'Y^LE'WJMHTIEI^SIirY" - ILHIBI^^IFllf "

Samuel Swett Green

s

Worcester Free Public Library
Director Librarian
1867-1871 1871-1909

Samuel Swett Green

Worcester Free Public Library
Worcester, Mass.

J

Director
1867-1871 Librarian
1871-1909

^.C-t.^-.""' 6 ' ¦''(TV i-"^- ^^»'>-*-f-"'^

VarnBtrr. IHaBB.
Press of F. S. Blanchard & Co.
1909

At tbe meeting of tbe Board of Directors of
tbe Worcester Free Public Library beld Jan. 12,
1909, tbe Board, accepting tbe resignation of Mr.
Samuel Swett Green as Librarian, after a ser
vice as Director and Librarian covering forty-two
years, voted tbat a memorial in recognition of Mr.
Green's long and faitbful service be prepared by Profes
sor Zelotes Wood Coombs, and spread upon tbe records
of tbe Board. In accordance witb tbis vote tbe following
memorial was prepared and adopted by tbe Board at its
meeting Feb. 9, 1909. A subsequent vote autborized tbe
publication of tbe memorial in tbe present form.

SAMUEL SWETT GREEN.
Tbe resignation of Samuel S. Green as Librarian of
tbe Worcester Free Public Library marks an epocb in
tbe intellectual life not only of the city of Worcester, but
of tbe entire country. For forty-two years Mr. Green
bas been connected witb tbis library — four years as a
member of tbe Board of Directors, tbirty-eigbt as Li
brarian. During tbis time be bas seen tbe growtb and
development of tbe modern public library as one of tbe
most potent factors in tbe intellectual life of tbis coun
try. In tbis growth and development Mr. Green and —
under bim — the Worcester Free Public Library have
been leaders.
Worcester has been peculiarly fortunate in having
been able to command the services of Mr. Green for this
long period. Famed for its educational institutions,
from the lowest grade of public schools up through its
secondary schools, public and private, its colleges, tech
nical and academic, to its university, it must have had
a public library adequate to its needs, and wisely di
rected, or have fallen short of its present position. The
city was fortunate in tbe first instance tbat it had a
generous founder to make the first beginnings of tbe Free
Public Library; it was equally fortunate in that a mem
ber of this founder's family so soon took up the admin
istration of his uncle's gift, guided the embryo institu
tion through the formative period, later through tbe time
of growing strength and widening influence to the pres
ent.

6 Samuel Swett Green.
The past is certainly secure. Tbe standing of our
Free Public Library during the last thirty years, and, to
a large degree, tbe reputation of the city itself among
men of learning here and abroad, are due to the labors
of Mr. Green in his chosen field of work.
Tbat be was a Worcester man, bom and bred, strong
in love for his native town and endeared to it by genera
tions of family traditions, proud moreover of its intellec
tual prestige, broadened himself by education, by travel,
by intercourse with leading men everywhere; deeply in
terested, too, in carrying to success the gift of his uncle,
all these facts may explain some of the results that be
has attained during his long administration now ended,
but they are none the less cause for congratulation on the
part of the citizens of Worcester. They and their city
owe Mr. Green a debt of gratitude that no financial re
turn can ever pay. Their interest has been bis and be
bas given ungrudgingly of his time and of his energy to
all who asked.
Samuel Swett Green was born in Worcester, Feb. 20,
1837. His father was James Green of Worcester, his
grandfather Dr. John Green, his great-grandfather. Dr.
John Green, and bis great-great-grandfather. Dr. Thom
as Green of Leicester, who was also a clergyman. Dr.
Thomas Green later brought bis son, the first Dr. John
Green, to Worcester, purchasing the original Green Hill
estate. Samuel Green's uncle, tbe founder of the Wor
cester Free Public Library, was Dr. John Green, and at
the present time, Mr. Green bas a brother and nephew,
each Dr. John Green, well-known physicians of St.
Louis. The tendency in the Green family toward tbe
medical profession has certainly been strong.
Thomas Green, great-grandfather of tbe Eev. and Dr.
Thomas Green above mentioned, the progenitor of the
family in tbis country, was born in England about 1600.
Coming to America about 1635, he settled in Lynn or
Ipswich, afterward in Maiden. Through Mr. Green's

