Dana, John Cotton

Dana, John Cotton, 1856–1929, American librarian and museum director, b. Woodstock, Vt. He was a lawyer and a civil engineer before joining the staff of the Denver (Colo.) Public Library in 1889, where he instituted the first branch for children. In 1902 Dana became head of the Newark (N.J.) Public Library, which under his direction offered new services to the public including a branch for businessmen. In 1909 the Newark Museum was founded, with Dana as its director until 1929. Dana was a pioneer in library advertising and in library printing and was one of the founders of the Special Libraries Association and its first president. He was president (1895–96) of the American Library Association. Among his many publications are A Library Primer (1899) and The New Museum (1917).

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Dana, John Cotton (1856–1929) librarian, author; born in Woodstock, Vt. He graduated from Dartmouth College and held a series of positions before becoming head of the Denver (Colo.) Public Library (1889) where he established the nation's first children's reading room. While working in the Newark, N.J., library system (1902–29) he established the "Newark charging system," a simplified lending process, and cofounded the business library. He also helped found the Newark Museum Association and the Port of New York Authority. He wrote over 500 books and articles on librarianship and museum operations.