New York Public Library. Research Libraries. Director's Office.

Edward Geier Freehafer (1909-1985) was Director of the New York Public Library from 1954 to 1971. Except for a brief tenure in 1944-1945 as Assistant Librarian of the Brown University Library, he spent his entire career at the New York Public Library. Between 1932 and 1954, he was Chief of the American History and Genealogy Division, Chief of the Personnel Office and Chief of the Reference Department. He also served as Acting Director before assuming the directorship of the Library in 1954.

From the description of Edward G. Freehafer records, 1952-1954. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122431524

Keyes DeWitt Metcalf (1889-1983) was Chief of the Reference Department (called Research Libraries since 1966) from 1928 to 1937. Prior to that he held various positions at the New York Public Library including Chief of the Stacks, Executive Assistant, and Chief of the Preparation Division. After leaving the Library he was Director of the Harvard University Library until 1955.

From the description of Keyes DeWitt Metcalf records, 1929-1937. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122486454

Rutherford David Rogers was Chief of Personnel at The New York Public Library in 1954-1955 and Chief of the Reference Department (later known as the Research Libraries) from 1955 to 1957. He later worked for Deputy Librarian at the Library of Congress (1957-1964), Director of Libraries at Stanford University from (1964-1969) and University Librarian at Yale University (1969-1985).

From the description of Rutherford D. Rogers records, 1921-1957. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122571164

From the guide to the Rutherford D. Rogers records, 1921-1957, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Keyes DeWitt Metcalf (1889-1983) was Chief of the Reference Department (called Research Libraries since 1966) from 1928 to 1937. Prior to that he held various positions at the New York Public Library including Chief of the Stacks, Executive Assistant, and Chief of the Preparation Division. After leaving the Library he was Director of the Harvard University Library until 1955.

From the guide to the Keyes DeWitt Metcalf records, 1929-1937, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Harry Miller Lydenberg (1874-1960) started at the Lenox Library, then served as administrative assistant to John Shaw Billings from 1899 to 1908, helping to plan the Central Building for the newly consolidated New York Public Library. He was the first Chief Reference Librarian from 1908 to 1927, and in 1928 became Assistant Director under Edwin H. Anderson, assuming the directorship in 1934.

From the guide to the Harry Miller Lydenberg records, 1921, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Edward Geier Freehafer (1909-1985) was Director of the New York Public Library from 1954 to 1971. Except for a brief tenure in 1944-1945 as Assistant Librarian of the Brown University Library, he spent his entire career at the New York Public Library. Between 1932 and 1954, he was Chief of the American History and Genealogy Division, Chief of the Personnel Office and Chief of the Reference Department. He also served as Acting Director before assuming the directorship of the Library in 1954.

From the guide to the Edward Geier Freehafer records, 1952-1954, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Paul North Rice (1888-1967) began working at the New York Public Library in 1914 and held various positions including Chief of the Preparation Division from 1820 to 1927. After serving as Director of the New York University Libraries, he was Chief (Director) of the Reference Department at the New York Public Library from 1937 to 1953 and then Librarian of Wesleyan University from 1953 to 1956.

From the guide to the Paul North Rice records, 1938-1953, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Harald Ostvold worked for various academic libraries before joining The New York Public Library in 1957 as Chief of Science and Technology. In 1958 he was appointed Chief of the Reference Department (known as the Research Libraries after 1966.) He left NYPL in 1963 to become Director of Libraries at the California Institute of Technology.

From the guide to the Harald Ostvold records, 1958-1963, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

James Wood Henderson served as Director of the Research Libraries of The New York Public Library from 1963 to 1977. Henderson was born in Missouri on July 6, 1917. He received a B.A. (1939) and an M.A. (1941) in English from the University of Oklahoma. Henderson was Assistant Librarian of the Bartlesville, Oklahoma Public Library (1941-1942), and then Assistant to the Dean and Instructor at the University of Oklahoma (1943-1944). He joined the Army Signal Corps in 1944 and served until 1946. Henderson came to New York in 1947 for graduate study at Columbia University's School of Library Service where in 1948 he received an MLS. In 1958 he earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from New York University. In 1947 Henderson joined The New York Public Library as Acquisitions Assistant. He left The Library in 1950 to head the Cataloging Section of the New York State Library. Henderson returned to NYPL in 1952 and was appointed to increasingly responsible positions in the Reference Department (renamed the Research Libraries in 1966). He was Chief of Acquisitions (1953-1959), Assistant to Director Edward G. Freehafer (1959-1963) and Chief of the Reference Deparment/Research Libraries (1963-1972).

Significant accomplishments of Henderson's years as Director include the opening of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Library and Museum for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, the publication of an 800-volume edition of the Research Libraries card catalog, the first efforts towards the automation of the catalog and establishment of a comprehensive conservation program. In 1972 Henderson was appointed the first Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries, an endowed position with essentially the same responsibilities as his previous job. Henderson retired from The Library in 1977, but returned one year later to direct Project RETRO, a task force established to edit and rehabilitate The Library's catalog.

Henderson served as Editor of The New York Library Association Bulletin, Lecturer at Pratt Institute Library School, and as a Regent to the Public Librarians' Certification Examination Committee of the University of the State of New York.

From the guide to the James W. Henderson records, 1929-1998, 1958-1978, (The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Archives.)

Harry Miller Lydenberg (1874-1960) started at the Lenox Library, then served as administrative assistant to John Shaw Billings from 1899 to 1908, helping to plan the Central Building for the newly consolidated New York Public Library. He was the first Chief Reference Librarian from 1908 to 1927, and in 1928 became Assistant Director under Edwin H. Anderson, assuming the directorship in 1934.

From the description of Harry Miller Lydenberg records, 1921. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122640108

James Wood Henderson joined the New York Public Library staff in 1947. He became Chief of Acquisitions in 1953, Assistant to the Director, Edward G. Freehafer, in 1959, and then Chief of the Reference Department in 1963 (Reference Department was renamed the Research Libraries in 1966.) In 1972 the title of Henderson's position was changed and he became the first Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries. Henderson retired from his position in 1977 but returned the next year to direct Project RETRO at the Library. He was noted for his leadership in the areas of automated cataloging and preservation of the collections.

From the description of James W. Henderson records, 1929-1980; 1958-1978 (bulk). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122486451

Paul North Rice (1888-1967) began working at the New York Public Library in 1914 and held various positions including Chief of the Preparation Division from 1820 to 1927. After serving as Director of the New York University Libraries, he was Chief (Director) of the Reference Department at the New York Public Library from 1937 to 1953 and then Librarian of Wesleyan University from 1953 to 1956.

From the description of Paul North Rice records, 1938-1953. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122626881

Harald Ostvold worked for various academic libraries before joining The New York Public Library in 1957 as Chief of Science and Technology. In 1958 he was appointed Chief of the Reference Department (known as the Research Libraries after 1966.) He left NYPL in 1963 to become Director of Libraries at the California Institute of Technology.

From the description of Harald Ostvold records, 1958-1963. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122486453