Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

1868-1871, John C. Merrill

Title

1868-1871, John C. Merrill

Subject

Description

John C. Merrill was born around 1850 in Pennsylvania. His father, Samuel Merrill, became Governor of Iowa in 1868 and John C. was appointed State Librarian the same year. He proved to be an energetic and efficient Librarian, introducing the system of card cataloguing, while renumbering, rearranging, and classifying the whole Library. During this period the Library was kept open during all business days. Previously it was only open during sessions of the Legislature and Supreme Court as well as Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. John C. Merrill died Sept. 8th, 1871 in Des Moines, Iowa from typhoid fever. He was buried in Woodland cemetery. Illness of the State Librarian. Daily Iowa State Register newspaper. Sept. 6, 1871. p.4. The Funeral of the State Librarian. Daily Iowa State Register newspaper. Sept. 12, 1871. p.4. 1870 US. Federal Census, Des Moines 6th Ward, Polk County, Iowa, p.265, line 26, John C. Merrel living in household of James Bird, (Online: Heritage Quest, 2008) Miller, Mrs. Mary H., Librarian. Historical Sketch of the Iowa State Library. Des Moines, IA. 1893.

Source

State Librarians of Iowa 1837 - 2008 Compiled by Karon S. King Library Resource Technician State Library of Iowa 1112 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50319 2008

Rights

This digital image may be used for educational purposes, as long as it is not altered in any way. No commercial reproduction or distribution of this file is permitted without written permission of the State Library of Iowa

Format

JPEG

Type

Still Image

File Name

0:\Shared\Karon\Librarians and State Library

Repository

State Library of Iowa

Repository Collection

State Librarians of Iowa