E. Porter Dickinson, son of Robert W. Dickinson and Mary Billings, was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts. He began working at the Amherst College Library shortly after graduating from Amherst High School. During World War II, he worked as a post librarian for the U.S. Army, returning to his position at Amherst after completing his service. In the 1950s, Dickinson was promoted to head reference librarian and was awarded an honorary degree in 1964. A mountaineer, musician, and self-proclaimed "bibliomaniac," Dickinson held a variety of interests throughout his lifetime. In 1968, he retired from Amherst College, but remained active in several clubs and organizations until his death in 1991.
From the guide to the E. Porter Dickinson Papers, 1900-1991, (Amherst College Archives and Special Collections)
