From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
|
|
|||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
|
}} |
}} |
||
|
”’Franklin Haines Price”’ (July 3, 1882 – January 7, 1958)<ref name=”Obit1958″>”Franklin H. Price Dies at 75; Retired Head of Free Library.” ”The Philadelphia Inquirer”, January 8, 1958.</ref> was an American librarian and a significant figure in the modernization of the [[Free Library of Philadelphia]]. Serving as Chief Librarian from |
”’Franklin Haines Price”’ (July 3, 1882 – January 7, 1958)<ref name=”Obit1958″>”Franklin H. Price Dies at 75; Retired Head of Free Library.” ”The Philadelphia Inquirer”, January 8, 1958.</ref> was an American librarian and a significant figure in the modernization of the [[Free Library of Philadelphia]]. Serving as Chief Librarian from to 1951, he was a pioneer in the application of microphotography to library science and oversaw the expansion of internationally recognized specialized collections.<ref name=”InquirerNov11″>”52-Year Career at Library Ends for Price on Thursday.” ”The Philadelphia Inquirer (Morning Edition)”, November 11, 1951.</ref> In 1951, he was the recipient of the [[Philadelphia Award]], the city’s highest civic honor, for his “unselfish and devoted service” to the cultural and intellectual life of Philadelphia.<ref name=”Bulletin1952″>”Franklin H. Price Receives 1951 Philadelphia Award.” ”The Evening Bulletin”, March 19, 1952.</ref> |
||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
|
== Leadership of the Free Library == |
== Leadership of the Free Library == |
||
|
Price rose through the library’s ranks to become Assistant Librarian in 1926.<ref name=”Bulletin1952″ /> Following the death of Librarian John Ashhurst III in 1932, Price served as Acting Librarian during the [[Great Depression]], officially assuming the role of Chief Librarian in |
Price rose through the library’s ranks to become Assistant Librarian in 1926.<ref name=”Bulletin1952″ /> Following the death of Librarian John Ashhurst III in 1932, Price served as Acting Librarian during the [[Great Depression]], officially assuming the role of Chief Librarian in . |
||
|
<ref>”The Free Library of Philadelphia.” ”Special Libraries”, Vol. 25, No. 4, April 1934.</ref> |
|||
|
=== Technical innovation and collections === |
=== Technical innovation and collections === |
||
| Line 41: | Line 42: | ||
|
== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
||
|
Price resided in [[Radnor Township, Pennsylvania|Radnor Township]].<ref>”Radnor Historical Society Bulletin”. Vol. 1, No. 5, 1955.</ref> He was married to Alice Henrietta Howe, and they had three sons, Lewis Hall Price, Franklin Haines Price II, and Dr. Alison Howe Price, a prominent Philadelphia physician.<ref name=” |
Price resided in [[Radnor Township, Pennsylvania|Radnor Township]].<ref>”Radnor Historical Society Bulletin”. Vol. 1, No. 5, 1955.</ref> He was married to Alice Henrietta Howe, and they had three sons, Lewis Hall Price, Franklin Haines Price II, and Dr. Alison Howe Price, a prominent Philadelphia physician.<ref name=”” /> Price retired in late 1951 due to failing health and died on January 7, 1958, at the age of 75.<ref name=”Obit1958″ /> |
||
|
== Gallery == |
== Gallery == |
||
Latest revision as of 21:41, 2 February 2026
|
Franklin Haines Price |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | July 3, 1882 |
| Died | January 7, 1958(1958-01-07) (aged 75)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Employer | Free Library of Philadelphia |
| Title | Chief Librarian (1936–1951) |
| Spouse | Alice Henrietta Howe |
| Children | Dr. Alison Howe Price, Franklin Haines Price II, Lewis Hall Price |
| Awards | Philadelphia Award (1951) |
Franklin Haines Price (July 3, 1882 – January 7, 1958)[1] was an American librarian and a significant figure in the modernization of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Serving as Chief Librarian from 1934 to 1951, he was a pioneer in the application of microphotography to library science and oversaw the expansion of internationally recognized specialized collections.[2] In 1951, he was the recipient of the Philadelphia Award, the city’s highest civic honor, for his “unselfish and devoted service” to the cultural and intellectual life of Philadelphia.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]
Franklin Haines Price was born in Philadelphia to Ferris Thomas Price and Mary Pine Haines.[4] He joined the staff of the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1899 as a young assistant, beginning a career that would span 52 years.[3][5]
During World War I, Price took a leave of absence to serve with the American Library Association (ALA) War Service. Operating out of the Philadelphia Dispatch Office, he managed the logistical task of collecting and shipping books to American soldiers serving overseas.
[3][6]
Leadership of the Free Library
[edit]
Price rose through the library’s ranks to become Assistant Librarian in 1926.[3] Following the death of Librarian John Ashhurst III in 1932, Price served as Acting Librarian during the Great Depression, officially assuming the role of Chief Librarian in 1934.4
[3][7]
Technical innovation and collections
[edit]
Price’s tenure was noted for “remarkable initiative and practical ingenuity.”[8] Significant achievements under his leadership included:
- Microfilming: He was an early adopter of microphotography, using it to preserve the library’s extensive newspaper archives.[5]
- The Fleisher Collection: He worked with Edwin A. Fleisher to develop the Edwin A. Fleisher Music Collection into the world’s largest lending library of orchestral scores.[3]
- Braille: Pioneer in library help for the blind, providing books in Braille.[3]
- The Lewis Collection: He oversaw the cataloging of the John Frederick Lewis Collection, containing thousands of cuneiform tablets and European manuscripts.[9]
In November 1951, Price was awarded the Philadelphia Award at the Academy of Music.
[3] The committee cited his leadership in maintaining the library’s 42 branches through two world wars and the Depression.[5]
Price resided in Radnor Township.[10] He was married to Alice Henrietta Howe, and they had three sons, Lewis Hall Price, Franklin Haines Price II, and Dr. Alison Howe Price, a prominent Philadelphia physician.[1] Price retired in late 1951 due to failing health and died on January 7, 1958, at the age of 75.[1]
- Family of Franklin Haines Price
-
Alice Henrietta Howe
-
Lewis Hall Price
-
Franklin Haines Price II
-
Alison H. Price, M.D.
- ^ a b c “Franklin H. Price Dies at 75; Retired Head of Free Library.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 1958.
- ^ “52-Year Career at Library Ends for Price on Thursday.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Morning Edition), November 11, 1951.
- ^ a b c d e f g h “Franklin H. Price Receives 1951 Philadelphia Award.” The Evening Bulletin, March 19, 1952.
- ^ Genealogical Records. FamilySearch/Pennsylvania City Births, 1860-1906. July 3, 1882.
- ^ a b c “Price to Close Library Career.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Morning Edition), November 11, 1951.
- ^ “Franklin Haines Price.” United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
- ^ “The Free Library of Philadelphia.” Special Libraries, Vol. 25, No. 4, April 1934.
- ^ Annual Report of the Librarian of Congress. 1938, p. 20.
- ^ “Vagrant Folios from Family 2400.” Byzantion, Vol. 15, 1941.
- ^ Radnor Historical Society Bulletin. Vol. 1, No. 5, 1955.
