Elizabeth Howard West
1914 - 1916: Served two terms as President of Texas Library Association
1917: Became Director of San Antonio Main Library (SAPL), two years before the 19th Amendment was ratified in the U.S. Constitution.
1918 - 1925: First Woman Director of Texas State Library
- Developed the states first library service for the blind
- Advocated for the status of academic librarians
- First President of the Southwest Library Association (1922)
1925 - 1942: First Librarian for Texas Technical College (Texas Tech University – Lubbock)
- Founded the Lubbock Chapter of the American Association of University Women in 1926.
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Prudence L. Curry
1930: First Library Manager of the Carver Branch Library
- Curry influenced a whole generation of young African Americans in San Antonio to love reading, learning and respect the place of books in our society.
- Over a period of 28 ½ years, she developed and expanded the collection of the Carver Branch Library.
- Motto: “Put the right book in the right hands at the right time!”
- Received her Masters in Library Science from Spelman College.
*Carver Library was constructed in 1929 as the African American library of San Antonio, Texas under Jim-Crow-era racial segregation.
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Isabel G. Bazan
- Born in San Antonio, Texas on July 8, 1920
1942: Our Lady of the Lake College (OLLU) B.A.
1968: Later obtained 36 hours in Library Science from Our Lady of the Lake
1972: Chief of San Antonio Main Library
- 34 years of service with SAPL
- Miss Bazan had many titles and projects including:
- Head of Old Prospect Hill Branch Library
- Head of San Pedro Branch Library
- Head of History, Social Science and General Reference Department of San Antonio Main Library
- Served as a coordinator for Spanish language materials and attended workshops in Austin and El Paso on providing materials to Latino communities.
*On March 10, 1977, SAPL Board of Trustees named the branch in her honor.
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Minnie B. Cameron
1917: Joined San Antonio Main Library as a Reference Librarian
1920: Returned to San Antonio Main Library
- Worked as a Spanish and German translator in World War 1.
- Head of Texana Department for 34 years.
- Lead the expansion of volumes and collections and was recognized nationally as an authority of Texana. 528 volumes to 6000 volumes.
- Member of the Texas Library Association and the American Library Association
- Her research has assisted historians with involvement with La Villita.
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Julia Grothaus
1917: Joined San Antonio Main Library
1918 - 1921: Worked for the federal government in library services for the Army in World War 1.
1933 - 1957: Served as Library Director
- Under her direction, the institute was a recipient of significant bequest, including the Harry Landa Estate, the Edward Dixon Estate and the Harry Hertzberg collection of rare books and circus memorabilia.
- Developed bookmobile services.
- Provided in-service training for employees at Our Lady of the Lake College. (OLLU)
- Successful in maintaining the library system during the Great Depression.
1940 - 1941: Served as President of the Texas Library Association
- Appointed a committee to establish a library school at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Marie Berry
1935: Joined SAPL as an apprentice then as a Reference Librarian.
1940: Graduated from St. Mary’s University.
1957: Obtained her Master’s Degree at Our Lady of the Lake.
1958: Became the Head of History, General Reference and Social Studies Department.
- Built an extensive Holocaust and Judaica collection. This collection included a four-volume encyclopedia of the Holocaust.
1975 - 1976: Served as President of the San Antonio Historical Association and San Antonio Conservation Society.
- 45 years of service helping educate three generation in San Antonio and Bexar County.
- Known as “The Source” whenever a different question of history arose, the quickest way and most accurate was to ask Marie Berry.
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Leah Carter Johnston
1922: Joined San Antonio Main Library in 1922.
1927: Developed “Young Pegasus”, the first children’s poetry competition in the United States and is still active today.
1964: Mrs. Johnston and 12 friends organized and created Friends of SAPL
- Established and was Head of the San Antonio Main Library Children's’ Department for 33 years.
- Charter member of League of Women Voters.
- Published a children’s local history book “San Antonio – St. Anthony’s Town”.
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Geraldine LeFevre
1947: Obtained Library Science Degree from the University of Oklahoma
1970 - 1985: Served as Assistant Director
- 35 years of service to San Antonio Public Library.
- Sought out improvements and development of children's programs and services.
- Assisted SAPL systems into the Computer Age.
- Worked at Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Breakfast Club of San Antonio, Zonta Club of San Antonio, and Friends of SAPL.
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Grace Philippi
1922: Joined SAPL
- Philippi worked as an un-paid apprentice at the age of 17 and worked 6 months with the library for free.
1959: Became the Head of Literature, Philosophy and Religion.
- She oversaw 650,000 books, one of the largest collection among the four other departments at the main library.
- Gained fame with her quick ability to find the proper reference materials.
- Member of the American Library Association and the Texas Library Association.
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