George A. Plimpton (1855-1936) was the head of the publishing firm Ginn and Company. He was a Trustee of Barnard College from its opening in 1889, served as a member of its first finance committee, and as its Treasurer from 1893 until his death in 1936. He was also a founder of the Friends of the Columbia University Libraries serving as its Chairman from 1928 until his death. Plimpton also was a friend of Andrew Carnegie, and the original treasurer of the Church Peace Union.