HCPL Directors Collection

HCPL has had 10 different leaders over its first 100 years.  The title has changed from County Librarian to Library Director, but the mission has remained the same: providing free access to books for all Harris County residents. Below is a list of the leaders who have shaped HCPL and the county.

Learn more about this story by exploring the digital exhibit on HCPL Directors.

Official portrait of a woman.County Librarian, 1921-1926

 

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Lucy Fuller Gross.

Read annual reports and budgets prepared by Lucy Fuller Gross.

 

Photograph of a woman seated at a desk looking down at a document.County Librarian, 1926-1932

 

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Ruth Underwood Pooley.

Read annual reports prepared by Ruth Underwood Pooley.

 

Photograph of a woman seated behind a desk using a typewriter.County Librarian, 1932-1939

 

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Elnora Edgar Buchanan.

Read a profile of Elnora Edgar Buchanan from 1936

Read annual reports prepared by Elnora Edgar Buchanan.

 

Official portrait of a woman looking off to the right of the camera, with a small smile.County Librarian, 1939-1945

 

View a photograph of Reba Anderson.

Read annual reports prepared by Reba Anderson.

 

Five women and one man surround the HCPL Bookmobile.County Librarian, 1945-1951

 

View photographs and newspaper clippings featuring Bernice Snell.

Read annual reports prepared by Bernice Snell.

 

Portrait of a woman seated behind a desk. She has glasses on.County Librarian, 1951-1974

 

View photographs and newspaper clippings featuring Mary Butler Owensby.

Read correspondence and annual reports by Mary Butler Owensby.

 

A woman stands holding a gigantic pair of scissors for a ribbon cutting event.

Library Director, 1974-1979

 

Read a profile of Kathy Skinner Brown written in May 1974.

View photographs featuring Kathy Skinner Brown.

Read annual reports prepared by Kathy Skinner Brown.

 

Cathy Park with Former First Lady Barbara BushLibrary Director. 1979-2006

 

View photographs and video featuring Cathy S. Park.

Read correspondence by Cathy S. Park.

 

A woman wearing glasses looks off to the left of the camera.Library Director, 2008-2013

 

View photographs featuring Rhoda Goldberg.

Read correspondence to and from Rhoda Goldberg.

 

Official portrait of a man wearing a bow tie.Library Director, 2014-Present

 

View photographs featuring Edward Melton.

Watch an interview with Edward Melton filmed in 2021 as part of HCPL's Centennial celebrations.