Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-20


Ion of Mr.. Bowerman. All Endorsements
pointed strongly to him as being In the
front rank Of the young, progressive horaI-
ians of the country.
Congress, who L. also a member of the
board of trustees Of the Public Library,
wrote as follows on the subject when he
found that he could not attend the meet
las shall have to forego the next meet
ing of the library trustees I write my views
of the cardinal qualifications to be held In
view in selecting a librarian. First. he
should indispensably have had education in
library science, in all the advanced modern
methods; second, he should also have had
experience at the head of a considerable
library; third, he should be well read In
literature and science; fourth, he should be
well grounded in the classical languages,
and in two or three modern languages;
fifth, he should have firm health good ad-
dress. unfailing courtesy (alike to the
ignorant and the learned). q habit and a
love of work, executive ability, tact and a
patience that is inexhaustible. While it Is
difficult to find all requisite qualities united
in any candidate for guardianship, who Is
at once young enough to promise many
years of useful service, and willing to un-
dertake such responsible labors for 81, 500 a
year, 1t is my opinion that Mr.. George F.
Bowerman has these qualifications in larger
measure than any Of the candidates yet
under consideration, though could not an
swer to all Of his attainments."
Mr.. Bowerman Warmly Endorsed.
Mr.. Thomas F. Bayard of Wilmington,
Del, writing to friend In Washington with
reference to Mr.. Bowerman, said that he
had consulted with one of the trustees of
the Institute Library of that city on the
subject. and continued: My informant tells
me that in two years Mr.. Bowerman has
worked wonders here. Finding the library
IN very chaotic state, he has systema-
tzed and made accessible at the cost of
mon ent's time every book in the library,
and Its whereabouts. II it be at the moment
withdrawn by member. He has advanced
the usefulness of the library by working in
with the board of education here, making
the library useful to the scholars In the
public schools, and he has taken great
interest in educational matters, which
would come in touch with his work.
Mr.. Ellwood c. jackson, chairman Of the
library committee of the Wilmington Insu-
tute. wrote as follows of Mr.. Bowerman:
"AS chairman of the library committee 1t
fell to my lot to select librarian three
years ago when we had a vacancy, and
after interviewing most of the candidates
personally, l was more favorably impressed
with Mr.. Bowerman than any of the others,
and the other members of this committee
agreed with me that he would be the best
man for the place. and so 1t has proven.
He not only Is much better librarian than
we ever had before, but he has been much
more aggressive than we had expected, and
has instituted many innovations which have
net with public approval We should, of
course, be very loath to part with him; In
ract, would not know where to get man
who would fill the position as acceptably as
ne has done for the past three years Per-
sor ally, he Is a man Of sterling character
and has no bad habits. In conclusion 1 can
only say that if our library had SUFFICIENT
means to retain Mr.. Bowerman and had to
pay him the salary that he Is worth or
could command elsewhere, we certainly
would not let him 60"
His Work In Wilmington.
Mr.. John P. Nields. a lawyer of Whining
ton, wrote as follows of Mr. Bowerman:
For ten years 1 have been one of the
board of managers of the Wilmington In
stitute Free Library and a member of the
executive committee and intimate ly ac-
quainted with the work of the library Mr..
Bowerman has been the librarian of this
library for three years. Before he came
the library had been run on old fashioned
notions and was not in any way in touch
with modern library improvements. The
membership was comparatively small and
the work at the library quite limited. Since
Mr.. Bowerman came this has all changed.
The library Is the leading educational fac
tor In the community. He has reinvlgor-
ated the work of the library in every de-
partment; he has educated staff of as
sistants; he has enormously increased the
membership and circulation of the library;
he has brought it in touch with the public
schools and has introduced all modern
ideas into the work of the library. 1t Is
difficult to adequately describe the COM
plete transfOrma ton that he has wrought
In this city / am very happy to commend
him as thoroughly equipped librarian in
the prime of his strength and vigOr, and /
am sure he will render to the Washington
Library adequate and splendid service"
Rev. w. F. Dickens Lewis, pastor of the
Rodney street Presbyterian Church of VII
mington, and a member of the board of
trustees of the Wilmington Institute, wrote
thus of Mr.. Bowerman:
His scholarly tastes, his experience
book reviewer for the New York Tribune,
his knowledge of publishers, prices. laws
and rulings his acquaintance with book
editions well as his university training
and culture eminently fit him for the posi-
ton of public librarian. l should deplore
very much to see him leave us, but we are
paying him more than we have ever paid
any librarian, and we all feel that we would
pay him far more did the funds of our in
stitution permit It
Several other letters of the same nature,
all highly eulogistic of Mr.. Bowerman,
both in his personal and his professional
capacity, were received by the trustees of
the Washington Public Library.
Sketch of Mr.. Bowerman.
Mr. Bowerman was born In 1868 near Ro-
chester, N. Y. He was educated at the
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima N. Y,
and at the University of Rochester. from
which he was graduated with the degree of
A. B., in 1892. After a year spent in bust
ness he entered the New York State
l. brary School at Albany, ". Y, where he
received the degree of bachelor of library
science in 1895. Mr.. Bowerman then held
the position of reference librarian at the
Reynolds Library, Rochester, N. Y, and
after that was for a time engaged in the
reference department of the New York
State Library.
Early in 1898 he was called to a position
on the editorial staff of the New York
Tribune in whose columns he dealt with
educational, biographical and statistical
subjects. He left the Tribune In 1900 to
join the editorial staff of the New Interna-
tional Encyclopedia, and remained in that
employment until he re-entered library
work. in March. 1901, taking the position
he now holds.
Wilmington is a city Of $1,000 population.
Three years ago the library had 10000 reg
istered borrowers; now there are nearly
d, 600 card holders. During the same period
the book collection has increased 10000 and
now numbers nearly $1,000 volumes. The
home circulation has likewise shown
great Increase. and the figures last year
reached nearly 213.OO0. Some of the new
features introduced In the Wilmington
library during the last three years are spe-
cial work for children; the preparation of
numerous illustrated bulletins and special