Stearns, Lutie (1866–1943)

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Stearns, Lutie (1866–1943)

American librarian and reformer. Born Lutie Eugenia Stearns, Sept 13, 1866, in Stoughton, MA; died Dec 25, 1943, in Milwaukee, WI; dau. of Isaac Holden Stearns (physician) and Catherine (Guild) Stearns.

Appointed superintendent of circulation department of Milwaukee Public Library (1890) and campaigned for creation of state library commission; was 1st paid staff member of Free Library Commission (1897); helped organize 100 public libraries and more than 1,400 traveling libraries in Wisconsin; lectured and campaigned for woman suffrage, state prohibition, and child labor laws throughout US.