Lauren W. Ripley, librarian of the public library of Sacramento, which position he has held since 1900, has been connected with the library for over twenty years, and his record both for length of service and high efficiency is hardly surpassed by any in the state. He has devoted his best efforts to the upbuilding and advancement of Sacramento's literary interests, and to making the library the civic power for good which it really is when properly managed. Library economics and management have passed through their greatest period of development to their high state of efficiency since Mr. Ripley became connected with the work, and he has constantly kept abreast of the progress in this pursuit, which has in fact risen to the rank of a profession and requires talents of a high order.

Mr. Ripley was born in Sacramento, April 27, 1864. His father, Captain James M. Ripley, was a native of New York, and belonged to an old American family whose ancestors came from England as early as 1680. He came to California in 1850 via the isthmus, and made Sacramento his home from 1860 until his death, which occurred in 1881. his wife was Harriet Adams, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, and she is still living in Sacramento. They were the parents of three sons, Arthur L. and Herbert M., being also residents of Sacramento.

Lauren W. Ripley was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the Sacramento high school with the class of 1883. Before completing his high school course, in January, 1882, he went into the public library as assistant librarian, and remained in that capacity until his appointment as librarian in June, 1900. When he first became connected with it, the library contained only eight thousand volumes, but there are now on the shelves forty thousand and the circulation and reading public have increased to even a larger degree.

Mr. Ripley was married in Sacramento in September, 1903, to Miss Harriet M. Nelson, a native of Sacramento, Calfornia, and a daughter of Clarence N. Nelson, of Sacramento. Mr. Ripley affiliates with the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Source: History of the New California Its Resources and People, Volume I

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine