Hately Waddell Marshall was born in Adelaide on 30 December 1885, son of George Marshall and Annie Yuill. He commenced employment at the Library, as a junior clerk, on 23 March 1900. Marshall was promoted to the position of Clerk on 1 May 1905 and was known as Chief Clerk from July 1911.
Marshall tried to enlist three times and was rejected because of 'heart trouble' before being successful on 17 October 1916 (Trunk full of books, p. 96). He embarked on 24 January 1917 on board HMAT A28 Militades and served as a Private in the 27th Battalion in Belgium and France. Marshall returned to Australia on 17 May 1918.
Marshall returned to work at the Library on 18 November 1918. On 1 July 1919 he was appointed Assistant General Secretary to the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of South Australia and soon after, on 1 September 1919, he became General Secretary. A keen photographer of old buildings, he is credited with the suggestion that photos of historical interest be collected for the institution's archival collection (Trunk full of books, p. 106). Marshall married Marjorie Eleanor Mary White in 1920 and they had two children, Betty (born 1921) and John (born 1923). Marshall remained as General Secretary until the Public Library, Museum and Gallery began operating as separate institutions in 1940. Subsequently he continued to work in the public service. He was secretary of the Legacy Club in South Australia from 1929 and member of the 27th Battalion Club. Marshall died 31 January 1970.
