Crouch, Lora Elizabeth, 1907-1999

Lora Elizabeth Crouch was born on January 18, 1907, in Dallas County, Iowa, to Clifford and Cora Crouch. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University, in Mitchell, South Dakota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1933. Soon after, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Library of Sciences from the University of Illinois between 1934-1939. Crouch started her library career as a Children's Head Librarian at the Mitchell Public Library, although her career took her as far as Lake Placid, New York, where she was Head Librarian at the Forest Library. From 1960-61, she was a member of the Committee on Publications for the Dakota Territory Centennial Commission. The Commission published a book entitled Hamlin Garland: Dakota Homesteader in 1961. The publication consisted of a reprint of Hamlin Garland's memorial, as well selected poems and stories of his Dakota pioneer days. Crouch compiled the selections and wrote an introduction for this book. In 1964, she became Head of Acquisitions for the Salt Lake County Library System in Midvale, Utah. Lora Crouch died on October 18, 1999, in Salt Lake City, Utah.