George Fraser Black

George Fraser Black (March 10, 1865 – September 7, 1948) was a Scottish-born American librarian, historian and linguist. He worked at the New York Public Library for more than three decades, and he was the author of several books about Scottish culture and anthroponymy, Romani people and witchcraft.

Early life George Fraser Black was born in 1865 in Stirling, Scotland. He earned a PhD before emigrating to the United States. They had three children.

Career Black became a librarian, historian and linguist. He worked at the New York Public Library from 1896 to 1931. He authored several books about Scotland, especially its folklore, witchcraft and surnames, as well as gypsies.

Black collected books about witchcraft, some of which were later acquired by Fairleigh Dickinson University, followed by Drew University. Among them is a copy of Malleus Maleficarum, co-authored by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger.

Death Black died on September 7, 1948, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, where he resided.

Selected works