Emerson Greenaway | |
|---|---|
 Greenaway c. 1955 | |
| President of the American Library Association | |
| In office 1958–1959 | |
| Preceded by | Lucile M. Morsch |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin E. Powell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 25, 1906 Massachusetts, US |
| Died | April 8, 1990 (aged 83) New London, New Hampshire, US |
| Spouse | Helen Kidder |
| Alma mater | The North Carolina Library School |
| Known for | Advocate of information freedom |
| Awards | Honorary degrees from Wheaton and Drexel; American Libraries 100 most important library figures |
Emerson Greenaway (May 25, 1906 – April 8, 1990)[1] was an American librarian of considerable note, particularly during the Cold War era of the 1950s. During his long career, he acted as the director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore, the director of the Free Library of Philadelphia and president of the American Library Association. He was also a highly respected scholar and an advocate for intellectual freedom in wartime. Greenaway also came under fire for his participation in anti-communist government committees. In 1999, American Libraries named Greenaway as one of the one hundred most important library figures of the 20th century.[2]