Dakota County History 101: Chief Librarian Gratia Countryman (1866-1953)

Gratia Countryman was born in Hastings in 1866. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1882 at the age of fifteen and from the University of Minnesota in 1889. Countryman was one of only two women to receive bachelor's degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1889.

Immediately after college, Countryman was hired as an assistant librarian at the Minneapolis Public Library. Countryman was influential in helping create the State Library Commission in 1899. After fifteen years as assistant librarian, Countryman was made chief librarian of the Minneapolis Public Library, becoming the first female chief librarian in any major United States city.

During her 32 years as chief librarian, the Minneapolis Public Library grew tremendously. The library added public branch libraries, school branches, and hospital book delivery services.  Library cardholders in Minneapolis increased from 13,000 to 186,000 over that same time period.

Countryman held the distinction of being the first woman, and fourth person ever, to receive an honorary Masters degree from the University of Minnesota. After retiring in 1936, Countryman remained active in the Minneapolis Woman’s Club and the Women’s Welfare League until her death on July 26, 1953.