Spencer, Mary Clare Wilson, 1842-1923

Mary Spencer was born in 1842 in Pontiac, Mich. Later she and her family moved to Ypsilanti, Mich. In 1864, she married Capt. Clinton Spencer and they had 6 children, 2 dying in infancy. In 1884, they moved to Lansing, where he worked at the Capitol and she worked for the Secretary of State and later became an assistant at the State Library. In 1893, she was appointed the State Librarian. She was State Librarian for 30 years. During that time, she made innovative changes and championed the cause of making the Library of Michigan one of the best legislative and public service libraries in the nation. She died at the age of 81.

From the description of Mary Spencer collection, 1910-1922. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 41569327