Myrtis Ann Parham (Myrtis Ann Parham; by Johanna Neuman; at the Los Angeles Times; published September 11, 2002 in Columbus, Georgia)M. ANN PARHAM: Army Librarian, by Dawn Humphrey; in THE MILITARY LIBRARIAN: The Newsletter of the Military Librarians Division of the Special Libraries Association; vol. 48, no. 2l; Fall 2003 is an American librarian known for her work for the United States Department of Defense, including a 13-year term as Librarian of the Army. Parham remained a civilian throughout her career.Columbus, Ga., Native Garners Award as Top Federal Librarian, by Mick Walsh; in the Ledger-Enquirer; published April 16, 2003; retrieved July 9, 2025
Career
Parham received a master's degree in library science from Florida State University, where she had previously earned a bachelor's degree in social work and social studies education. Her first job as a librarian was at the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, North Carolina.Escape from the Pentagon, by Pat Alderman; in Federal Librarian Newsletter (ISSN 1940-3534); Fall/September 2016; volume 32; no. 1; p. 5
Parham's work with the military began in 1976, when she was assigned to Camp Humphreys. Other assignments included Mannheim, Nurnberg, Wiesbaden, and Alexandria, Virginia.
She subsequently worked at the libraries of United States Army Materiel Command and the National Defense University,Fabulous Feds, in Federal Librarian (Vol. 30, No. 1, Fall 2011); at the American Library Association where she served as Chief of Research and Information Services. She also worked at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
In December 1998, she was promoted to Librarian of the Army.
On September 2, 2011, Parham retired.
Experience on 9/11 On September 11, 2001, Parham was working in the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building immediately below her office. While escaping the wreckage, she sustained a broken toe and second-degree burns to her face as well as to her ears and hands; the facial damage was subsequently repaired by a plastic surgeon who donated his services. Despite her injuries, Parham was present on-site for a meeting of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 Personnel of The United States Army on September 14th.
Much of the Pentagon's on-site library was destroyed during the attack; after her recovery, Parham oversaw the library's restoration.Military Life, by Marylaine Block, in Library Journal; published May 21, 2010; retrieved January 19, 2026 Her efforts in the restoration were cited in her being awarded the 2002 Federal Librarian of the Year award.Federal libraries and librarians get information awards, by Jim Sweeney; at Route Fifty; published March 4, 2003; retrieved January 19, 2026
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