Richard Rogers Bowker

[1][2] Richard Rogers Bowker was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848, to a successful, educated family.

His paternal grandfather, Joel Bowker (1775–1858) rose from a grocery clerk to a leading merchant and part owner of sailing vessels.

[3] The family moved to New York City, where Bowker's father started a barrel-making business.

In 1880 the Mugwumps helped defeat the nomination of Ulysses Grant for a third term because of the scandals during his administrations.

[3] He was a liberal Republican who played a leading role in enacting of civil service and municipal reforms in New York in the 1880s and in 1880 wrote the civil service reform plank that was adopted in the national Republican platform.

He assisted in organizing the first American Book Trade Show and was hired by prestigious London and New York publishers as their representatives at various times.

In May 1876, Bowker, Leypoldt, and Melvil Dewey met in New York City to discuss the development of libraries.

[3] The libraries operated on a subscription basis with no access to shelves and no children's sections.

Bowker remained the heart and soul of the publication for many years despite its lack of financial success.

He not only wrote regular editorials, but also numerous essays on library history, organization and management for the publication.

The magnificent record of the nation's foremost library during the following decades was in no small measure due to Putnam's admirable leadership, and Bowker could take just pride in the part he played in bringing this about," McClung Fleming wrote in 1952.

[3] It was written of Bowker that, "few in the library world had wider acquaintance, few had more lasting friendships, few were more generous in recognition of new talent, few more cherishing of old memories.

; Rogers, Bruce, Publication: Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Co.; Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1900 Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848–1933.