Ann Parham

Myrtis Ann Parham (1943 or 1944[1] in Columbus, Georgia)[2] is an American librarian known for her work for the United States Department of Defense, including a 13-year term as Librarian of the Army. Parham remained a civilian throughout her career.[3]

Career

Parham received a master's degree in library science from Florida State University, where she had previously earned a bachelor's degree in social work and social studies education.[2] Her first job as a librarian was at the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, North Carolina.[4]

Parham's work with the military began in 1976, when she was assigned to Camp Humphreys.[5] Other assignments included Mannheim, Nurnberg, Wiesbaden, and Alexandria, Virginia.[2]

She subsequently worked at the libraries of United States Army Materiel Command and the National Defense University,[5] where she served as Chief of Research and Information Services.[2] She also worked at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.[2]

In December 1998, she was promoted to Librarian of the Army.[5][2]

On September 2, 2011, Parham retired.[5]

Experience on 9/11

On September 11, 2001, Parham was working in the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building immediately below her office. While escaping the wreckage, she sustained a broken toe and second-degree burns to her face[1] as well as to her ears and hands;[2] the facial damage was subsequently repaired by a plastic surgeon who donated his services.[1] Despite her injuries, Parham was present on-site for a meeting of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 Personnel of The United States Army on September 14th.[2]

Much of the Pentagon's on-site library was destroyed during the attack; after her recovery, Parham oversaw the library's restoration.[6] Her efforts in the restoration were cited in her being awarded the 2002 Federal Librarian of the Year award.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Myrtis Ann Parham; by Johanna Neuman; at the Los Angeles Times; published September 11, 2002
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i M. ANN PARHAM: Army Librarian, by Dawn Humphrey; in THE MILITARY LIBRARIAN: The Newsletter of the Military Librarians Division of the Special Libraries Association; vol. 48, no. 2l; Fall 2003
  3. ^ Columbus, Ga., Native Garners Award as Top Federal Librarian, by Mick Walsh; in the Ledger-Enquirer; published April 16, 2003; retrieved July 9, 2025
  4. ^ Escape from the Pentagon, by Pat Alderman; in Federal Librarian Newsletter (ISSN 1940-3534); Fall/September 2016; volume 32; no. 1; p. 5
  5. ^ a b c d Fabulous Feds, in Federal Librarian (Vol. 30, No. 1, Fall 2011); at the American Library Association
  6. ^ Military Life, by Marylaine Block, in Library Journal; published May 21, 2010; retrieved January 19, 2026
  7. ^ Federal libraries and librarians get information awards, by Jim Sweeney; at Route Fifty; published March 4, 2003; retrieved January 19, 2026
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