Samuel Swett Green. 7
mother, Elizabeth Swett of Boston and Dedham, whose
mother was a daughter of Dr. John Sprague of Boston,
Mr. Green can trace his ancestry to Ealpb Sprague, who
came to Charlestown in 1629 from Devonshire. One of
Mr. Green's great-great-grandfathers was Gen. Timothy
Ruggles of Sandwich and Hardwick, a distinguished
lawyer, judge, statesman and soldier. He was opposed
to the Revolution, and has come down in history as
"Massachusetts' great loyalist." Through General Bug
gies the line of descent runs back to Gov. Thomas Dud
ley, second Governor of tbe Massachusetts Bay Colony;
to Rev. John Woodbridge, brother of the man whose
name stands first on the list of graduates of Harvard
College, and to John Tilley and bis wife and daughter,
Elizabeth, wife of John Howland. These four ancestors
came over in the Mayflower.
Mr. Green began school in the infant school kept by
Mrs. Levi Heywood. Later be attended the school of
Mrs. Sarah B. Wood. From there he was admitted by
examination to the Thomas-street Grammar School, then
under Caleb B. Metcalf as principal. Mr. Green entered
the high school of the city in 1849, graduating in 1854.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1858, and from
tbe Harvard Divinity School in 1864. One of his class
mates at Harvard was Thomas Jefferson Spurr, mortally
wounded at Antietam. In 1870 Mr. Green received the
degree of master of arts from Harvard University, and
in 1877 was chosen an honorary member of the Harvard
Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Previously, in 1859, he
bad taken the voyage to Smyrna in a sailing vessel, and
whUe away visited Constantinople.
Two years he was obliged to pass in Worcester, owing
to ill health, before be entered the Divinity School, and
tbis ill health prevented him from serving in the Civil
War. Since his first trip to foreign parts, Mr. Green
bas visited Europe many times, besides traveling exten
sively in this country and going to Alaska in 1905.

8 Samuel Swett Green.
In 1864 Mr. Green became bookkeeper in tbe Mechan
ics National Bank. A few months later be was made
teller of the Worcester National Bank, a position which
be held several years. He was offered the position of
cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, to succeed the
late John C. Ripley, also a place in the Worcester Coun
ty Institution for Savings, both of which he declined.
Mr. Green became on Jan. 1, 1867, a director of the
Free Public Library. Four years later, Jan. 15, 1871,
he was elected Librarian of the same institution. Tbis
position he is resigning after thirty-eight years of con
tinuous service.
The Worcester Free Public Library bad been founded
by Dr. John Green, imcle of Samuel Green. Dr. Green
gave his library to the city, Dec. 27, 1859, by a deed of gift.
This library consisted of about 7000 volumes, which bad
been collected during many years, at a cost of not less
than $10,000. The city government by ordinance, dated
Dec. 23, 1859, had accepted the gift with the conditions
imposed. At the same time the Worcester Lyceum and
Library Association gave to the city its collection of
4500 volumes, which had belonged to the Young Men's
Library Association, the Young Men's Rhetorical Soci
ety and the old Worcester Lyceum.
The Free Public Library was opened to tbe public
April 30, 1860, in the Worcester Bank block on Foster
Street. In 1865 reading-rooms were established in con
nection with the library, a fund for their endowment be
ing raised largely through the efforts of Hon. George
F. Hoar. Before Dr. Green died, in 1865, he gave to the
library 4968 volumes in addition to tbe 7000 contributed
at the start.
The first building of its own occupied by the library
was erected at a cost of $30,000 in 1861, in accordance
with an agreement made with Dr. Green. This is tbe old
part of the present library building on Elm Street. The
new part was erected in 1891, at a cost of $143,000.

