JOHN L. TAYLOR DIES; AUDITOR FOR 18 YEARS

John L. Taylor, Auditor of Harvard since 1922 and a member of the University staff for 54 years, died yesterday morning at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston after a brief illness. He was 71, and was to have retired on September 1; he began a six's month's leave of absence on March 1.

Taylor was born in Cambridge and attended the city's public schools. His first position in the University came in 1886 as a clerk in the office of the bursar. He later attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration from 1908 to 1911; he was appointed Assistant Comptroller in 1910 and held this post until he became Auditor in 1922.

Taylor was active in numerous organizations. A resident of Arlington, he was a member of the Harvard Faculty Club, the Harvard Club of Boston, the Appalachian Mountain Club, a director of the Cambridge Trust Company, and treasurer of the Harvard Cooperative Society.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2 o'clock in the Memorial Church.