APPENDIX 9 
REPORT ON THE LIBRARY 
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the activi- 
ties of the library of the Smithsonian Institution for the fiscal year 
ended June 30, 1926. 
FRANCIS HENRY PARSONS 
Mention should be made at the outset of the death on July 25, 
1925, of Mr. Francis Henry Parsons, who had retired a few months 
before from the position of assistant in charge of the Smithsonian 
division of the Library of Congress, after 25 years of service. (A 
brief sketch of Mr. Parsons’ career is given under the heading 
Necrology on page 82 of this report.) 
CHANGES IN STAFF 
There were a number of changes in the library staff during the 
year. The most important was the appointment of Miss Isabel L. 
Towner to the position, newly classified by the Personnel Board, 
of assistant librarian in the National Museum, to fill the vacancy 
caused by the retirement, and subsequent death, of Mr. Newton P. 
Scudder. Miss Towner was appointed from the civil service list 
after reinstatement by Executive order. Her training and experi- 
ence fit her well for the duties of the position, for she is a graduate 
of Goucher College and of the New York State Library School, and 
has spent nearly 20 years in practical library work, chiefly in Gov- 
ernment and scientific libraries. 
Miss Sarah Young, junior librarian, resigned in October, and was 
succeeded by Mr. R. Webb Noyes, a graduate of Bowdoin College 
and for some time a student at the New York State Library School. 
His experience was gained chiefly in university and State libraries, 
especially the New York State Library, where he collaborated with 
Miss J. Dorcas Fellows in preparing the twelfth edition of the 
Decimal Classification, by Melvil Dewey. 
Miss Minnie Murrill, who for several years had been a cataloguer 
in the Museum, resigned to accept a position in the library of the 
University of Alabama. Her position was filled temporarily, and 
will be filled permanently as soon as the person chosen becomes 
available. 
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