Usher, Robert James, 1880-

Robert James Usher (1880-1944) was head librarian of the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University in New Orleans., La., from its inception in 1938 until his death in 1944; he was librarian of the Howard Memorial Library since 1927. He did book selection and acquisitions work with various vendors, including book dealer Charles Heartman of the Book Farm, Hattiesburg, Miss. Mr. Usher and his wife, Ethel Wight Usher, gave papers on various topics to different groups, including "The Baking Industry in the United States," "The Mississippi River in Literature," and "The Life and Work of Emile Antoine Bourdelle," edited manuscripts or typescripts of which are included in the collection. Mrs. Usher continued as a library staff member until her retirement in 1958.