National Library News October 1999 Vol. 31, no. 10

In Memoriam

Dr. William Kaye Lamb, F.R.S.C., O.C.

May 11, 1904 - August 24, 1999

Courtesy of the National Archives of Canada

It is with deep regret that the staff at the National Library learned of the death of Dr. William Kaye Lamb on Tuesday, August 24, 1999 in Vancouver. Dr. Lamb was responsible for the planning of a national library and became the first National Librarian in May 1953.

Before being appointed to the National Library, Dr. Lamb held the positions of Provincial Librarian and Archivist of British Columbia (1934-1940), Chief Librarian of the University of British Columbia (1940-1948), and was named Dominion Archivist in 1948  -  a position he held until his retirement in 1969. During the period between 1953 and May of 1968, Dr. Lamb held the positions of both Dominion Archivist and National Librarian. Dr. Lamb left the National Library on January 31, 1968.

Dr. Lamb is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Hawkins, a former employee of the National Library and the National Archives, his son-in-law Bert and by two grandsons.

A memorial service was held on September 22 in Ottawa at the National Library /National Archives building. An obituary detailing his life was published in the August 30 edition of the Globe and Mail ¹. Dr. Tom Delsey’s testimony to Dr. Lamb on August 31, 1999 will appear in the November issue of the National Library News.

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