Frederick M. Crunden

Frederick Morgan Crunden (September 1, 1847 – October 28, 1911) was the head librarian of the St. Louis Public Library in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1877 to 1909 and the President of the American Library Association in 1889-1890. Crunden was born in Gravesend, England to Benjamin and Mary (Morgan) Crunden.
The family immigrated to the United States and settled in St. Louis, Missouri when Crunden was still a child. He attended Washington University, St. Louis, graduating in 1868 with a bachelor of arts. Crunden taught in St. Louis public schools and at Washington University where he received a master's degree in 1872. In January 1877 he became secretary and librarian of the St. Louis public library which was, at the time, part of the St. Louis Public Schools.
Crunden focused on the relationship of schools and libraries, developing them in St. Louis so that they were modeled for others nationwide. He advocated and promoted a strong partnership between the National Education Association and the American Library Association. Crunden led an expansion of the St. Louis public schools library and oversaw its conversion into a free public library. He served as the first president of the Missouri state library association.

• The new novel problem and its solution (1899)
• The Free Public Library, Its Uses and Value (1893)