Logan County, Illinois - Libraries, 1911

Libraries

The last quarter of a century has shown an astounding increase in the number and size of public libraries. During that period, money has been given to this purpose in an increasing ratio, library buildings have gone up all over the land, their suitability to their purpose constantly improving, new improvements have been made in administration and new channels of library influence have been constantly opening. The chief cause of this luxuriant growth is, no doubt, the increase of wealth and population, which has led to the foundation of new libraries, and quickened the growth of those planted. Another cause is the spread of education and culture, furnishing an army of readers, with awakened minds. Added to this has been the enlarged ideas of the mission of the public library and the discovery of quicker and more effective ways of doubling its power and influence, due largely to the librarians themselves, all of which have strengthened the hold of the public library upon popular favor and reinforced its appeal for philanthropic support.

Logan County has been fully abreast of the times in the matter of establishing and sustaining public libraries. Three library buildings, well adapted to the purposes of their dedication, have been erected in the cities of Lincoln and Atlanta and the village of Elkhart, respectively. The Lincoln library alone contains over 16,000 volumes, having increased from the number of about 2,000 volumes, which it boasted twenty-five years ago. Mt. Pulaski conducts a library in the old court house building on the hill. Extensive libraries are to be found at Lincoln College and the Lincoln State School and Colony, and the school libraries of the county will aggregate about 14,000 volumes upon their combined shelves. In all it is safe to say that the public libraries of Logan County aggregate in the neighborhood of 40,000 volumes in all.

The Lincoln Public Library

Application for articles of incorporation for the Lincoln Library Association were filed May 18, 1874, with the secretary of state and on that same day the said articles were issued. The incorporators were Robert B. Latham, Stephen A. Foley, David M. Harris, William M. Dustin, Mark W. Barrett, Benjamin H. Brainerd, Frank Fisk, Kate H. Pegram, Hattie B. Harris, Michael Hinrichsen and Porter P. Murry. The object was stated in the application to be "to maintain a city public library and reading room." The officers elected were as follows: President, R. B. Latham; vice president, Michael Hinrichsen; corresponding secretary, DD: M. Harris; recording secretary, Porter P. Murry; treasurer, Wm. M. Dustin; directors, S. A. Foley, B. H. Brainerd, Mrs. D. M. Harris, M. W. Barrett, Mrs. N. E. Pegram and Frank Fisk. The library's first home was in an upstairs room on Kickapoo street; later it was moved to the Universalist church building; later still to the Dehner Block and then to the newly erected city hall in 1895. It was moved into its present quarters in 1903 and the artistic and commodious building it now occupies was dedicated to library purposes on April 29th of that year. On that occasion Mrs. Caroline C. Lutz, who was at that time and still is a member of the library board, outlined the history of the Lincoln Library Association in the following words:

"When the Temperance Reform movement of 1874 developed that radical and aggressive feature called the Woman's Crusade, however diverse may have been the opinions as to the wisdom of its methods, it unquestionably deepened in every woman's consciousness the sense of her most sacred responsibilities, and it was distinctly and avowedly in the hope of averting and counteracting the evils of intemperance in our own community that the Lincoln Library Association was conceived and projected.

"Tt was in the edifice of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, that the first meeting was held on Saturday evening, April 18,1874. Col. R. B. Latham was called to the chair and the usual preliminaries of organization were effected. A committee of ten ladies was appointed to secure the requisite funds, and on the 29th of April just twenty-nine years ago tonight, this committee reported the sum of $1,400 subscribed in shares of $10 each. Be it ever remembered to the credit of our infant city, that the opportunity to establish a library was cordially and even joyfully received. The first president of the association was Col. R. B. Latham; the board of directors consisted of S. A. Foley, B. H. Brainerd, M. W. Barrett, Franklin Fisk, Mrs. N. E. Pegram, Mrs. D. M. Harris. About 900 standard works were chosen by a committee of which Dr. A. M. Miller was the chairman and Rev. L. P. Crawford an active and able member. A room on Kickapoo street was given, rent free for five years, by Colonel Latham, and on the 29th of August the library was open for circulation, the hours being from 7 to 9 each evening and from 2 until 5 Saturday afternoon.

"Thus favorably launched, the library immediately became a prominent factor in the higher life of the city. The expenses were met by an annual tax of $2 on each share of stock in use, and for ten years this afforded a sufficient revenue. As it gradually diminished through the removal from town of the original shareholders, or the non-payment of the tax, the maintenance of the organization became difficult and eventually problematic. In 1890 Dr. A. M. Miller, then superintendent of schools, and the efficient president of the association for eleven years, secured from the school board an annual appropriation in consideration of which the pupils of the high school enjoyed the free use of the books. When this was withdrawn in 1894, there was left no other appreciable or adequate income, while bills for current expenses and supplies were outstanding. The situation was promptly met by the ladies of the city, who united in giving a 'midwinter fair,' securing $400 with which to bridge over the emergency.

