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125 Years of the New Orleans Public Library

On January 18, 1897, the New Orleans Public Library opened its doors for the first time. Previously called the Fisk Free and Public Library, the institution was located inside St. Patrick’s Hall on Lafayette Square with a collection of over 35,000 volumes.
 
Fast forward to 2022. The New Orleans Public Library now operates a 15-location system with a collection of more than 466,000 items and enriches the community with access to free services and resources that its founders could likely have never imagined. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, we’re looking back through the decades to remember how we got where we are today and inspire us for many more years to come.
Celebrating 125: Library Equipment Through the Ages
Remembering the Westfeldt Art Library
Remembering the LaHache Music Library
How Geraldine Vaucresson Paved The Way For Integration
Rosa F. Keller's Fight for Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Equality for All
Dryades: New Orleans' First Black Library
Read Our Library Story
Listen to our Library Story with WWNO
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Timeline

City Librarians since 1896

History of the New Orleans Public Library
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 1843 - 1898

» 1896 – 1906: William Beer

» 1906 – 1928: Henry M. Gill

» 1928 – 1932: Daniel D. Moore

» 1932 – 1935: Edward Alexander Parsons

» 1935 – 1936: Mildred Guthrie (Acting)

» 1936 – 1937: Edmund L. McGivaren

» 1938 – 1960: John Hall Jacobs

» 1943 – 1945: George King Logan (Acting) Logan became Acting City Librarian while Jacobs served in the military during WWII

» 1960 – 1961: Ruth K. Robbins (Acting)

» 1961 – 1965: Jerome Cushman

» 1965 – 1967: Guenter A. Jansen

» 1967 – 1984: M. Eugene Wright, Jr.

» 1984 – 1986: George J. Guidry (Acting)

» 1986 – 1996: Daniel Wilson

» 1996 – 2004: Gertiana Williams

» 2004 – 2006: William Johnson

» 2006: Geraldine Harris (Interim) / Lance Query (Consulting)

» 2006 – 2008: Donna Schremser

» 2008 – 2010: No City Librarian

» 2011: Shannon Aymami (Interim)

» 2011 – 2019: Charles M. Brown

» 2019 – 2020: Jessica Styons (Interim)

» 2020 – 2021: Dr. Gabriel Morley

» 2021 – Present: Emily Painton

The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 1902 - 1930
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 1940 - 1957
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 1958 - 1997
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 2003 - 2006
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 2007 - 2015
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 2016 - 2017
The history of the New Orleans Public Library years 2018 - 2020
The history of the New Orleans Public Library 2021
Download Timeline PDF

City Librarians since 1896

» 1896 – 1906: William Beer

» 1906 – 1928: Henry M. Gill

» 1928 – 1932: Daniel D. Moore

» 1932 – 1935: Edward Alexander Parsons

» 1935 – 1936: Mildred Guthrie (Acting)

» 1936 – 1937: Edmund L. McGivaren

» 1938 – 1960: John Hall Jacobs

» 1943 – 1945: George King Logan (Acting) Logan became Acting City Librarian while Jacobs served in the military during WWII

» 1960 – 1961: Ruth K. Robbins (Acting)

» 1961 – 1965: Jerome Cushman

» 1965 – 1967: Guenter A. Jansen

» 1967 – 1984: M. Eugene Wright, Jr.

» 1984 – 1986: George J. Guidry (Acting)

» 1986 – 1996: Daniel Wilson

» 1996 – 2004: Gertiana Williams

» 2004 – 2006: William Johnson

» 2006: Geraldine Harris (Interim) / Lance Query (Consulting)

» 2006 – 2008: Donna Schremser

» 2008 – 2010: No City Librarian

» 2011: Shannon Aymami (Interim)

» 2011 – 2019: Charles M. Brown

» 2019 – 2020: Jessica Styons (Interim)

» 2020 – 2021: Dr. Gabriel Morley

» 2021 – Present: Emily Painton

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