Background
Ashton, Rick James was born on September 18, 1945 in Middletown, Ohio, United States. Son of Ralph James and Lydia Marie (Thornbery) Ashton.
Ashton, Rick James was born on September 18, 1945 in Middletown, Ohio, United States. Son of Ralph James and Lydia Marie (Thornbery) Ashton.
AB, Harvard University, 1967; Master of Arts, Northwestern University, 1969; Doctor of Philosophy, Northwestern University, 1973; Master of Arts, University of Chicago, 1976.
Instructor, assistant professor history Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1972-1974. Curator local and family history Newberry Library., Chicago, 1974-1977. Assistant director Allen County Public Library., Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1977-1980, director, 1980-1985.
City library Denver Public Library., 1985—2006. Chief operating officer Urban Libraries Council, Chicago, 2007—2009. Member Indiana Coop Library.
Services Authority, 1980-1985, president, 1984-1985. Consultant National Endowment of the Humanities, National Center Education Statistics, Northwestern University Office Estate Planning, Snowbird Leadership Institute, Houston Public Library. Adjunct faculty Dominican University, 2006-2007.
Board directors Community Coordinated Child Care, Evanston, 1972-1974, Three Rivers Montessori School, Fort Wayne, 1977-1980. Board directors, secretary Allen County-Fort Wayne History Society, 1977-1983. Trustee Iliff School Theology, 2000-2006.
Elder 1st United Church Oak Park, since 2008. Conscientious objector. Member American Library Association, Colorado Library.
Association ( Library of the Year 2000), Colorado Alliance Research Libraries (president 1987-1988, secretary 1993-1995, chairman 1995-2000), Urban Libraries Council, Cactus Club.
Married Marcia K. Zuroweste, December 23, 1966. Children: Jonathan Paul, David Andrew.