Samuel Swett Green. 9
The first librarian was Zephaniah Baker, who held
office from 1860 to 1871. Mr. Green followed him.
Tbe management of tbe library was by the founder
vested in a board of directors, who must be citizens of
Worcester. On this board many of the prominent cit
izens of Worcester have been proud to serve. The fol
lowing names of former presidents of the board will
prove this : Hon. A. H. Bullock, Hon. W. W. Rice, Hon.
Stephen Salisbury, Hon. George F. Hoar, Hon. T. L. Nel
son, Hon. P. C. Bacon, J. Evarts Greene, Esq., Rev. Dr.
W. R. Huntington, Hon. F. H. Dewey, Hon. F. A.
Gaskill, Principal E. Harlow Russell, A. George Bullock,
Esq., Hon. E. T. Marble and others.
During his thirty-eight years as Librarian, Mr. Green
has been a pioneer in a multitude of library reforms and
usages. Naturally he introduced many of these into tbe
Worcester Library. One feature of this library has
been the remarkably large proportion of books employed
for study and purposes of reference. Another, in which
Mr. Green is an authority, is in respect to the use of
libraries as popular educational institutions and the es
tablishment of close relations between libraries and
schools. Mr. Green has been a pioneer in bringing about the
present system of inter-library loans and in the large
use of photographs and engravings in supplementing the
value of books. The new library building, opened in
1891, was designed with special reference to such displays
of photographs and illustrative material, and tbe exhibi
tions beld in its rooms have been most interesting and of
great educational value. Under Mr. Green tbe Wor
cester Public Library has set tbe example of having in
the library rooms talks about books on specified subjects,
while here constant effort bas been made to develop the
children's department and to bring the children and tbe
users of the circulating department under the influence
of the best works of art.

10 8am.uel Swett Green.
During the long term of service of Mr. Green, be bas
naturally been best known, both in Worcester and out
side, as a librarian. His activity along the lines of
library work has been ceaseless, and it has met witb
recognition not only here, but abroad as well.
Mr. Green was one of the founders of the American Li
brary Association, and is a life fellow of that organiza
tion. He was for several years Chairman of the Finance
Committee of the Association, and Vice-president in
1887-1889, and again in 1892-1893. In 1891 he was
chosen President, and presided at tbe annual meeting of
that year at San Francisco. In 1896 he was the first
President of tbe Council. He is an original fellow of tbe
Library Institute, founded in 1905, and limited in mem
bership to the most prominent librarians in tbe country.
In 1879 Mr. Green was a delegate of tbe American Li
brary Association to the International Congress of Li
brarians in October of that year, in London. He was
a member of the Council of that Congress, and took an
active part in the discussions. When, during the ses
sions of the Congress, the Library Association of tbe
United Kingdom was formed, Mr. Green was chosen an
honorary member in July, 1878.
For a day he presided at the World's Congress of Li
brarians at Chicago in 1893, and presided also at a meet
ing of the American Library Association at Chicago Uni
versity the same year. Mr. Green was a Vice-president
of the International Congress of Librarians in London in
1897. In 1890 he was appointed by the Governor of
Massachusetts an original member of the Free Public
Library Commission of the Commonwealth, and was re
appointed in 1894, 1899 and 1904.
He was one of the founders and the original first Vice-
president of tbe Massachusetts Library Club. For
many years he was a member of the Committee of tbe
Overseers of Harvard University to make an annual ex
amination of the Library of tbe University, and he oc-

Samuel Swett Green. 11
cupied a similar position in connection witb tbe Boston
Public Library. In 1887 be began to deliver annual
courses of lectures on "Public Libraries as Popular Edu
cational Institutions" to the students of tbe School of
Library Economy connected witb Columbia University,
New York city, and later at tbe Albany Library School
after it bad become a State institution. He was also
chosen a member of a committee to examine tbis school.
As Librarian of the Worcester Free Public Library,
Mr. Green bas gained for himself and for his library a
wide reputation. His purpose was from the first "to
make tbe public library an instrument for popular educa
tion, a practical power in the community." That pur
pose he has never lost sight of and his efforts to realize
it have not only brought results in Worcester, but have
influenced to a marked degree library methods and ad
ministration in the entire country.
The Worcester Library and its methods have been
studied by European countries. The Department of the
Seine, which includes Paris, investigated tbe plan and
operation of the Worcester Library; so, too, the educa
tional department of tbe English government, while a
German expert described at length the work done by tbe
Worcester Free Public Library as in many respects a
model for popular libraries to be introduced into Ger
many. Denmark, through its Free Public Library Com
mission, has used for illustration the interior of the chil
dren's room of tbe Worcester Library.
Mr. Green bas been a constant writer on library sub
jects. He sent an article to the first number of the
Library Journal and was a constant contributor there
after. He has also written frequently for the Proceed
ings of the American Antiquarian Society, for the Amer
ican Journal of Social Science, the Sunday Review of
London, and other periodicals. Two books by him were
published by the late Frederick Leypoldt of New York,
"Library Aids" and "Libraries and Schools," both in

