Trumbull, James Hammond (Dec. 20, 1821 - Aug. 5, 1897), historian, philologist, and bibliographer, was the son of Gurdon and Sarah Ann (Swan) Trumbull of Stonington, Conn., and a brother of Henry Clay Trumbull [q.v.]. Prepared at Tracy's Academy, Norwich, he entered Yale College in 1838 but withdrew two years later because of poor health. After assisting James Harvey Linsley in cataloging the mammalia, birds, reptiles, fish, and shells of Connecticut, he was appointed assistant secretary of state in Connecticut in 1847. He received the nomination of the Whig party for the office of secretary of state in 1852, but failed to win the election and declined similar nominations in 1853 and 1854. Following service as state librarian and registrar, he was again appointed assistant secretary of state in 1858. Three years later he was elected secretary of state on the Republican ticket and held the office until 1866. Upon the establishment of the Watkinson Library of Reference at Hartford, he was appointed trustee and librarian, and after 1866 devoted his full time to the duties of librarian. In 1890 he was appointed librarian emeritus.

While serving...