Carr, Henry J. (1849-1929) | The American Library Association Archives

Henry J. Carr was born on August 16, 1849 in Pembroke, New Hampshire and where he remained until age sixteen when he moved with his family to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He worked as an accountant and cashier from 1866 until 1878 when he began law school at the University of Michigan. During this time, he enrolled in bibliography and library science courses taught by the University's librarian, Raymond C. Davis. In 1879 he was admitted to the Kent County bar, though he never ended up practicing law. He continued to work as an accountant until 1886 when he was selected as the public librarian of the Grand Rapids Public Library. In 1890, he accepted a position from St. Joseph, Missouri to open the St. Joseph Public Library, which he facilitated in 1891. That same year, he accepted a position as chief administrator of the new Albright Memorial Library in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he remained as a public librarian for 38 years until his death.

Henry J. Carr was member of ALA for fifty years, having joined in 1879 as member number 215. In that time, he only missed eight conferences. He served in a number of roles, including treasurer (1886-93), recorder (1894-95), vice-president (1895-96), secretary (1898-1900), and President (1900-01). In addition, Carr was also vice-president and then president of the Pennsylvania Library Club, president of the Keystone Library Association (1907-08), and a fellow of the American Library Institute from its establishment in 1905. He died on May 21, 1929 [1].