The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-14
His Excellent Work Has Gained For Hin a
Splendid Reputation.
A GRADUATE OF HARVARD COLLEGE.
Was Admitted 10 The Bar Of Minnesota, but Soon
Accepted Posi- oil Librarian OF Minneapolis
iheneum Il His Career Since.

Washington, March 1A-Herbcrt Put
nam was nominated for librarian Of con-
| gress yesterday afternoon. This Is
| what is termed recess appointment
and Mr.. Putnam can at once enter upon
tho discharge OF his duties. This was
one of the last things President Me-
kinney attended TO before stareng on
his recreation trip south The friends
Of the library here are much rejoiced.
The appointment OF Mr.. Putnam ends
contest that WAS thought Go be settled
when Samuel J. Barrows was nominated
by President Mckinley for the office of
librarian some weeks ago. When the
nomination. however, came up in the
senate, an unexpected opposition was
developed. and IL is said that charges
were made that Mr.. Barrows was too
active i'm pushing his claims for recogui-
tion. At any rate, the senate refused
TO confirm him for the position.
Herbert Putnam was born i'm New
York city in 1861. He is the son OF
George Il. Putnam, the founder of the
famous publishing house OF G.. Il. Put
nam's Sons. Herbert Putnam was ed
ucated in the public schools OF New York
and at private school, entered Harvard
college I'm 1879. was graduated in 1883.
was for a year subsequent at Columbia
law school, and in the fall OF 1884 went
TO Minneapolis. In 1885 he eptered the
Minnesota bar. In 1884 however, he
took the librarianship OF the Minneapolis
atheneum, a stock corporation library,
vial fn
the purchase of books but with a very
meagre income for current expenses.
Mr.. Putnam organized the Minneapolis
public library, a free city institution,
with circulating department, branches
and delivery stations under the control
of library board. an independent de-
partment Of the city government. with
power TO levy tax within "a half mill limit
for the support Of the library. BY the
issue OF bonds and private subscription,
and from current taxes for several years.
the library board bought a site and
erected building costing nearly $400-
J00 and known as one of the three or
four best equipped of American library
buildings. The old Athenaeum came
INTO the new library. making its books
free TO the public, the city paying ex-
Denses of administering them. The ag-
gregate income of the joint libraries has
been from $4,000 10 $4,000 per annum
During the construction Of the build |
ne Mr.. Putnam was engaged in pur- |
'hasing books. going abroad for the pur- |
pose, and at the end of the first seven |
ears OF his administration he had added |
'ome 10000 volumes TO the II 900 original |
Y possessed by the Athenaeum. AT the |
lime he left the library i'm 1891 IL had |
,rown 10 be the fifth in the United States |
n point OF circulation. and ranked about |
he same in point OF income.
In December 1891, Mr.. Putnam for per-
onal reasons resigned his position and |
emoved 10 Boston, where he practised |
aw nc the Suffolk bar. In February. |
S95, he was chosen librarian OF the Bos-
on public library, in which position his
'revlous reputation has not suffered.
lie married Miss Elizabeth Muproe of
cambridge. Mass. and they have two
hildren. Since his return TO the east he
has lived i'm Cambridge.