Lawrence Quincy Mumford
| Lawrence Quincy Mumford | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 11th Librarian of Congress | |
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In office 1954–1974 |
|
| President |
Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Luther Evans |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Boorstin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 11, 1903 |
| Died | August 15, 1982 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Known for | Librarian of Congress, President of the American Library Association |
Lawrence Quincy Mumford (11 December 1903 – 15 August 1982) was an American librarian. He was the eleventh Librarian of the United States Congress from 1954 to 1974.
Mumford was born in Hanrahn, Pitt County, North Carolina to Jacob Edward Mumford, a tobacco farmer, and Emma Luvenia Stocks. He grew up working the farm alongside his 10 siblings when he was not in school. He attended Grifton High School where he excelled in debate winning school and district honors. Mumford also participated in school athletics where he played baseball and tennis.
Upon graduation, Mumford was granted a tuition scholarship to attend Trinity College at Durham NC; his educational goal focused on preparing for a teaching career. At Trinity College, Mumford followed the lead of his brother Grover and joined the Hesperian Society. As a member he continued to be active in debate, winning several distinguished awards for excellence in public speaking and debate. In addition to his oratory skills, Mumford began to hone his leadership skills in the society and over his undergraduate career eventually became president of the Hesperian Society. Outside of the society, Mumford participated in the Physics Club, Phi Beta Kappa, and acted in two dramatic productions on top of working in the library as a student assistant. He graduated magna cum laude in 1925.
Mumford was offered a full-time position with the library and he accepted so that he could continue to work towards a master's degree that would help with his dreams of a teaching career. Mumford completed his Master’s in English in the spring of 1928, but was at this point persuaded by assistant librarian, Louis T. Ibbotson, to go back to school and get a Bachelor of Library Science degree at the School of Library Science, Columbia University, New York.
In the fall of 1928, Mumford entered the School of Library Science where he was able to work part-time in the library proper while completing his education. In the spring of 1929, he was offered a position with the New York Public Library (NYPL) as a reference assistant. Shortly afterwards, Mumford met Permelia Catherine Stevens, a children’s librarian for the NYPL system, and they were married on October 4, 1930 and had one child, a daughter, Katheryn Mumford.
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