Harry Lyman Koopman

Born in 1860 and active for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Harry Lyman Koopman is best known as the head librarian of Brown University, a role he held from 1893 to 1930. He also wrote essays on books and reading, including The Booklover and His Books, which gathered pieces written across those years.

Koopman’s career was closely tied to Brown, where he helped guide the library through a long period of growth. Beyond librarianship, he was also known as an artist and illustrator, giving his work a distinctive blend of scholarship and visual taste.

His writing has an easy, appreciative tone that still appeals to readers who enjoy the history of books, libraries, and literary culture. Even now, he is remembered as one of those rare figures who cared not only about preserving books, but also about celebrating the pleasure of living with them.