Throughout his life Richardson strived to make advances in cataloging systems and increased access to necessary research materials in U.S. libraries.

To support his studies financially he worked as a student assistant in the library and also as a pin-setter for a local bowling alley.

Throughout his academic career he maintained a good grade-point average, so that when he graduated on July 2, 1880, he did so with Phi Beta Kappa honors.

[1] After graduating from Amherst, Richardson accepted a part-time position at Hartford Theological Seminary as a student assistant under Dr. Chester David Hartranft, one of the founders of the American Library Association.

from Amherst College, which was common practice for the institution at the time (given to graduates who had furthered their professional or liberal studies for two or more years).

[1] Following years of service to the library at Hartford Theological Seminary, Richardson accepted a position at Princeton University, then known as The College of New Jersey.

A committee was formed to investigate these accusations, of which Richardson was cleared, and it was recommended that the school give the library more funds.

Tensions grew when Richardson traveled abroad and was docked part of his salary, even though he carried out work for the library and had always been compensated previously.

Richardson's wife, Grace, died on October 29, 1933, following which he rented their home in Princeton and resided mainly in their cottage “High Pastures” in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

On June 29, 1939, Richardson died of angina pectoris, and was buried in the Ely family plot near Lyme, Connecticut.