Butler Wood.

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Butler Wood.

Watercolour painting by John Sowden of Butler Wood, curator and librarian to the Free Library and Art Museum. Age 43.

Sowden's note in notebook -
"Butler Wood F.R.S.L. was the eldest son of Mr W. H. Wood, for many years a bookseller in Bradford. Lidget Green and at the Mechanics’ Institute. When 14 years of age he officiated as librarian at the Sunday School of Sion Chapel in Bridge Street. Then he entered the Free Library and in 1875 was appointed sub-librarian. When Mr C. G. ? went to Manchester, Mr. Wood succeeded to the office of Chief Librarian and he has held that position ? from that day to this. The Free Libraries Act was adopted in Bfd in 1872 and premises rented in Market Street, and the Bfd Town Council carried forward the movement. The Reference Library was opened in 1872 & the Lending Library was established in 1873. The removal of the Central Library to the Corporation’s own property in Darley St. took place in 1878, and in the following year, the Art Gallery & Museum was formally opened by the Mayor, Mr Angus Holden (afterwards Baron Holden of Alston). The Art Gallery & Museum Department has grown vastly in importance under the management of Mr Wood. Mr Wood and the Art Committee make frequent visits to London & other exhibitions & to the studios of leading artists to ? pictures for ? exhibitions at the Cartwright Hall. Mr Wood is an enthusiastic member & a former Chairman of the Council of the Bronte Society and Editor of its publications. He was president of the Northern Counties Libraries Association in 1905 – 6 and retains his connection with that body as well as the membership of the Council of the Library Association. He was president of the Bfd Historical & Antiquarian Society in 1903 -4 and for 1915, 1916 and 1917. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature & from time to tome has turned his pen to excellent account not only in articles to magazines, but also a book publication. “The Influence of the Moorland on Charlotte & Emily Bronte” (1894) was perhaps his most successful work. He completed the Bibliography of Bronte Works in 1895-7. Mr Wood deserves the thanks of all antiquarians and of the public for the ? interest he has taken in the renovations of Bolling Hall, the old Tudor mansion which is now Bolling Hall Museum. Retired from Directorship of Libraries, Art Gallery and Museums, September, 1925."
[final sentence in pencil and in a different hand – added at a later date]

Year

1897

Creator

John Sowden.

Image filename

sowden-195