Melvil Dewey

Melvil Dewey
President of the American Library Association
In office
May 1892 – 1893
Preceded byWilliam Isaac Fletcher
Succeeded byJosephus Nelson Larned
In office
1890 – July 1891
Preceded byFrederick Morgan Crunden
Succeeded bySamuel Swett Green
Personal details
Born
Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey

December 10, 1851 (1851-12-10)
Adams Center, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 26, 1931(1931-12-26) (aged 80)
Lake Placid, Florida, U.S.
Spouses
  • Annie R. Godfrey
    (m. 1878)
  • Emily McKay Beal
    (m. 1924)
ChildrenGodfrey Dewey
Alma materAmherst College (AB, MA)
Occupation
Known forDewey Decimal Classification
Signature

Melville Louis Kossuth "Melvil" Dewey (December 10, 1851 – December 26, 1931) was an influential American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, a founder of the Lake Placid Club, and a chief librarian at Columbia University. He was also a founding member of the American Library Association. Although Dewey's contributions to the modern library are widely recognized, his legacy is marred by allegations of sexual harassment, racism, and antisemitism.