12 Samuel Swett Green.
1883. The former work, in a less complete form, bad
previously been issued by the United States Bureau of
Education as a circular of information.
At tbe request of tbe Secretary of the Board of Educa
tion of Massachusetts, Mr. Green wrote an appendix to
the forty-eighth annual report of the board on "Public
Libraries and Schools." This essay was afterward
reprinted as a separate pamphlet. A paper, by Mr.
Green, on "The Use of Pictures in the Public Libraries
of Massachusetts," was printed as an appendix to tbe
eighth annual report of the Free Public Library Commis
sion of Massachusetts.
Mr. Green has made a number of addresses and read a
number of papers on library and other subjects. Among
the earliest of these was "Personal Relations Between
Librarians and Readers," a paper presented at a meet
ing of liljrarians who came together in October, 1876, at
Philadelphia, and formed the American Library Associa
tion. Of this paper two editions have been printed and
exhausted. This paper was widely discussed in the press
and the plans of conducting a library suggested were
regarded at the time as novel and admirable.
In July, 1879, Mr. Green read a paper on ' ' Sensational
Fiction in Public Libraries," at the meeting of the Amer
ican Library Association in Boston. This paper was
also reprinted in pamphlet form and widely distributed.
"The Relations of the Public Library to the Public
Schools" was read before the American Social Science
Association in September, 1880, at Saratoga. This paper
was circulated in pamphlet form and awakened a wide
interest in the work discussed. Papers were read or
addresses given on similar subjects at meetings of the
American Library Association in successive years at tbe
various annual meetings, also at a meeting of the library
section of the National Education Association at Wash
ington. Other important papers by Mr. Green on questions of

Samuel Swett Green. 13
library economy are : ' ' Tbe Library in its Relation to
Persons Engaged in Industrial Pursuits," "Opening
Libraries on Sunday," "The Duties of Trustees and
their Relations to Librarians," "Address as President
of the American. Library Association," "Inter-library ,
Loans in Reference Work," "Adaptation of Libraries
to Constituencies," printed in Volume I of tbe Report of
tbe United States Commissioner of Education for 1892-3 ;
"How to Encourage the Foundation of Libraries inv
Small Towns," and three closely connected papers, "Dis
crimination Regarding Open Shelves," "What Classes
of Persons, if any. Should Have Access to the Shelves in
Large Libraries," and "Lead Us Not into Temptation."
With his steadily growing reputation, it is natural that
Mr. Green should have been invited to deliver the
addresses at tbe opening of library buildings and the
dedication of libraries. Such addresses, later printed in
pamphlet form, were delivered at Newark, N. J. ; Rindge,
N. H. ; North Brookfield and Oxford, Mass. At the dedi
cation of the library building of Clark University in 1904
Mr. Green gave tbe address of welcome, which was
printed later in the ' ' Publications ' ' of the library.
In several addresses Mr. Green favored buying books
for grown-up immigrants in their native languages. He
wrote "A History of the Public Libraries of Worcester"
for the "Worcester of 1898," and earlier for Hurd's
' ' History of Worcester County. ' ' He was chairman of a
committee to supervise the portion of that history relat
ing to the town and city of Worcester.
The first account of the methods introduced by Mr.
Green in the conduct of tbe Worcester Free Public
Library was presented as an appendix in bis annual
report as Librarian for the year 1874-5. This was
reprinted in pamphlet form and copies were sent to the
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. After
ward it was reprinted at the request of the directors of
the Free Public Library for distribution.

