Edith Allen Phelps

Edith Allen Phelps (February 10, 1866 – July 2, 1945) was the first professional in the Library Science field in the Oklahoma City system. She served twice as president of the Oklahoma Library Association.

Early life Edith Allen Phelps was born in Springfield, Missouri, on February 10, 1866, the daughter of Col. John Elisha Phelps (1839-1921) and Margaret Jane White (1846-1915), a prominent family descended from Ethan Allen. She had two siblings: Lucy Phelps (1869-1895) and John Smith Phelps (1872-1947).

Phelps attended Drexel University and trained at Columbia University in Library Science. In 1905 she started at Carnegie Library as Head Librarian, the first professional in the Library Science field in the Oklahoma City system. Among many innovations, she is recognized for having introduced the Dewey classification.

She died on July 2, 1945, and is buried at San Miguel District Cemetery, San Miguel, California.