Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Nelson, Charles Alexander

NELSON, Charles Alexander, librarian, b. in Calais, Me., 14 April, 1839. He was graduated at Harvard in 1860, studied civil engineering at Lawrence scientific school and library science at the College library in Boston, but engaged in teaching. In 1864-'5 he was a civil engineer in government service at New Berne, N. C. He afterward engaged in business there, and was several times elected to civil offices. From 1874 till 1881 he was connected with the book-trade in Boston, and was employed in literary, library, and editorial work. For six years he was the Boston correspondent of the “American Bookseller,” and since 1876 he has been on the editorial staff of “Zion's Herald.” He has written “Waltham, Past and Present, and its Industries” (1879), and “Weston” in Samuel A. Drake's “History of Middlesex County, Mass.” (1880). Mr. Nelson has given special study to library economy, and since 1881 has had charge of the “Catalogue of the Astor Library (Continuation), Vol. I.-III. (1886-'7),” and is now (1888) at work on the fourth and last volume. He was one of the founders and is now (1888) secretary of the New York library club.