Frances Morrison joined the staff of the Saskatoon Public Library in 1943 and was the Chief Librarian from 1961 to 1980. Born in 1918 in Saskatoon, she was educated at the University of Saskatchewan. She joined the staff of the public library in 1943 as an assistant. After completing a library science degree at the University of Toronto, she became successively children’s librarian, head of reference and assistant chief librarian before her appointment as chief librarian – one of the first women department heads in the city. During the time she was with the library, she saw the library staff grow from 13 to more than 90.

As Chief Librarian she directed the construction of two new branches, including the main branch in Saskatoon that bears her name. During her tenure she was responsible for a major library expansion, the construction of a new main library, a local history room, programming services, and audio-visual and fine arts departments. Mrs. Morrison played a prominent role in provincial and national library associations and in the establishment of the regional library system in Saskatchewan. When she retired in 1980, the city named the main library in her honour.

Mrs. Morrison has been involved in a wide range of other activities, including the Meewasin Valley Authority, member and chair of the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Saskatoon Business and Professional Women’s Club, the YWCA, the Saskatoon Heritage Society, the United Church and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. She received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, the Outstanding Service to Librarianship Award of the Canadian Library Association in 1981, a YWCA Woman of the Year Award in 1989, and the Canada 125 Medal in 1993.

In 1999 Frances Morrison received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for her contributions to library services in Saskatchewan.

Frances Morrison passed away on Sunday August 14, 2011 at the age of 92.