The controversy surrounding Stratton continued when the Sacramento floods of December 1861 and January 1862 damaged some of the Library’s materials. The high water mark was thought to have been reached in December 1861, but the second flood in January 1862 was two feet higher! The shelving, weakened by flooding, collapsed and caused books to be thrown into the water. Local newspapers described some of the damaged items as “rare and valuable works.” Eventually Stratton was cleared of blame and the books were rebound or replaced.

Stratton resigned as State Librarian on January 22, 1870. In 1860, before being appointed State Librarian, he had begun a successful law practice in Sacramento. Upon his resignation, he resumed his law practice in Sacramento until his move to Santa Barbara in 1873. Stratton died there on May 2, 1898.

Talbot H. Wallis, the tenth State Librarian, was perhaps most famous for being put on trail for his job performance by the Library Board in 1883. His twenty-year career with the State Library began as a porter from 1871 to 1880, was then promoted to deputy librarian in 1881, and finally attaining the position of State Librarian. He was appointed by the Library Board on April 6, 1882 and re-appointed four years later to another term.Born July 3, 1851 in San Francisco as Talbot H. Green to Talbot H. and Sarah Green. He was later adopted in 1854 by his step-father, Joseph S. Wallis, who was later elected to the California State Senate. Wallis, graduated from the San Jose Institute, and he studied law while working for the State Library and was later admitted to practice in 1879.The events that led to Wallis’ trial were driven by strife and political maneuvering between Wallis, his Deputy State Librarian, Miss M. A. Patton and the Library Board of Trustees. Wallis had fired Miss Patton for various reasons dealing with her job performance. Miss Patton went to J. J. Owens, her supporter on the Library Board with her complaint regarding her dismissal. Owens subsequently told Wallis if he would not reconsider her dismissal, that he would publish serious allegations in the San Francisco newspapers the following day. Rather than reconsider his dismissal of Miss Patton, Wallis asked for an investigation. Charges were published against Wallis for drinking, swearing, smoking, and being incompetent as State Librarian.

Even with all this controversy, Wallis’ tenure as Librarian saw the State Library’s collection grow from 51,000 to 73,000 volumes. A law catalog was produced in 1886, and the general book catalog was completed in 1889. He was instrumental in calling for the first meeting of State Librarians that was held during the American Library Association’s annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri in 1889.

Wallis was not offered a third term as State Librarian by the Board of Trustees in 1890, and left office to resume his law practice. He was working for the Sacramento City Street Department at the time of his death in Sacramento, July 3, 1914 at age 63.
* Adapted from an unpublished article written by Thomas Fante, California History Section, October 27, 1981.

The resignation of Frank L. Coombs in 1899 set the stage for the appearance of perhaps the most innovative and influential State Librarian. He would forever change the function of the State Library. James L. Gillis began his term as the sixteenth State Librarian in 1899 and served until his illustrious career ended with his death in 1917.Born October 3, 1857 in Iowa, he spent his early years there until 1861 when the family moved to Nevada. The family moved in 1870 to Sacramento where James attended school. Two years later he became a messenger boy with the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, a division of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. He eventually worked his way up through the ranks to become assistant superintendent of the company. He left the railroad in 1894 and went to work as chief clerk of the Assembly Committee of Ways and Means. He was also keeper of the archives of the Secretary of State in between his stints as chief clerk. In 1898 he was appointed a deputy in the State Library and State Librarian on April 1, 1899.One of the first things Gillis did as State Librarian was to set about reorganizing the Library. He acted upon recommendations made by his predecessor, Frank L. Coombs, but eventually extended his sights well beyond what Coombs had in mind. The dictionary system of cataloging was extended to all books in the collection, not just new arrivals. A separate Law Department was created to release space in the reference room. This was followed by the creation of a California Historical Department. He also initiated the indexing of California newspapers to provide reference service in the California Department.

The Berkeley campus of the University of California began offering a library course in 1918. Gillis felt that two institutions should not offer the same instruction, and it was his belief that the University was best suited to offer library instruction. Between 1918 and 1920 the instruction given through the courses at the State Library was merged with the instruction offered at Berkeley. The last of a total of seventy-five graduates to finish courses through the State Library did so in 1920. These graduates helped accomplish Gillis’ goals of having trained librarians to work in the library systems that he had helped create. Other accomplishments highlighted the career of James L. Gillis as State Librarian. Among these achievements were the creation of the first union catalog in the United States, the California Information File, and the Books for the Blind department within the State Library. In addition, he provided dynamic leadership as president of the California Library Association for nine years. He died on July 27, 1917 in the office of the Secretary of State soon after he had arrived at the Capitol to begin his day of work.

