LINDA ANNE EASTMAN, 1867-1963

Linda Anne Eastman, librarian of the Cleveland Public Library (1918-1938), was born in Oberlin, Ohio on July 17, 1867. While still a child she moved to Cleveland with her parents, William Harvey Eastman and Sarah (Redrup) Eastman . After graduating from West High School, LAE taught in the Cleveland public schools for seven years (1885-1892). In 1892 she became an assistant in the Cleveland Public Library. After serving as assistant librarian and cataloguer in the Dayton Public Library (1895-1896), she returned to the CPL and became vice-librarian to William H. Brett. Eastman succeeded Brett as librarian after his death in 1918, and remained in this position until her retirement in November 1938.

The first woman to head a metropolitan library system in the U.S., Eastman helped develop adult education programs, the open shelf system, school and children's libraries, and a book distribution program for shut-ins. She continued a tradition of innovation and excellence which made the CPL one of the best libraries in the U.S.

LAE was an instructor (1904-1918) and a professor (1918-1937) at Western Reserve University's School of Library Science and the author of many articles on the management and purposes of libraries. She was a member of numerous library associations, and served on the council and executive board, and as president (1928-1929) of the American Library Association. She was also active in social reform and women's organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Women's City Club of Cleveland, of which she was a charter member and first vice-president (1920).

Eastman received many awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions as the CPL librarian, among them honorary degrees from Oberlin College (M.A., 1924), Western Reserve University (LL.D., 1928), and Mount Holyoke College (Litt.D., 1933).