New York Public Library. Board of Trustees. Office of the Chairman.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, is the chief policy officer of the New York Public Library. He enunciates the policy of the Board and presides at all of its meetings. He is elected annually by the trustees and is ex officio a member of all committees of the Board and the Corporation. Prior to 1971, the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees had the title President of the Board of Trustees. Those who served as President are: John Bigelow (1895-1911), John L. Cadwalader (1912-1914), George Rives (1914-1917), Lewis Cass Ledyard (1917-1931), Frank L. Polk (1932-1941), Morris Hadley (1943-1956), and Gilbert Chapman (1957-1970). Those who served as Chairman of the Board are: John E. Lockwood (1971-1973), Frederick Burkhardt (1974-1975), Richard Couper (1976), Richard Salomon (1977-1980), Andrew Heiskell (1981-1990), Marshall Rose (1990-1999) and Samuel C. Butler (1999- ).