HCPL has had 10 different leaders over its first 100 years.  The title has changed from County Librarian to Library Director, but the mission has always stayed the same: providing free access to books to all Harris County residents. Below is a list of the leaders that have shaped HCPL and the county.

Browse all items in the collection.  Or visit the digital exhibit HCPL Directors.

Lucy Fuller​ Gross

County Librarian

1921-1926

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Lucy Fuller Gross.

Read annual reports and budgets prepared by Lucy Fuller Gross.

Ruth Underwood​ Pooley

County Librarian

1926-1932

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Ruth Underwood Pooley.

Read annual reports prepared by Ruth Underwood Pooley.

Elnora Edgar Buchanan

County Librarian

1932-1939

View photographs and newspaper articles featuring Elnora Edgar Buchanan.

Read a profile of Elnora Edgar Buchanan from 1936

Read annual reports prepared by Elnora Edgar Buchanan.

Reba Anderson

County Librarian

1939-1945

View a photograph of Reba Anderson.

Read annual reports prepared by Reba Anderson.

Bernice Snell

County Librarian

1945-1951

View photographs and newspaper clippings featuring Bernice Snell.

Read annual reports prepared by Bernice Snell.

Mary Butler Owensby

County Librarian

1951-1974

View photographs and newspaper clippings featuring Mary Butler Owensby.

Read correspondence and annual reports by Mary Butler Owensby.

Katherine "Kathy" Skinner Brown

Library Director

1974-1979

Read a profile of Kathy Skinner Brown written in May 1974.

View photographs featuring Kathy Skinner Brown.

Read annual reports prepared by Kathy Skinner Brown.

Catherine "Cathy" S. Park

Library Director

1979-2006

View photographs and video featuring Cathy S. Park.

Read correspondence by Cathy S. Park.

Rhoda Goldberg

Library Director

2008-2013

View photographs featuring Rhoda Goldberg.

Read correspondence to and from Rhoda Goldberg.

Edward Melton

Library Director

2014-Present

View photographs featuring Edward Melton.

Watch an interview with Edward Melton filmed in 2021 as part of HCPL's Centennial celebrations.