Gillis, Mabel Ray.

Mabel R. Gillis was born in Sacramento, California on September 24, 1882, and graduated from U. C. Berkeley in 1902. Two years later her father, State Librarian James L. Gillis, asked her to join the staff of the California State Library as an assistant in the Extension Department. In this capacity she greatly expanded the library's services to the visually impaired. Upon the death of her father in 1917, Mabel was promoted to Assistant State Librarian; under this position one of her responsibilities was planning for the new Library and Courts building. In 1930 State Librarian Milton J. Ferguson resigned, and Mabel Gillis was appointed State Librarian by Governor C. C. Young. During her 21-year tenure as State Librarian she presided over a dramatic increase in the library's collection, staffing, and funding. Mabel Gillis died in Sacramento on September 6, 1961.

From the description of Mabel Gillis correspondence, 1917-1948. (California State Library). WorldCat record id: 356712151