The individuals who directed library operations throughout the history of Howard University held various titles and often served additional functions for the University.

1867-1873
Reverend Danforth B. Nichols (*)
M.D., D.D., Howard University
Founder and member of the First Board of Trustees, 1866
Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, 1867-1873
Honorary member of the Board of Trustees, 1873-1906
Librarian/Professor in the Theological Department/Chaplain of Freeman’s Hospital
For more information on Reverend Nichols, visit:
http://www.nps.gov/arho/tour/history/arlingtoninbetween3.html

(*) For twenty years after the resignation of the University’s first Librarian, Danforth B. Nichols, students did most of the library work during the day.

1873-1874
Reverend Lorenzo Westcott
Librarian/Professor in the Theological Department

1874-1875
Reverend George W. Mitchell
Librarian/Dean of the College
Professor of Latin and Instructor of Political Economy

1875-1882
Available records do not indicate who served during this period in which the University, for the most part, was closed.

1882-1890
C.H.A. Bulkley
Librarian/Professor of English in the College

1890
H.O. Cushman
Librarian/Assistant to the Treasurer of the University

1891-1898
Irene C. Tyler Funa
Librarian/Instructor in Physical Culture

1898-1912
Flora L.P. Johnson
Librarian
Daughter of James B. Johnson, former Founder, Trustee and Treasurer of Howard University

1912-1916
Grace Liscom Hewett-Watkins
B.S., Simmons Library School
Director/Librarian

1916-1929
Edward C. Williams (*)
A.B., Western Reserve University, 1892
B.S., New York State Library School, 1900
Graduate Study, Columbia University
Librarian/Professor of Bibliography, and Instructor in Modern and Foreign Languages

1929-1935
Emma G. Murray
B.A., Howard University, 1934
Acting Librarian

1935-1946
Walter G. Daniel
A.B., Virginia Union University, 1926
Ed.B., University of Cincinnati, 1927
A.M., 1928

1946-1971
Joseph H. Reason
A.B., New Orleans College, 1928
A.G., Howard University, 1932
A.M., University of Pennsylvania, 1933
B.S. in Library Service, Columbia University, 1936
Ph.D. in Romance Languages, Catholic University of America, 1957

1971-1973
William D. Cunningham
B.A., University of Kansas, 1954
M.L.S., University of Texas, 1962
Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1972

1973-1975
Kenneth S. Wilson
Acting Director
B.A., Howard University, 1951
M.A., Howard University, 1965
M.S.L.S., Catholic University of America, 1968

1975-1983
Binford H. Conley
A.B., Morehouse College, 1953
M.S.L.S., Atlanta University, 1960
Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1980

1983-1986
Juanita W. Portis
Acting Director
B.S., Alabama A& M University, 1964
M.S.L.S., Atlanta University, 1965

1986-1988
Dorothy M. Haith
A.B., Shaw University
M.S., North Carolina College
M.S., 1967; M.L.S., 1968; Ph.D., 1972, at Indiana University

1988-1989
Thomas C. Battle
Acting Director
B.A., Hoard University, 1969
M.L.S., University of Maryland, 1971
Ph.D., George Washington University, 1982

1989-1994
Ann K. Randall
B.A., Barnard College, 1963
M.L.S., Columbia University, 1967
D.L.S., Columbia University, 1977

1994-
Mohamed Mekkawi
Acting Director, 1994-1996
Director, 1996–Present
B.A., American University of Beirut, 1962
M.A., American University of Beirut, 1966
Post-Graduate Diploma, Development Planning, IRFED, Paris, 1963
M.L.S., University of Pittsburg, 1970
M.A., Demography, Georgetown University, 1974

1) Howard University, The Capstone of Negro Education, A History: 1867-1940, by Walter Dyson, Professor of History, Howard University. Washington, DC: The Graduate School of Howard University, 1941.
2) Howard University, The First Hundred Years, 1867-1967, by Rayford W. Logan. New York: New York University Press, 1969. Issued Under the Auspices of Howard University.