14 Samuel Swett Green.
In the fourth report of the Free Public Library Com
mission of Massachusetts Mr. Green wrote on ' ' Libraries
and Schools." In tbe fifth report he wrote on "Loaning
Reference Books to Small Libraries;" in tbe seventh on
"The Use of Libraries by Children," and in the eighth
" The Use of Pictures in Libraries." While a director
of the library Mr. Green wrote portions of tbe reports of
tbe Free Public Library of Worcester, and while Libra
rian he has written nearly all of the reports except tbat
made by the President of tbe board.
For the Proceedings of the American Antiquarian
Society he wrote sketches of the lives of William Fred
erick Poole and John Fiske. The above-mentioned
papers connected with library matters show the tendency
which Mr. Green's activity has taken while he bas been
Librarian, especially along the line of the library as an
educational factor, the library as an art centre, and the
relation of the library and the school.
But his activity has not by any means been confined to
library matters. His interest in historical subjects has re
sulted in the publication of many papers of a historical
nature and in his election to various historical societies
in this country 'and abroad. In May, 1879, he was chosen
a fellow of tbe Royal Historical Society of Great Britain,
and in 1880 a member of the American Antiquarian
Society. Since 1883 he has been a member of tbe council
of the latter organization. He was also elected a mem
ber of the American Historical Association immediately
after its formation. He was early a member of the Colo
nial Society of Massachusetts and the American organiza
tion known as the Descendants of Colonial Governors.
Mr. Green is a life member of the New England Historic-
Genealogical Society, was for some j^ears a member of tbe
Archaeological Institute of America, and is a member of
the Committee on the School for Classical Studies at
Rome. He is a member of the Bunker Hill Association,
bas been a Manager of the Sons of the Revolution, and

Samuel Swett Green. 15
was a charter member and tbe first Lieutenant-governor
of the Society of Colonial Wars in Massachusetts, presid
ing at its first general court and at the dinner following
it. Mr. Green is a member of the Society of Mayflower
Descendants and of the Old Planters' Society.
Among the more elaborate historical papers that he
bas written may be mentioned "Gleanings from the
Sources of tbe History of the Second Parish, ' ' which was
read at a meeting of tbe American Antiquarian Society,
at Boston, April 25, 1883; also, "The Use of the Volun
tary System in the Maintenance of Ministers in the Colo
nies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay," an essay
forming tbe historical portion of the report of the Coun
cil of tbe American Antiquarian Society, which Mr.
Green presented to tbe society at its meeting in Boston
April 28, 1886. These two papers have been printed in
pamphlet form and have been praised by distinguished
ecclesiastical authorities. Other historical papers of
interest and value by Mr. Green are "Batbsheba
Spooner, " " The Scotch-Irish in America, " " Tbe Craigie
House, ' ' and ' ' Some Roman Remains in Britain. ' ' He
has also written for the Antiquarian Society and the
Colonial Society elaborate sketches of tbe lives of Pliny
Earle Chase, George Bancroft, Edward Griffin Porter,
Andrew Haswell Green and Benjamin Franklin Stevens.
Mr. Green was invited by the late Justin Winsor to
write a chapter in tbe ' ' Narrative and Critical History of
tbe United States, ' ' but had to decline the invitation for
lack of time and strength.
Deeply interested in art and the cause of art, Mr.
Green has worked quietly but consistently to further tbis
cause in every way. His activity in promoting interest
in fine arts in Worcester by means of exhibitions which
he began in tbe Public Library has already been empha
sized. This work has been of incalculable value to tbe
cause of art among Worcester people, and tbe idea has
been copied and developed in other cities. To carry out

