Florence Rigmor Ziegler Ljunggren (August 16, 1906 – March 1988) was an American librarian, bibliographer, and clubwoman, based at the

American University in Cairo The American University in Cairo (AUC; ) is a private research university in New Cairo, Egypt. The university offers American-style learning programs at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels, along with a continuing education program. ...

from 1956 to 1966.

Early life and education

Florence Ziegler was born in

Florence, Nebraska Florence was a historic municipality in Nebraska. Founded in 1854, the Nebraska Territory Legislature first incorporated it as a town in 1855 and then incorporated it as a city in 1857. In 1917, it was annexed by the City of Omaha and ceased ...

, the daughter of M. Christian Ziegler and Kristiane (Christina) Offersen Ziegler. Both of her parents were born in Denmark. When she was a small child, her father died when the family's home burned down. She was a stenographer in Chicago as a young woman, and participated in archaeological excavations in the American Southwest. She earned a master's degree in library science at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

Career

Ljunggren was active in the Altrurian Club of

Springfield, Vermont Springfield is a New England town, town in Windsor County, Vermont, Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 9,062. History The land currently recognized as Springfield is the ...

. She taught art, and lectured on various topics, including Native American weaving, Danish girls' lives, and German culture. She organized the club's exhibit, "Vermont at Work", in 1946. The exhibit won national honors, and became part of the permanent display in the state capital. Also in 1946, she was a finalist in a national essay contest sponsored by the

General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Community Serv ...

and ''

Atlantic Monthly ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 ...

.'' She was elected secretary of Vermont's chapter of the

United World Federalists Citizens for Global Solutions is a grassroots-level membership organization in the United States working towards the establishment of a world government in order to avoid future atomic wars. It has promoted a world federal government, United ...

in 1949. Ljunggren worked at the

New York Public Library The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress a ...

and at the

Enoch Pratt Free Library The Enoch Pratt Free Library is the free public library system of Baltimore, Maryland. Its Central Library is located on 400 Cathedral Street (southbound) and occupies the northeastern three quarters of a city block bounded by West Franklin S ...

in Baltimore."Meet AUC's New Staff Members"
''Campus Caravan'' (October 4, 1956): 4. In 1956, she became a librarian on the staff of the American University in Cairo. From 1962 to 1966, Ljunggren was director of the school's library. She published several reference guides to resources on the Middle East and North Africa.

Publications

* ''An international directory of institutes and societies interested in the Middle East'' (1962, with Charles L. Geddes) * ''Annotated guide to journals dealing with the Middle East and North Africa'' (1964, with Mohammed Hamdi) * ''The Arab World index: An international guide to periodical literature in the social sciences and humanities in the contemporary Arab World, 1960-1964'' (1967)

Personal life

Ziegler married Swedish-born Thor Hagbert Ljunggren. They had a son, Bengt (1932–1984), born in Sweden. The Ljunggrens divorced in 1955. She died in 1988, at the age of 81.United States Social Security Death Index, via Ancestry.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ljunggren, Florence 1906 births 1988 deaths American librarians People from Springfield, Vermont Librarians from Nebraska American people of Danish descent American expatriates in Egypt Clubwomen Columbia University alumni