Francis Thornton Barrett

Francis Thornton Barrett (20 September 1838 – 21 January 1919), LL.D., was the first Librarian (from 1877 to 1899) of The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. As City Librarian (from May 1901 to 1914), he initiated and developed public libraries throughout the city. He was also a founding member, and the first President (from 1908 to 1910), of the Scottish Library Association.

Early life Francis Thornton Barrett, born on 20 September 1838 at Liverpool, Lancashire, England, was the eldest of five children. His father, the Rev. John Barrett (1812–1884), was a congregational minister, who entered into public religious work in the Liverpool Town Mission, later undertaking the charge of home mission stations and pastorates in a number of places including Little Lever, near Bolton (in 1848), Sedgley and Coleshill. His father's family was resident for several generations in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The Barratts’ son, Franklin Trengrouse Barrett, was born on 15 April 1866 in Birmingham. From 1872 to 1876, the family lived at 37 Lee Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham. In April 1881, father and son were living at 60 Victoria Road, Glasgow. By April 1891, they were residing at "Holly Bank", Crow Road in Partick.

Public life In 1852, Barrett was apprenticed to a bookseller and printer at Bolton, in Lancashire, and was connected with those trades in Lancashire and later in Birmingham until 1866. (Birmingham Central Free Library).

In November 1876, Barrett became a candidate for the post of Librarian of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, then about to be commenced. His appointment was approved by Glasgow Town Council in February 1877, and he entered on the duties of the post on 15 March of that year. The new Library was officially opened by the 5th Earl of Rosebery, on 16 October 1911, and opened to the public three days later.

Later life Following his resignation, in February 1914, the Corporation agreed to Barrett's suggestion that he continue to work for them in an advisory capacity.

Posthumous reputation Barrett has been credited with the suggestion of establishing the “Scottish Poetry Collection”, one of the Mitchell Library's fundamental collections, to match the “Shakespeare Memorial Library” which had been formed in Birmingham's Central Reference Library.