b. Aug. 29, 1898, Winnipeg, Man.; d. 1973, Hamilton, ON

Education:

Central Public School, Hamilton, Hamilton Collegiate Institute, BA. 1919 (Toronto), MA in English, 1931(Columbia); 1932 Diploma in Librarianship, University of London

Positions:

Publications and other writings:

Waldon, Freda Farrell (1990).  Bibliography of Canadiana published in Great  Britain, 1519-1973.  Revised and Edited by William F. E.. Morley.     Ottawa: National Library of  Canada.  (Published posthumously)

Walden, Freda Farrell (1935). “Queen Anne and the Four Kings of Canada:     a bibliography of contemporary sources.” In: Canadian historical review,

v.  15, issue 1, p. 266.

Waldon, Freda Farrell (1947). “National library service: the report of the President, Freda F Waldon, to the Second Conference of the Association,

June, 14-16,1947, Vancouver, B.C.  

Waldon, Freda Farrell (1951). “The Massey report.” [a speech given     before     the] Hamilton Association, Nov. 10, 1951.

Waldon, Fred Farrell (1953). “The Massey Report – three years after.”

Honours:

1947 Elected first President of the Canadian of the Canadian Library Association

1954 Honorary Doctor of Laws, McMaster University, for her contribution to Canadian librarianship.

 United Nations Award for Meritorous Service  in recognition of 35 years of active membership

Accomplishments: 

 Described as a “renaissance Woman” Freda Waldon’s accomplishments were many spreading over three areas – Scholarship, contributions to the improvement of

libraries and library services and for dedicated community service. As a professional and chief librarian she transformed the cataloguing system of the Hamilton

Public Library and “she will be remembered for the expansion of  branch libraries, for increased children’s services, and the enhancing human resources for library 

staff.”  As a library administrator she transformed the Hamilton Public Library into a first rate resource in the areas of catalogue and its book collection."  Before her

retirement the collection was the fourth largest in a public library in Canada; circulation had grown to the third largest and a nation-wide reputation had been

gained for the quality of the reference service offered.” (www.my.hamilton.ca)  Her contributions to library service reached far beyond her own library in her services

on the executive of the Ontario Library Association, her leadership as the first president of the Canadian Library Association and her contributions that lead to the

development of the National Library of Canada. Her scholarship can be seen in the development of the monumental Bibiography of Canadiana, Published in Great

Britain 1519-1763 which was prepared under a Carnegie Fellowship. A dedicated commuity worker, she took a leading role in adult education helping to found the

Hamilton Recreation Council and the Hamilton branch of the Nation Film Forum She was also a founding member of the Women’s Committee of the Art Gallery of

Hamilton and Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society,

Sources:

Freda Farrell Waldon: 1992 Gallery of Distinction Inductee  www.myhamiltonca/people/freda-farrell-waldon

Canadian Who’s Who 1973-75. Toronto: Who’sWho Canadian Publications,  1975. p.1020.