* Adapted from articles in News Notes of California Libraries, vol. 52, no. 4, October 1957, pp. 635 – 714.

Milton J. Ferguson became the sixteenth State Librarian on August 25, 1917 succeeding James L. Gillis who died in office. Ferguson began his career with the Library in 1908 as assistant state librarian. He held this position until 1917 when he became State Librarian.
Milton was born in West Virginia on April 11, 1879. He graduated from the State University of Oklahoma in 1901. In 1902, he attended and received a librarian’s certificate from the New York State Library School. In 1903 he returned to the State University of Oklahoma as a librarian and remained there until 1907. James L. Gillis had personally recruited Ferguson in 1907 to join the staff of the State Library. Ferguson was the first State Librarian to have any formal training in library science.Among his other duties as assistant state librarian, he helped Gillis plan for the establishment of county libraries in California. In order to be better able to answer questions about California law while on reference duty, Milton studied law and in 1912 passed the California State Bar Examination.He was appointed State Librarian on August 25, 1917 upon the death of James L. Gillis. It was his responsibility as State Librarian to carry on with the planning of the new library building in Sacramento. Legislation in 1914 had provided for a new building to house the State Library and the Courts in Sacramento. However, World War I and funding problems delayed construction until the early 1920s and the Library did not move into it’s new quarters until 1928. Ferguson assisted in selecting the text for the inscriptions on the Library and Courts Building.In 1921, during a reorganization, the Board of Trustees was abolished by legislation, and administrative responsibility for the State Library was placed within the newly created Department of Finance. Another aim of the 1921 legislation was to remove the responsibility for county library administration from the county boards of supervisors and place it with the county boards of education. Ferguson managed to stop this from occurring and thus kept Gillis’ county library plan in place. Another reorganization occurred in 19276. Legislation passed that year moved the State Library to the Department of Education and made the State Librarian an appointee of the governor. Ferguson became the first State Librarian to be appointed under this system.

He died at the age of seventy-five on October 23, 1954.

Mabel R. Gillis became the seventeenth State Librarian on September 15, 1930 upon the resignation of Milton J. Ferguson. She was first woman to serve in this capacity and she was the daughter of James L. Gillis.Mabel was born in Sacramento on September 24, 1882 and was educated in local schools. She graduated from the Berkeley campus of the University of California in 1902 and in 1903 taught in Sacramento public schools for a year. In 1904, James L. Gillis asked her to join the staff of the California State Library as an assistant in the Extension Department. Her career with the State Library spanned forty-seven years.In the position Mabel Gillis held in the Extension Department from 1904 to 1917, her principal task was to help develop services to the visually impaired. National legislation in 1904 provided postage-free mailing of books to the blind. The California State Library was among the first libraries in the country to provide visually impaired readers with reading materials. In 1911 the Books for the Blind department had become a separate section of the Library with Gillis in charge. In 1915 she instituted a state-wide plan for in-house teaching of those who wished to learn sightless reading. Due to Mabel’s organizing work in providing services to the blind, the State Library was chosen in 1931 as one of eighteen regional centers when the Library of Congress initiated a national service to the blind. With the death of her father, James L. Gillis in 1917, Mabel was elevated to Assistant State Librarian when Milton J. Ferguson was appointed State Librarian. One of her responsibilities as Assistant State Librarian from 1917 to 1928 was to help in the planning phase of the new Library Building in Sacramento. Legislation in 1914 had provided for a new building to house the State Library and the Courts in Sacramento. However, World War I and funding problems delayed construction until the early 1920’s. When the building was finished and ready for occupation, Gillis planned the move so no disruption of services would occur when the Library reopened in its new quarters in 1928.

Gillis went on to be re-appointed State Librarian by four different governors. Her total career with the State Library spanned forty-seven years; twenty-one years being spent as State Librarian. The Library’s budget was $36,000 and there were 20 employees when she joined the Library in 1904. When Mabel Gillis retired in 1951, the number of employees had grown to 85 and the operating budget was $378,000.

Mabel R. Gillis died at her home in Sacramento on September 6, 1961, eighteen days short of her seventy-ninth birthday.

