Nina Browne

She was employed as a librarian at Harvard University and Boston Athenæum, a registrar at American Library Association, and an archivist at Smith College.

[2] Though Columbia's program did not grant degrees in its early years, in 1889 Dewey (then State Librarian of New York) successfully petitioned on behalf of his students.

After completion of sixteen proficiency examinations, a subject bibliography, and a thesis, Browne and one other student were awarded Bachelor of Library Science degrees from the University of the State of New York in 1891.

[2][16] Browne had been active in the Alumna Association, and material from her time as a student (saved by her mother) formed the basis of the early collection.

Browne remained a strong advocate for the archive, asserting its importance and the need for a physical space for the collection.

[2][17] Browne had been living in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts at the Trinity Church Home, when she died in 1954, at the age of 94.

For instance, by 1896, she recommended contacting the heads of labor unions to determine what books their members and other people within the community might enjoy reading.

It was said of this effort, "Nothing is more needed than to make artisans and the leaders of trade unions believe that the library exists for their benefit, and induce them to use it for informing themselves on economic matters and all questions of the day.