Richard Rogers Bowker

alt=R. R. Bowker, Melvil Dewey, and Mrs. Dewey in Saratoga Springs, New York Bowker, Mrs. Dewey, and Melvil Dewey in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1918 Richard Rogers Bowker (September 4, 1848 – November 12, 1933) was an American journalist and businessman who was an editor of Publishers Weekly and Harper's Magazine, and a founder of the R. R. Bowker Company.

In September 1876, Leypoldt and Bowker published volume one of the Library Journal. Melvil Dewey was the managing editor of the journal. They organized the American Library Association in October 1876. The organization would be used as a model for many European countries. After a few years, Dewey left the publication for financial and personal reasons. Bowker remained the heart and soul of the publication for many years despite its lack of financial success. He not only wrote regular editorials, but also numerous essays on library history, organization and management for the publication.

Death and legacy In March 1884, Leypoldt died. Despite the fact that Leypoldt's bibliography project had been a time-consuming, financial loss, Bowker, a chairman of the Committee on Public Documents of the American Library Association, took on the responsibility for the American Catalogue.

More than once, he was asked to be president of the American Library Association. But he declined because he thought it would be inappropriate, since he was not a librarian. He was a member of the Association's Council from 1898–1902; 1907–1923 and 1929–1933. He regularly attended association conferences. He was recognized with American Library Association Honorary Membership in 1933, an award conferred on an individual whose contribution to librarianship is so outstanding that it is of lasting importance to the advancement of the whole field of library service.