Samuel Swett Green

Samuel Swett Green (February 20, 1837 – December 8, 1918) was an American librarian. President of the American Library Association in 1891, he was a figure of public library advocacy in the United States.

Biography Green was born on February 20, 1837, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of pharmacist James Green and Elizabeth Swett. Studious as a child, he first attended a private school, followed by the public Worcester High School, graduating in 1854. He studied at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1858. Chronically ill, he then remained inactive until fall 1860, when he began attending Harvard Divinity School. He temporarily dropped out due to illness, though graduated in 1864. In 1870, he earned an honorary Master of Arts and honorary membership of Phi Beta Kappa.

Green attempted to enlist in the American Civil War, but was rejected due to being tall. He worked for the Mechanics National Bank, as a bookkeeper then a teller. He left the bank due to rheumatic fever. As director, he catered to commoners, maintained an in-house art collection, and instated the library's first telephones . In April 1880, he was elected to the American Antiquarian Society.

In 1876, Green was a founding member of the American Library Association. He served as the organization's vice-president from 1887 to 1889 and again from 1892 to 1893,

Green was a trustee of Worcester Academy. An archive of his papers is held by the Worcester Public Library.