Isom, Mary Frances, 1865-1920.

Mary Frances Isom (February 27, 1865-April 15, 1920) directed Portland's largest library for almost twenty years, beginning in 1901. Shortly after completing her library training at Pratt Library School in New York, she moved to Portland to catalog a collection of over 8,000 volumes bequeathed by John Wilson to the private, subscription-based Library Association of Portland. Wilson was a local resident whose donation served as the foundation for special collections that are still available at the Central Library. Isom took over as head of the library a few months after she arrived, and she oversaw its transition to a free, public library.