Professor Fred Alexander CBE

Professor Alexander (1899-1996) served as the inaugural Chairman of the Library Board from 1952-82. An eminent academic and patron of the arts, Professor Alexander was actively involved in the educational and cultural activities of Western Australia for many years. Enjoying a distinguished career as Head of the Department of History at the University of Western Australia from its inception in 1948 until 1966, Professor Alexander travelled to South Africa, Canada, USA and Europe in Fellowship capacities and to India as a visiting Professor. Alongside these appointments, Professor Alexander also served as Director of Adult Education at the University of Western Australia. Determined for Western Australians to enjoy world class cultural events in spite of their geographic and cultural isolation, Professor Alexander was inspired to expand the activities of the University's summer program into the first ever Festival of Perth in 1953, a hugely successful venture that has since continued to blossom as the Perth International Arts Festival. Professor Alexander was also Director and WA Representative of the Australian Elizabethan Trust, Director of the Australian Ballet Foundation and President of the WA branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Professor Alexander is remembered at the State Library for being a policymaker of wisdom and integrity who showed respect for the library profession by leaving professional judgements to the librarians, and focussing instead on policy direction. Under his direction, the State Library established many lasting and amicable relationships with Western Australian local governments and public libraries following the restructuring of these relations under the Library Board of Western Australia Act 1951. During his time as Chairperson, Professor Alexander also oversaw the renovation of the State Reference Library and creation of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History in 1956.

Professor Alexander was presented with the Library Board Fellowship in 1984 in recognition of his invaluable contribution both to the State Library and to public libraries in Western Australia. The Alexander Library Building is named in his honour.