Henry Forster Marx

 The Marx History Room was named after Henry Forster Marx, Director of the Easton Public Library. 

Mr. Marx was born in Allentown in 1865 and died in Easton in 1947.

He retired in 1936, serving 35 years as founding Director of the Andrew Carnegie Easton Public Library.

He relentlessly advocated learning in the young people of Easton, being an English teacher first, in the Easton High School before becoming the first library director.  In his directorship he was materially responsible for the library building that opened in late 1903 and was considered a pioneer among PA Public Libraries. He was a charter member of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. But most of all, Henry Marx was known for having what was thought of and still may be, the most complete local history and genealogical department, covering Easton and Northampton County. One of the projects that Mr. Marx took advantage of was the WPA (Works Progress Administration, the most ambitious American New Deal started by Franklin D. Roosevelt) Even after his retirement, Mr. Marx continued to do research and help bring history and records to the library. 

Henry Forster Marx