Carma (Zimmerman) Leigh was appointed California State Librarian by Governor Earl Warren on September12, 1951. She was subsequently reappointed State Librarian by four different governors. She served a total of just under twenty-one years and noses out by several months the time that Mabel Gillis spent as State Librarian. However, Mabel retired with a total of forty-seven years of service with the California State Library.Leigh was born in 1904, near McCloud, Oklahoma. She attended local schools and graduated from the Oklahoma College for Women in 1929. Influenced by her college librarian, she attended the School for Librarianship at the University of California, Berkeley in the fall of 1929 and graduated in June 1930.Her first library job was with the Berkeley Public Library in 1930. In 1932 she was appointed the head of the Watsonville Public Library and held this position until she resigned in 1935. She reentered the workforce to become head of the Orange County Public Library in 1938. Four years later in 1942, she was appointed head of the San Bernardino County Public Library. She was actively recruited in 1945 to become the Washington State Librarian and stayed in this position until 1951.

Leigh’s interest in improving library services also had a national scope. She was also active in the national campaign which led to the passage of the Library Services Act (LSA) in 1956 and the improved version, the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) in 1964. These acts provided federal grants to help improve library services within individual states. The California State Library through its Library Development and Services Bureau was responsible for the distribution and allocation of the resulting federal grants.
Leigh was able to witness the vast improvement in library services that resulted from the programs she worked so hard to establish: the California Public Library Services Act and the Library Services and Construction Act.

Leigh also held national American Library Association committee memberships. She was the second vice president of the American Library Association for 1967 through 1968. The American Association of State Librarians made her its first president in 1957.

She retired in 1972 after a career as California State Librarian that spanned almost twenty-one years. She now lives in San Diego.

* Adapted from articles by Cindy Mediavilla, “Revisiting the Career of Carma Russell(Zimmerman) Leigh, Washington State Librarian, 1945-1951″, ALKI Magazine (December 1997) Volume 13, Number 3, 22-25, and “Carma Leigh,” News Notes of California Libraries, (Spring 1972): 277.

Ethel S. Crockett became the nineteenth California State Librarian when she was appointed to the position by Acting Governor Ed Rienecke, on August 14, 1972.Crockett graduated from Vassar College and obtained an M.A. in Librarianship from San Jose State University. She had served as a high school librarian in Redwood City, California and as a children’s librarian at the Corning Memorial Library in New York. Crockett had been with San Jose City College as a General Librarian from 1962 to 1968. In 1968, she became director of library services for the City College of San Francisco and served in this capacity until 1972 when she was appointed as State Librarian.Ethel had been active in professional organizations nationally and at the state level. She participated on the Library Development and Standards Committee of the California Library Association as chairman in 1970. In 1971, the committee drafted The California Library Network: A Master Plan, which was adopted by the California Library Association in December, 1971.

Library automation developed into a major tool during Crockett’s term as State Librarian. In 1973 CSL began using various online reference databases to assist the reference staff in answering questions. In 1974 the CSL began producing CULP (California Union List of Periodicals) using OCR (optical character recognition) input. The first edition included the holdings of 200 libraries; the third edition in 1977 listed 460 libraries of all kinds.

Also in 1974 the Intersegmental Task Force composed of the State Librarian and librarians of the University of California, and the California State University and Colleges began meeting to discuss intertype networking. Representatives of public, special, private, academic, and community college libraries were added. As a culmination of these meetings, in June 1976, representatives of the publicly funded libraries entered into a joint exercise of powers agreement to establish CLASS (California Library Authority for Systems and Services) to promote resource sharing and provide networking services of all kinds of libraries in California.

In 1977 the State Library began entering some of its cataloging records into the Stanford University BALLOTS (later RLIN) online system. Monthly and annual issues of California State publications were created as a byproduct of this cataloging through the SPIRES system. Crockett also funded a Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) demonstration project to tie together the cataloging of seven public libraries through the state in PLAN (Public Library Automation Network) in the BALLOTS system.

Continuing in the automation arena the State Legislature and governor approved funding to automate CSL’s Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped circulation and inventory control system serving 8,000 patrons in Northern California.

Services to the blind and disabled benefited greatly while Crockett was State Librarian. In 1974 eleven and one half positions were added to the staff of the Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and the whole operation moved into a new, larger off-site facility. In 1978 state funds were authorized to support the Southern California Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped operated by the nonprofit Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles and for toll-free telephone services for the patrons of the two regional libraries.

In 1977 the California Library Services Act (CLSA) was passed replace PLSA, to help public libraries and cooperative public library systems provide coordinated reference services and provide reimbursement for interlibrary loans of materials and over the counter loans to nonresident borrowers. CLSA created the California Library Services Board (CLSB), and as State Librarian, Crockett became its executive officer. The CLSB also became the Advisory Council for the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) funds that flowed through the State Librarian as grants to local libraries.

