William Archer (naturalist)

William Archer (6 May 1830 (1827?)–14 August 1897) was an Irish naturalist and microscopist especially interested in Protozoa and Desmids. He served as the first librarian of the National Library of Ireland from 1878–1895.

Early life and family
William Archer was born on May 6, 1830, in Maghera hamlet, Co. Down. He was the eldest son of the Reverend Richard Archer (d. 1849) and Jane Matilda (Campbell) (d. 1866). William Frazier, Archer’s colleague at the National Library of Ireland, wrote in Archer’s obituary that he was the “eldest son”. Frazier’s obituary also mentions Archer’s “only brother, Holt Waring Archer”. However, various sources cite two younger brothers: Holt Waring Archer and Richard Henry Verling (H.V.) Archer, and one sister, Matilda Jane Humphreys (Archer). Sources differ on Archer’s exact siblings and their birth order, often mentioning the other siblings but not William. Swanzy’s entry for Rev. Richard Archer describes second son Holt, third son Richard H.V., and a daughter Jane, but there is no mention of William Archer listed as first son.

Archer’s father was born in Wexford and was ordained a curate in 1823. Archer’s parents were married in Dublin in 1825, the same year that Rev. Archer graduated from university at Trinity College, Dublin. Rev. Archer was the Primary Curate of Magherahamlet from 1825-35. In 1835, Rev. Archer resigned from Magherahamlet and became the primary curate of Clonduff. Rev. Archer died in Hilltown Glebe on 23 Oct., 1849. His death left “a young family in straitened circumstances”. Both of Archer’s brothers predeceased him: Richard H.V. Archer died in 1863 and Holt Waring Archer died in 1883. His sister, Matilda Jane, married Dr. Hutchinson D. Humphreys in 1852. His mother Jane died in Dublin in 1866.

His paternal grandparents were William and Mary Archer. Archer’s great-uncle on his maternal side, the Reverend Holt Waring, was the Dean of Dromore. His maternal grandfather was Watkins William Verling from Dublin. His brother Richard was a Barrister in a landed estates court in Cavan.

Archer moved to Dublin around 1849, where he helped found the Dublin Microscopical Society and became involved in pursuits of scientific study and librarianship which would define his life and career, spending “his early life…unselfishly devoted to scientific research by which he secured a widespread reputation little understood beyond the abstract world of science.”

Career & Role in Librarianship
After his move to Dublin around 1849, Archer pursued a career in business, but quickly made a name for himself as a talented naturalist in his leisure time. He was a founding member of the Dublin Microscopical Club, of which he eventually became secretary. In the subsequent period, Archer's scientific work was frequently published in the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science and in the club's Proceedings, as well as the Proceedings of the Dublin Natural History Society. He achieved particular fame and recognition for his work on protozoa and minute fresh water organisms. As a result of his efforts, Archer became a member of the Royal Irish Academy, and was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1875. In 1879, he was also awarded the Cunningham Medal of the Royal Irish Academy. Despite these achievements, Archer's humble and shy character seemingly led him to decline opportunities like a professorship of botany at the Royal College of Science for Ireland.

Archer subsequently made a career change when he became the librarian of the Royal Dublin Society in 1877. This particular role did not last, as the library was acquired by the state, and swiftly absorbed into the National Library of Ireland the following year. Luckily for Archer, the Council of Trustees decided to appoint him as the first librarian of the National Library in February 1878. Setting himself to his task with zeal, Archer quickly gained a positive reputation among librarians for his dedication and work ethic. Under his purview, the library became one of the first to implement the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Archer likewise strongly influenced the internal design of the new library building, inspiring Dublin-based architects, Deane & Son, with his 1881 pamphlet: "Suggestions as to public library buildings: their internal plan and construction, best adapted to effect economy of space." Archer retired from his post in 1895 due to poor health, but his establishment of relatively novel systems like the Dewey Decimal Classification, as well as a dictionary catalogue had a lasting positive impact for library users.

Later life and death
William Archer retired from his position as Director of the National Library of Ireland on April 7, 1895 due to his health. His hard work took a toll on his body. After retiring his health continued to decline. William Archer became disabled due to his illnesses.

Mr. William Archer died on August 14, 1987 at his house, 52 Lower Mount Street, Dublin, Ireland. He was 67 years old.

According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, at the time of William Archer’s death he had:

“£254 3s. 9d. effects in England: Irish probate sealed in London, 21 Jan 1898, CGPLA Eng. & Wales” and “£703 14s. 1d.: probate, 14 Dec 1897, CGPLA Ire.”

William Archer was said to believe that, “All the machinery and the clever devices of librarians have one important end — to serve the reader, to place rapidly before every student, sooner or later, the source of information which he needs.”

Legacy
Archer's legacy is defined by his first post as NLI director. He left a legacy of scientific evaluation, founding the Dublin Microscopical club which has led his legacy to this day. Naturally, as the National library of Ireland was forming, it was the RDS library and he was tasked with becoming the first director of the National Library which came with the tasks of overseeing the new changes made by the state, adding to his legacy of what we see reflected within the library today. These include, clean, automated and well catalogued articles. Thomas Deane used many of Archer's ideas on the reformation of the new building. The Dewey Decimal System was used by William Archer and it transformed the classification and cataloguing process for good and helped users efficiently find data and books. Through his process, the cataloguing system was less convoluted and became a cohesive system with him at the helm. He was a reserved man by most accounts, preferring to opt for his own time and management of the library, but through his adoption of the Dewey Decimal System, the reflection of his legacy is clear, especially with his pamphlet " Suggestions as to public library buildings . . . with especial reference to the National Library of Ireland (Dublin, 1881)". 

"Archer, W. Suggestions as to public library buildings: their internal plan and construction, best adapted to effect economy of space (and, hence, saving of cost), and at same time most conducive to public, as well as administrative, convenience, with more especial reference to the National Library of Ireland (Dublin, 1881)"

This pamphlet was conducive to his legacy as well as his love of biology. Archer declined professorships and the like, opting for a quiet life, but people wanted to add to his legacy so they nominated him for membership to the Royal Irish Academy without his knowledge which adds to his lineage. Even though he retired in poor health and quite unwell, this did not define him as he contributed massively to the National library and its way of working. He passed away with an impressive and varied legacy that is still reflected in the National library of Irelands physical state as well as its inner workings.