Citizenship US Known for Librarian and Educator Years active late 1890s to 1947 | Occupation Librarian Education B.A., B.A., M.A. Name Elizabeth West | |
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Full Name Elizabeth Howard West Born March 23, 1873 Pontotoc, Mississippi Parent(s) James West, Mary (nee Waddell) West Died January 4, 1948, Pensacola, Florida, United States Alma mater Mississippi University for Women, University of Texas at Austin | ||
Elizabeth H. (Howard) West (March 23, 1873 – January 4, 1948), was a librarian and archivist active in the United States during the early 20th century. West was elected as the Texas State Librarian in 1918, was two time President of the Texas Library Association, co-founder and first President of the Southwestern Library Association, and was the first Head Librarian of Texas Technological College (later Texas Tech University).
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Early years
West was born to James and Mary Robertson (née Waddell) in Pontotoc, Mississippi on March 27, 1873. She lived in Mississippi into adulthood. An avid learner who was intent on attaining as much education as possible, West would go on to earn two bachelor’s and one master's degree. She received a bachelor's degree from the Industrial Institute and College in Columbus, Mississippi (now Mississippi University for Women.) She later received both a bachelor's and master's degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin where she focused on the expansion of French and Spanish settlements in North America.
Upon completion of her master's degree, West initially worked as a school teacher. She first returned to Mississippi where she taught in a number of rural areas. Later, she would teach in both Bryan and Austin. She began training as a librarian in 1905 as a cataloger at the Texas State Library. West then took a position with the Library of Congress in Washington, DC in 1906 in the catalog division. Later, she would join the manuscript division of the Library of Congress where she compiled the Calendar of the Papers of Martin Van Buren in 1910 and the Calendar of the New Mexico Papers. She did not complete this latter tome as in 1911 she returned to Texas to become archivist of the Texas State Library, a position she would hold until 1915. Her first foray into library administration came in 1915, when she moved south to San Antonio to take the directorship of the San Antonio Public Library. West worked hard to develop and improve the San Antonio library. She began issuing library bulletins on a regular basis, increased holdings, offered new services to special groups, sought recognition for the library’s services in local newspapers, and began a public lecture series. Her activities not only enhanced the services and holdings of the library, they also brought attention to West herself. Word of her activities and success spread and in 1918, after only three years, West would become State Librarian for Texas.
Texas State Librarian
At the time of her appointment as Director of the Texas State Library, West was the first woman to ever head a department of the state government. West entered the position with the same degree of passion and enthusiasm she had shown previously in San Antonio. Over the next seven years, she would develop the state’s first library service for the blind, facilitate the development of numerous county public libraries, and to increase overall holdings. West was also notable for lobbying the state for tenure for librarian staff as well as for increased salaries for all library employees. She also worked to lessen the political control of the state library.
Texas Tech Librarian
Ms. West came to Texas Technological College in 1925 as Head Librarian, a role she would maintain until 1942.
Ms. West founded the Lubbock chapter of the American Association of University Women in 1926.
Later life and death
Ms. West died in Pensacola, Florida on January 4, 1948.