Elmendorf, Theresa West (1855–1932)

views updated

Elmendorf, Theresa West (1855–1932)

American librarian. Born Theresa Hubble West, 1855, in Pardeeville, Wisconsin; died Sept 4, 1932, in Buffalo, NY; m. Henry L. Elmendorf (librarian).

The 1st woman president of the American Library Association, was known particularly for work in bibliography; began career as assistant librarian at Young Men's Association of Milwaukee, WI (1877); served as deputy librarian (1880–92) and librarian (1892–96) at Milwaukee Public Library, the 1st woman to be elected head of a large public library; served as vice-librarian of Buffalo Public Library, NY (1906–26) and as 1st woman president of American Library Association (1911–12); was among the 1st to be inducted into Library Journal's Hall of Fame (1951). Writings include The Systematic Catalogue of the Public Library of the City of Milwaukee (1885), Books and Articles on the Labor Question in the Milwaukee Public Library (1887) and Classroom Libraries for Public Schools (1923).