Director, Howard University Library
1946-1971
Joseph H. Reason
A.B., New Orleans College, 1928
A.G., Howard University, 1932
A.M., University of Pennsylvania, 1933
B.S. in Library Service, Columbia University, 1936
Ph.D. in Romance Languages, Catholic University of America, 1957
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In Memoriam 1997
Dr. Joseph H. Reason, a well-known and revered librarian and humanitarian who devoted his life to bringing education and knowledge to others, died of natural causes on Wednesday, July 16, 1997 in Tallahassee, Florida at the age of 92. Dr. Reason was the Director of the Howard University Libraries for 24 years and was instrumental in establishing Howard as a major research library. Howard has the distinction of being the only predominately black institution admitted to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Dr. Reason was the only person in the history of the Association of College and Research Libraries to serve both as its president (1971-72) and as its acting executive director (1962-63).
After retiring from Howard in 1972, Dr. Reason came to Tallahassee as a visiting professor at the Florida State University School of Library and Information Science. He had previously been the Director of the Florida A&M University Libraries (1936-38). He and his late wife, Bernice, made Tallahassee their home and became active in many church, civic, and cultural affairs. Dr. Reason participated in the selection of the site for the construction of the first public library building in Leon County. He also served as the vice chairman of the Legislative Task Force for the State Library and as a trustee of Eckerd College. He is sorely missed by his many friends in Tallahassee.
Dr. Reason is survived by his son, former Admiral J. Paul Reason, the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and four grandchildren.
Admiral Reason is now with Amgen.
