founding of the Newberry Library in 1887 under the authority of the trustees of the Walter L. Newberry estate to its incorporation as a free public library, April 25, 1892, the Trustees' annual reports were titled, "Proceedings of the Trustees of the Newberry Library." After that date, the reports were titled, "Report of the Trustees of the Newberry Library." Reports in this form ceased in 1941.

Traditionally, searches for the President and Librarian of the Newberry Library have been conducted by the Board of Trustees.

In 1985, Lawrence B. Towner, who had previously announced his retirement as President and Librarian, coordinated the search for his successor.

The Newberry Library was incorporated as a free public library in the State of Illinois, April 13, 1892, and Bylaws governing the new corporation were adopted by the Board of Trustees on June 14, 1892.

A Certificate of Amendment to the original Articles of Incorporation, enlarging the Board of Trustees from thirteen to a maximum of twenty-five, was approved Dec. 8, 1972. Bylaws revisions over the years have formalized the Trustees' diminished role in the day-to-day operations of the Library.