Harriet McIntosh, founder of the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library, passed away June 21, 2008 at the age of 93. In addition to founding our Friends group, Harriet was also responsible for founding the Sedona Library Friends group, the Arizona Library Friends as well as the Arizona Friends of Talking Books.

A reader and writer all her life, Harriet was a contributing writer to several national publications including Mademoiselle, Saturday Evening Post, Harper's and the New York Times.

Born in Dowagiac, Michigan in 1918, Harriet was raised as an only child. It was from her parents that she developed her love of books. “The library is the lodge pole in the tent of my life,” Harriet would often say. She graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1940 with a degree in English Literature.

In 1947, Harriet relocated to Tucson, where son Toby was born. Shortly thereafter, Harriet and Toby joined her parents in Sedona, where Harriet continued her successful writing career. After her father’s death, Harriet moved with her mother to Phoenix, where she resided for 39 years.

In 1977, with encouragement from former librarian Nan Steiner, Harriet started the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library. She understood that Phoenix residents and the library system could both benefit from a strong partnership. She was instrumental in organizing citizens and served as the Friends first president, remaining an active Friends member until her passing in 2008.

Harriet leaves behind a legacy of hard work, perseverance and the desire to leave the world a better place than she found it. The Friends are honored to have played such a prominent role in this amazing woman’s life.

Harriet's family kindly requests, in lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library in her name.

Sign Harriet's guestbook on azcentral.com

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