Past Executive Directors & Secretaries

Past ALA Executive Directors*

Mary W. Ghikas 2017-2020

Keith Michael Fiels 2002-17

William R. Gordon 1998 –2002

Mary W. Ghikas (acting) 1997–98

Elizabeth Martinez 1994–97

Peggy Sullivan 1992–94

(d. April 13, 2020)

Linda F. Crismond 1989–92

Thomas J. Galvin 1985–89

(d. Feb. 18, 2004)

Robert Wedgeworth 1972–85

David H. Clift 1958–72

(emeritus d. October 12, 1973)

Past ALA Secretaries*

David H. Clift 1951–58

John MacKenzie Cory (d. April 11, 1988) 1948–51

Harold F. Brigham (interim) July–Aug., 1948

Carl H. Milam 1920–48

George Burwell Utley 1911–20

Chalmers Hadley 1909–11

(Edward C. Hovey, executive officer, 1905–7)

James Ingersoll Wyer 1902–9

Frederick Winthrop Faxon 1900–2

Henry James Carr 1898–1900

Melvil Dewey 1897–98

Rutherford Platt Hayes 1896–97

Henry Livingston Elmendorf 1895–96

Frank Pierce Hill 1891–95

Mary Salome Cutler 1891

William E. Parker and 1890–July 1891

Melvil Dewey 1879–90

*Title changed to Executive Director as of November 1958