Of note, an event of great import took place during Crockett’s tenure, the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 would eventually cause crippling cuts to many public libraries that relied upon local property tax for support.

Following notification by the University of San Francisco that it would not renew Sutro Library’s twenty-year lease that expired in December 1979, Crockett was instructed by the Legislature to seek alternative sources of support for Sutro. San Francisco State University President Paul Romberg offered the possibility of providing a site on the campus. Sutro Library could be located there if other funds were made available for the construction of the Library. This offer ultimately made possible a new home for Sutro Library.
On other building fronts the State Librarian successfully waged the battle to save the original wood frame windows in the Library and Courts Building. This attempt to modernize the library building provided the impetus to move toward placing the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

In October 1979 Ethel Crockett announced her intention to retired in August 1980 to allow sufficient time to search for the new State Librarian. She left office in August 1980 at the age of sixty-five. She currently lives in Marin County.

Gary E. Strong, the twentieth California State Librarian, was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. upon the retirement of Ethel Crockett as State Librarian. Strong served almost fourteen years at the pleasure of three different governors until his resignation in 1994.Born in Moscow, Idaho in 1945, Gary Strong attended the University of Idaho and received a Bachelor’s degree in1966. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Library Science degree in 1967. Strong had worked for the University of Idaho Library from 1963 to 1966 during his under graduate years. His early library career began in 1966 in Idaho with the Latah County Free Library. He returned to Michigan to become the Head Librarian of the Markeley Residence Library at the University of Michigan from 1966 to 1967. In 1967, he was appointed director of the Lake Oswego Public Library in Oregon and remained there until 1973. He continued his career in library management in 1973 with an appointment as director of the Everett Public Library in Washington. He was chosen as associate director for services at Washington State Library in 1976, and he later served as deputy state librarian of Washington from 1979 until 1980.Strong began his term as California State Librarian in August 1980. In 1982, he founded the California State Library Foundation. He edited the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. The Bulletin won the H. W. Wilson Periodical Award.

The 1980’s also saw the Library outgrow its space. The Braille and Talking Book Library, the Library Services Development Bureau, and the California Research Bureau where all housed in off -site offices. Strong saw the need for another building. In 1990 legislation was enacted to authorize a bond measure to finance the new facility. The bonds were sold and the building was planned and designed when the recession hit California in full force. The recession did not deter Strong’s planning input. Economic conditions caused the construction bids to be lower than anticipated, resulting in the addition of more building features. Strong’s enthusiasm with the planning and actual construction was so fervent that he had his own construction safety helmet. The helmet was needed because he toured the building during each construction phase and documented each phase of the construction with his cameras.

While at the California State Library, Strong also served as the chief executive officer of the California Library Services Board; chairperson of the California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act Board; member of the California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act Finance Committee; chairperson of the Governor’s State Literacy Collaborative Council; and member of the Family Impact Seminars Advisory Board.

Gary Strong’s honors during his tenure as State Librarian include the Librarian of the Year award from the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners (1994); the John Cotton Dana award from the Library Administration and Management Association (1994); the Advancement of Literacy award from the Public Library Association (1994); and the Exceptional Achievement Award from the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (1992). Strong also served on a number of policy panels, including the White House Conference on Libraries (1992), the Government Technology Conference Advisory Board (1993-1994), for which he received the California Governor’s Award for Exceptional Achievement.

Gary Strong resigned as State Librarian in August 1994 to accept the position of director of the Queens Borough Public Library of New York. He started in his new position in September 1994. The Queens Library has the largest circulating library system in the country and has attained a record circulation level of 16 million items and 15 million library visits in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1998. While at the Queens Library, he has won the 21st Century Librarian Award from Syracuse University, the Charlie Robinson Award from the Public Library Association, and the Humphrey Award from the American Library Association’s International Relations Round Table for his contributions to international librarianship. He served on the New York State Board of Regents Advisory Council for Libraries and the board of directors of the New York Metropolitan Reference and Research Library Agency and was elected vice president of that organization in October 1999. He also served on the International Federation of Library Associations and Institution (IFLA) Committee on Copyright and Other Legal Matters and the board of the section of Services to People with Disabilities. He was co-chief executive officer of the IFLA Boston 2001 NOC and served as the IFLA representative to the United Nations. He is an active member of the International Association of Metropolitan Libraries. He has initiated international cooperation agreements with the National Library of China and the Shanghai Library and created the International Center for Public Librarianship at Queens. He also held the post of adjunct professor at Queens College.

