- Photo courtesy of Nebraska
Library Commission Archives
Edna Bullock
Executive Secretary
Nebraska Public Library Commission, 1901-1906
Snapshot of Edna Dean Bullock
Edna D. Bullock, first secretary (director in today's terms) of the Nebraska Public Library Commission from
1901-1906, was born at North Lewisburg, OH, April 26, 1869. Miss Bullock received her B.L. from the University of Nebraska in 1889, and a B.L.S. from the New York State Library School. She engaged in library and bibliographical work in twelve states. Prior to her appointment as Commission secretary, she was a cataloger at the University of Nebraska Library. Following her tenure at the Commission, Miss Bullock was on the editorial staff of the H.W. Wilson Publishing Company from 1910-11 and held various positions with the Nebraska Legislative Reference Bureau, including director.
Miss Bullock presented at the 2nd Nebraska Library Association (NLA) annual meeting, held on December 29, 1896, about "Traveling Libraries." She was elected vice-president of NLA at that meeting. University of Nebraska professor J.I. Wyer, reading at the meeting of the state association in 1901 from his prepared paper, Nebraska Library Work: Progress of the Past Year All Over the State, noted: "The library laws passed by the last legislature form a chapter of the utmost importance in library progress during the year. The establishment of the public library commission, for which the Nebraska library association, with the federation of Women's clubs have been working for six years, gives to Nebraska libraries a central bureau, which has given immense possibilities for work in helping and strengthening existing libraries and creating new ones and especially in bringing books to the many bookless communities in the state. This work has begun in a very satisfactory manner and is in charge of Miss Edna D. Bullock, who is fitted by training and experience to take care of this work in a very efficient manner. The legislature also amended the library law increasing the amount of tax which may be levied by any city or town, from 1 mill to 2 mills per annum."