James H. Billington Biography

James H. Billington (June 1, 1929 – November 20, 2018) was an American scholar and librarian who served as the 13th Librarian of Congress from 1987 to 2015. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Princeton University and earned a doctorate from Oxford University. Billington is best known for digitizing the Library of Congress through the 'American Memory' project and for his expertise in Russian history, authoring works like 'The Icon and the Axe.' He transformed the library into a global digital resource, earning recognition as a pioneer in modern librarianship.