LILLIAN QUINCEY TOBEY (1873-1962)

Lillian Q. Tobey came from a family of sisters who were librarians.  She spent much of her life living with her sisters Ellen (who was also an NYPL librarian) and Grace (who worked at the Brooklyn Public Library).

Lillian Tobey was born in Portland, Maine, but her family had moved to New York City by the 1890s.  So far, I have been unable to find any information on Lillian Tobey’s educational background. 

       

In 1897 both Lillian and Ellen Tobey were assistants in the New York Free Circulating Library and continued to serve there until the NYFCL joined NYPL in 1901.

In 1905 Ellen became Branch Librarian at Bloomingdale, and Lillian transferred to serve as her First Assistant.  When Ellen Tobey was transferred in 1907, Lillian was promoted to replace her as Branch Librarian.

In 1910 Lillian was transferred to be Branch Librarian at Washington Heights and after three years transferred again to head the Bond Street Branch.  The Bond Street building (the original headquarters of the NYFCL) was closed in 1918 and Tobey left NYPL.

From 1919-1929 Lillian Tobey worked in the library of the Brooklyn Museum, and it is not known why she left that position. 

Tobey died in Ocean Grove NJ in 1962, and her death certificate indicates she had lived in the area since at least 1948.

ELLEN HOWARD TOBEY (1874-????)

Ellen H. Tobey was the younger sister of Lillian Q. Tobey who was also an NYPL Branch Librarian.  Their sister Grace worked at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Ellen Tobey began working at the New York Free Circulating Library in 1897 and became First Assistant at the Bloomingdale Branch in 1900.  She continued in that position after consolidation until she was promoted to Branch Librarian at the branch in 1905.  In 1907 she transferred to head the Tremont Branch. 

In 1911 Ellen Tobey resigned from NYPL to be married to Donald Banks Tobey (1879-1967) who was the treasurer of an oil company.  She seems to have left librarianship at that point.  They are listed together in the Ridgewood NJ directories 1928-1935.

In the late 1930s Ellen Tobey is listed as living in Ridgewood NJ with her son, Wendell B. Tobey.  In 1941, the three sisters—Ellen, Lillian and Grace—were living together in Ridgewood and apparently no longer working.  The 1946 city directory indicates that three sisters had moved from Ridgewood to Asbury Park NJ.