Uncrowned Community Builders

As she got older Edith May Hamilton often dropped her first name and was known as May Hamilton. She was the daughter of Henry and Jennie A. Washington Hamilton. May was born in Niagara Falls, New York but moved to Buffalo with her parents and sister at an early age. Her exact birthday is not known but given census records her birthdate can be dated as May 1883.

May attended school in Buffalo and graduated from Central High School in 1901. She continued her education and graduated from the Teacher's Training School in 1904. The following year May took the examination for a position in the Buffalo Public Library system. She was one of 9 testers to pass the exam out of 36 candidates. May is listed in the 1908 Annual Report of the Library as a staff member in the Circulation Department. She remained an employee of the Library for over 30 years rising to the position as Head of the Periodical Room.

In addition to her parents, May had two sisters, Adelaide A. Hamilton Tucker and Catherine, who died when she was about 27 years old in 1910 or 1911. May never married. She was active with other women her age - Sarah May Talbert was a friend - in social and civic activities in the City. She was a member of the Michigan Street Baptist Church and Rev. J. Edward Nash officiated at her funeral.

May died on January 20, 1945 at the age of 62 from complications of pneumonia. She is buried in Niagara Falls, New York in Acacia Park Cemetery.