Profiles of Washington Territorial Librarians – Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson, 1888-1890
Eleanor (Ellen) Sharp Stevenson, 1888-1890 From the Desks of the Central Library Staff She was the last Territorial Librarian and by default became the first State Librarian when Washington attained statehood on Nov. 11, 1889. Born July, 1848 in Logan County, Ky., she surfaced as a teacher in Olympia in 1882. In 1884 she was apparently teaching in Mason County. By 1886 Ellen was employed as a clerk for the Legislature and in that brief window of time (1883-1888) when…