From the New York Times, 22 Jan 1938: Thomas R. Barnum, Yale Historian, 80. Curator of a Special Edition of University Memorabilia Dies--Dictionary Contnbutor. Special to the New York Times. New Haven, Conn., Jan. 21. Thomas Rossiter Barnum, Yale historian, dictionary contributor and curator of a special edition of Yale memorabilia, died last night at his home here after a brief ilIness. He was born in Phillipston, Mass., eighty years ago and was graduated from Yale University In 1879. He was for years a member of the staff of the Astor Library in New York and later became librarian of the University of Vermont. Mr. Barnum was one of the executives in revising Webster's International Dictionary in 1890 and later was an executive to Secretary Anson Phelps Stokes of Yale lJnilversity. He re tired from active directorship a year ago. A brother, the Rev. Samuel H. Barnum, and a sister, Miss Clara L. Barnum, survive.