On September 1, 2003, Strong became the seventh university librarian of the University of California at Los Angeles.

Strong has served as a consultant and advisor to the Library of Congress. He is a member of the American Library Association, the California Library Association, the Chinese American Librarians Association, and the Library Administration and Management Association, among other professional organizations and affiliations. He is also a passionate bibliophile and has formed a large collection of fine press books. In addition, he belongs to the Grolier Club of New York and the Zamorano Club of Los Angeles.

Gary E. Strong now resides in Los Angeles. He is married and has two adult children and one grandson.

*Adapted from Gary Strong’s biography on the UCLA Library homepage for Administration and Organization at http://www2.library.ucla.edu/about/2465.cfm.

Dr. Kevin Starr became the twenty-first State Librarian upon Gary Strong’s resignation. Governor Pete Wilson appointed Starr State Librarian of California on September 3, 1994 and the California State Senate confirmed him on April 6, 1995. Starr was re-appointed to a four- year term as State Librarian by Governor Gray Davis in January 1999. He is the first California State Librarian to hold a Doctor of Philosophy degree.Kevin Starr was born in San Francisco in 1940. Educated locally, he graduated with a B.A. from the University of San Francisco in 1962. He followed this with two years of service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, stationed with a tank battalion in West Germany. Starr entered Harvard University after his army duty and obtained an M.A. in 1965 and a PhD in 1969. While at Harvard he was the Allston Burr Senior Tutor in Eliot House from 1970 to 1973. He obtained his Master of Library Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1974. He continued his studies at the Graduate Theological Union, from 1983 to 1984.His career began with teaching at Harvard University, first as an assistant professor, then later as an associate professor of American Literature from 1969 to 1974. In 1973, he became executive aide to Joseph Eliot, the mayor of San Francisco. He was appointed City Librarian of San Francisco and served in this capacity from 1973 to 1976.

Dr. Starr has been involved in journalism as a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner from 1977 to 1983. He continues in the field of journalism since 1994 as a contributing editor for the Los Angeles Times.

Starr brought to the office of State librarian a unique combination of library science, literature, journalism, and history. He is a renowned author of California history books. His first book, Americans and the California Dream, 1850-1915, was published in 1973. To date he has authored nine major works and has more planned. He has also contributed chapters, forewords and introductions to dozens of books. His writing has received such honors as a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Gold Medal of the Commonwealth club of California, and the Carey McWilliams Award from the California Studies Association.

Known as a dynamic speaker, Starr maintains a full schedule of speaking events where he represents the California State Library and its programs. Since Dr. Starr became State Librarian, an improved California economy allowed for expansion of the Library’s various programs. He has facilitated the creation of the Library of California of which he is the Chief Executive Officer along with the California Library Services Board. In addition, he served as Chair of the California Sesquicentennial Commission, implemented the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, and was instrumental in establishing the California Cultural and Historical Endowment. Upon his retirement from the State Library on April 1, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him State Librarian Emeritus. In November 2006 he received a National Humanities Medal from the President of the United States.

* Adapted from material on the California State Library homepage at www.library.ca.gov and from material at www.worldworks.net/caltour/starr.html.

Stacey Aldrich was sworn in as State Librarian of California on November 19, 2009. Surrounded by an overflow crowd of friends, family, and colleagues, she took the oath of office in the newly dedicated J.S. Holliday Rare Book Room of the California State Library.Stacey was appointed to the post by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stated in a press release that “Stacey is truly an expert in the field and California is lucky to have her as the State Librarian.” She had been Acting State Librarian since February 2009, and served as Deputy State Librarian from August 2007 forward. As Acting State Librarian, Stacey ably directed a staff of 155, oversaw a budget of $80 million, and worked with state and local officials on multiple projects, bonds, and initiatives of the State Library. She was instrumental this year in securing California’s participation in Opportunity Online, a major broadband initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that will significantly improve and sustain public access to the Internet through California’s public libraries.Stacey is an impassioned futurist who serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Futurists. In presentations and workshops here and abroad, she challenges librarians to actively shape the future of libraries by examining trends and technologies, building scenarios for possible future outcomes, then developing strategies to deal with those futures. Named one of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers in 2003, Stacey is recognized as a national leader who’s shaping the future of the library profession.

State Librarian of California Stacey Aldrich resigned in October 2012 to accept the position of deputy secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania. Aldrich assumed her new responsibilities in Harrisburg in early November. In many respects, this move to the Keystone State represents a homecoming. She attended the University of Pittsburgh for her Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees and her parents live in Pennsylvania.