Tony Willis

Head Librarian

Tony Willis is Head Librarian at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. Born and raised in the Fauquier County area, he began working full time for Paul and Bunny Mellon as an assistant librarian in July 1980, taking on his current title in 1997. 

Tony describes his job as being a “keeper of things,” which he and Mrs. Mellon thought was an apt description for the custodian of the Oak Spring Library’s vast collection of books, art, furniture, and other objects.  In his current role as Head Librarian at the foundation, Tony’s duties include cataloguing all rare and modern material in the library, overseeing records, keeping up with the conservation and exhibition of the collection, managing research queries, scholarly requests, and exhibit requests, as well as working with writers and assisting OSGF’s artists and researchers in residence.   

In his free time, Tony enjoys traveling and gardening. His favorite garden variety plants are sunflowers (Helianthus) and zinnias, and his favorite tropical plant is the Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia). His favorite bonsai is the Brazilian Rainforest.

Read more about Tony and his work at the library on our blog.