The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IV G Green, Seth page 394 [p.394] GREEN, Samuel Swett, librarian, was born in Worcester, Mass., Feb. 20, 1837; son of James and Elizabeth (Swett) Green; grandson of John Green, and a descendant of Thomas Green who came from England about 1635 and settled in Maiden, Mass.; and also a descendant, through his mother, from Ralph Sprague, who came to Charlestown, Mass., in 1629. He was prepared for college at the Worcester high school and was graduated from Harvard in 1858. In June, 1859, he sailed for Smyrna and Constantinople, returning in November of the same year. He was graduated from Harvard divinity school in 1864, but the condition of his health prevented his entering the ministry and he accepted a clerical position in the Mechanics' national bank in Worcester, becoming teller in the Worcester national bank a few months later. On Jan. 15, 1871, he became librarian of the Free public library in Worcester. He was a director of the library, 1867-71. He was one of the founders of the American library association in 1876, was chosen first vice-president in September, 1887, and president, July 16, 1891. He was a delegate of the association to the International congress of librarians held in London in October, 1877, and was a member of the council of that body; was chosen honorary member of the Library association of the United Kingdom in July, 1878; was lecturer on "Public Libraries as popular educational institutions" in the school of library economy, when connected with Columbia college, N.Y. city; was chosen a fellow of the Royal historical society of Great Britain, May 8, 1879; and a member of the American antiquarian society, April 28, 1880, and of its council, Oct. 22, 1883. In July, 1893, he presided over the World's congress of librarians, held in connection with the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago, and in 1897 was vice-president of the second international congress of librarians held in London, England. He was appointed in October, 1890, a member of the original board of the Massachusetts free public library commissioners, and was reappointed in 1894 and 1899. Harvard conferred upon him the degree of A.M. in 1870. He is the author of two books on library topics; of numerous pamphlets on library and historical subjects; of numerous articles for foreign and American periodicals, and of papers published by the governments of Great Britain, the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His work in advancing the modern library movement had in 1900 included nearly thirty years' labor as writer and lecturer. Deloris Williams