16 Samuel Swett Green.
the plan a large collection of tbe best photographs of tbe
old and more modern masterpieces in painting and sculp
ture has been made in the Public Library, and this collec
tion is being constantly enlarged.
Mr. Green has been President of the Worcester Art
Society, an organization still active, which was for years
the precursor of the Worcester Art Museum, and which
started in a humble way the work of securing an art
museum for Worcester. He was one of a committee of
three invited by the late Hon. Stephen Salisbury to con
sult with him about arrangements for founding the pres
ent Worcester Art Museum, and to help him in the choice
of the list of corporators. When the museum was
organized, he was asked to become a trustee, but declined
the invitation. Mr. Green has been from the beginning
of the organization Secretary of the Art Commission of
the St. Wulstan Society, and treasurer of the Worcester
Public School Art League since its establishment in 1895.
Witb all the activity that bas been set forth in the
above enumeration of learned societies of which Mr.
Green is a member, of papers that he has written, and of
work in the responsible oflice to which he has given his
best years, it may be questioned whether he has found
time to accept other appointments to which he might be
called by his fellow-citizens. The answer to tbis is the
following : Twice, and for several years, Mr. Green was
Treasurer of the Worcester Natural History Society; for
many years be has been a trustee of tbe Worcester Coun
ty Institution for Savings. A loyal Harvard man, he
helped some years since to form a Harvard Club in Wor
cester; in 1903 he served as Second Vice-president; in
1904 as First Vice-president. For some years he bas been
a member of the corporation of tbe Home for Aged Men.
He was an original member of tbe Worcester Club, of the
St. Wulstan Society, and of the Worcester Economic
Club. He is also a member of tbe old organization, the
Worcester Association for Mutual Aid in Detecting

Samuel Swett Green. 17
Thieves; he assisted in 1886 in forming tbe Worcester
High School Association, was chosen its first President,
and was re-elected to tbe same office in 1887. In 1886 be
was chosen President of the Worcester Indian Associa
tion, having tbat office two years. In 1882 he was elected
a member of tbe Board of Trustees of Leicester Acad
emy. Mr. Green was an original member of tbe University
Club of Boston, for years a fellow of the American Geo
graphical Society, and a member of the American Social
Science Association.
Tbe Worcester Free Public Library can never lose the
imprint of character that Mr. Green's long service has
left. He came to the post of Librarian when the city's
population was 40,000 ; to-day it is nearly 140,000. Then
there were some 20,000 volumes in the library ; now there
are nearly 170,000. In 1871 the library force, Librarian,
assistants and janitor, numbered four; in 1908 that force
numbers more than sixty. The first building erected for
strictly library purposes, on Elm Street, not only housed
the books in tbe collection at that time, but seemed to
promise quarters for an indefinite period in the future;
at present the old building and the large new addition are
overcrowded, there are nine delivery stations in different
parts of the city, and the demand is urgent for a new and
much larger central building, as well as for a number of
sub-libraries. In all this growth Mr. Green has been the leader. He
bas constantly studied the situation, and has tried by his
recommendations to the directors to keep the library
abreast of tbe times. By bis own reforms and improve
ments, as bas been pointed out, he has in many ways been
in advance of the times. He leaves a library well
organized, well equipped and doing its important work
satisfactorily under exacting conditions. He has served
long and faithfully and has deserved and now deserves
well at the hands of his fellow citizens.

18 Samuel Swett Green.
No man is perfect in any work; Mr. Green bas often
enough aroused criticism of bis methods, but be bas
always been armed with arguments to defend his course.
At tbe same time he bas always yielded to better or more
persuasive counsel than he possessed, when such counsel
was given him. To-day he can number his friends in
Worcester and elsewhere by thousands; here, certainly,
everybody who has ever used tbe Public Library, or who
knows the work it has done, is his friend, and that means
all of Worcester.
The Public Library can hardly be the same without tbe
presence of the genial man who has so long presided over
its destinies. But Mr. Green, like his distinguished
friend. President Charles W. Eliot, can retire while his
vigor, mental and physical, is unimpaired, while he is
able to go upstairs two steps at a time. And, like Presi
dent Eliot, he retires with a record of actual accomplish
ment of which any man might well be proud.
To him in his time of leisure, which he is to pass
largely in Worcester, but by no means in idleness, go out
the hearty and sincere thanks of thousands for bis faitb
ful service, with tbe best wishes of aU for a rest, long,
pleasant and profitable, which he has fairly earned.

3 9002 08866 0635

ffi^