b. Apr. 14, 1894, London ON; d. Jan. 10, 1962, London ON

Richard Crouch, c.1960. Credit London Public Library

B.A 1921 (Western Ontario (attended Western Ontario 1914-1916;University of London (Eng) 1918-1919; Western Ontario, 1919-1921)
1921-1922 (University of Paris: Political Economy and Sociology)
LLD 1955 (Western Ontario)

1923-1940 Chief Librarian, London Public Library
1940-1961 Chief Librarian and Director, Public Library and Art Museum, London, Ont.

Has written extensively for library and adult education publications+, including the ALA Bulletin, Ontario Library Review, Canadian Art and Food for Thought.

Crouch, Richard. E. (1942). “Cooperation between the county library and the central public library of the county.” Ontario Library Review , 26 (May): 203-204.

Crouch, Richard E. (1950),. Chapter on libraries. In Kidd, J.R. Adult Education in Canada. Toronto: Canadian Adult Education Association.

Crouch, Richard. E. (1941). “London's new Public Library and Art Museum.” Ontario Library Review (August): 249-250.

Crouch, Richard E. (1944). “A Community art centre in action.” Canadian Art,: 2 (October-November): 22-28.

Crouch, Richard E. (1945). “The librarian.” Ontario Library Review 29 (February): 60-61.

Crouch, Richard E. (1946) “A Library meets the community.” ALA Bulletin, 40 (December 1): 475-478).

Crouch, Richard. E. (1947). “The lending library of Canadian Art: London Public Library and Art Museum.” Ontario Library Review, 31 (February): 60-61.

Crouch, Richard E. (1949a). “Brief presented to the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences on behalf of the London Public Library and Art Museum , November 1949.”

Crouch, Richard E. (1949b). “A Conference on the reports of the Special Library Inquiry.” Ontario Library Review, 33 (November): 349-352.

Crouch, Richard. E. (1949c). “The library and the community.” Ontario Library Review, 33 (May): 95-96.

Crouch, Richard E.(1958). “Looking forward” Ontario Library Review (May): 99-101.

Crouch, Richard E. (1960a). “Angus Mowat: our appreciation.” Ontario Library Review: 44 (May): 63.

Crouch, Richard E. (1960b) “Trends in Public Library Service.” Ontario Library Review, 44 (August): 149-143. (also in Food for Thought, 21 (November, 1960): 66-72).

As described by Charles Dean Kent, Richard E. Crouch was indeed “a man ahead of his time.” He pioneered in the bringing together of a library and a museum.

Compiled by General Reference Department, London Public Library and Art Museum.
Dr. Keith Crouch, Richard Crouch's son.
Kent, Charles D., comp. (1962). “ Richard E. Crouch: Man ahead of his time.; a sketch of his philosophy and ideas of library and art museum service as seen from his writings.” London: London Public Library and Art Museum, (Occasional paper 1).
Giles, Suzette (2018). “Libraries named after librarians.” ELAN no. 64 (FALL): 7-8.