Bowerman, George Franklin, 1868-1960

Chief Librarian of the District of Columbia Public Library, 1904-1940.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED George Franklin Bowerman (1868-1960) is best known for his career as Chief Librarian of the District of Columbia Public Library, 1904-1940.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED He was born in Ontario County, NY, on Sept. 8, 1868, to Jarvis and Anna M. Bowerman. His family was Quaker on both sides. This would become the back bone of his advocacy for peace later on in his career.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Bowerman attended university at the New York State Library School in Albany, NY from 1894-1895. Upon graduation he worked as a reference librarian and journalist in Rochester, NY at the Reynolds Library from 1895-1896.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED He married in Albany on June 1, 1901 to Sarah N., the daughter of Reverend Henry Graham. Later that same year, he and Sarah moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he worked at the Wilmington Institute Free Library and as a member of the Delaware State Library Commission from 1901-1904.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED In 1904 Bowerman became the Chief Librarian of the District of Columbia, which he would serve for most of his career, until1940. During this time Bowerman established The District of Columbia Special Collections, known as Washingtonia (1905).

BIOGHIST REQUIRED In the latter half of his career Bowerman was the ALA Treasurer and the President of the District of Columbia Library Association (1906-1907). He also championed such issues as libraries against censorship, the war, advocated the libraries important role in education and for improved salaries for librarians.

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Bowerman's most popular written work is Censorship and the Public Library with Other Papers (1931).