Justin Winsor

American librarian
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Quick Facts
Born:
Jan. 2, 1831, Boston, Mass., U.S.
Died:
Oct. 22, 1897, Cambridge, Mass.

Justin Winsor (born Jan. 2, 1831, Boston, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 22, 1897, Cambridge, Mass.) was a librarian who, as superintendent of the Boston Public Library (1868–77) and librarian of Harvard University (from 1877), came to be regarded as the leading figure of the library profession in the United States.

Winsor, a freelance writer in Boston, was appointed a trustee of that city’s public library (1866) and then became its chief administrator, at first on a temporary basis. During his tenure of office he established numerous branch libraries in Boston. In 1876 he was a founder of the American Library Association and became its first president, serving until 1885 and again in 1897. Winsor also was a historian; he edited the Narrative and Critical History of America, 8 vol. (1884–89), and wrote several books.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.