"This was the twentieth year in the history of the association. In the intervening time, the office of president had been filled successively by Col. R. B. Latham, Michael Henrichsen, Stephen A. Foley, Franklin Fisk, D. M. Harris, John A. Lutz and A. M. Miller. The duties of librarian had been faithfully performed by Albert G. Jones, W. C. Mc- Masters, Robert Humphrey, S. C. Nash, Miss Isabel Nash, Miss Alma Braucher. After the first five years the association had removed from its first home to the Universalist church, now occupied by the Business college, and again five years later to the Dehner block. After two decades, its fortunes were indeed at a low ebb, although its usefulness had not depreciated, and its friends continued unwavering in their faith that its future was inseparably bound up with the growth and progress of Lincoln. No year had passed without the accession of new books, no debts had been contracted, and regular business meetings had been held. Looking backward from the present happy and prosperous standpoint, the waning fortunes of years ago seem not to have been decay, but a process of development toward the wider and more enduring usefulness of the free public library. An association owned by individuals, it was not available to the class of people which most needed its benefits; without endowment, it had no permanent foundation. The free public library idea was just beginning to command popular. attention and approval; the public schools of Lincoln were just beginning to recognize a free public library as indispensable auxiliary to their work: and by a fortunate coincidence under Mayor Turnbolt and his council, our city enjoyed a liberal and progressive administration. Therefore, in April, 1895, when the association tendered its property, consisting of about 3,000 volumes, to the city, the gift was immediately accepted and provided for by a room in the city hall about to be erected, and by an appropriation of $500.

"Its fortunes now seemed established, but a new impetus was received in 1897, when, on the death of Miss Isabel Nash, it was made known that she had bequeathed the site of her little home, the sum total of her earthly possessions, to the city of Lincoln for library purposes. This bequest was one of unusual significance, not only because it was the first of an eleemosynary nature ever received by Lincoln, but also as an affecting evidence of the intense devotion of our former librarian to the future interests of the public library. Here, indeed, was laid the foundation stone of our beautiful building by hands small and fragile, but in a spirit of prophetic faith, which is so happily justified today. Largely from this gift has come a rich endowment to every citizen of Lincoln in perpetuity. That her zeal and enthusiasm, her mental and spiritual strength, her grasp on all the joys of friendship and nature and art; her indomitable defiance of physical weakness; her courageous endurance of solitude and sorrow ; that these qualities of Isabel Nash may dwell within our library walls, would be to invoke life's richest benison on all who cross its portals.

"Tn the year 1899, by the will of Mrs. Louise C. Scully, made in 1891, the library received the sum of $2,000, the interest of which was to be used for the purchase of books. In 1901 the liberal and far-sighted policy of our city council under Mayor W. O. Jones, secured the gift of $25,000 from Mr. Carnegie for the erection of the building which we dedicate today. Mr. Carnegie's gifts are in themselves his most eloquent eulogy, and words of praise cannot add to his fame. Our best wishes follow him that the happiness of his own life may be commensurate to that which his use of great wealth brings to his fellow men, and to the gratitude which is freely accorded to him the wide world over.

"A history of our library would be incomplete without mention of the services of Julge Foley, who, for twenty-nine years has given freely of money, time and personal supervision in its interest as a slight token of acknowledgement, the Carnegie Library Building Commission and the library board have united in inscribing his name beside that of Mr. Carnegie on the walls of the building. Equally as valuable in another field has been the work of Miss Ida Webster, our librarian since 1894. Beginning at the darkest hour, she has been untiring, helpful, enthusiastic, originally without professional training, she has mastered the new science of library work and put it into operation by the classification and cataloging of our 10,000 volumes and has thus accomplished what would have been postponed several years but for her perseverance and ambition. The many old friends of the library turn from these retrospections in confident expectation of a future of ever-widening usefulness and the hope that every possibility of our beautiful new home may be realized."

After the transfer of the library to the city of Lincoln in 1895 its growth was steady and in five years had grown so rapidly that it had outgrown the space assigned to it in the city hall. A new library building had become a necessity. In view of this crowded condition, Judge Foley, president of the library board, decided to present an application for a gift to Andrew Carnegie. At his suggestion, Mayor W. O. Jones called a special session of the city council, in February of 1901, at which session Judge Foley presented the matter to the council. He proposed that the council pass a resolution and an ordinance appropriating the money for the support and maintenance of a free public library in the event of a gift being made by Mr. Carnegie and agreed to bear the expense of Mayor Jones' visit to Mr. Carnegie to make formal application for the gift. The city adopted the plan and passed the necessary resolution and ordinance. Mayor Jones proceeded to New York and was accorded the rather unusual honor of being received by Mr. Carnegie in person. Mr. Carnegie took the matter under consideration, but within two days after Mayor Jones' return, a letter was received from Mr. Carnegie announcing his gift of $25,000. In the application to Mr. Carnegie that portion of the will of Isabel Nash, in which she gave to the city two lots to be used for library purposes was presented, but it was afterwards discovered that this was not sufficient and the George W. Reed property was purchased, thus giving a site 160 feet front by 150 feet deep.

In an address delivered at the time of the dedication of the new building, Judge Foley said among other things: "The gift of Isabel Nash, the gift of Andrew Carnegie, the purchase of the Reed property, the cordial co-operation of the city council, made it possible for us to have what I believe to be the best library building in the state. Nearly eight months' time was devoted to the study of plans and after much deliberation, the commission chose the classic design. The chief aim was to secure a building adapted to our needs; one in which the library could grow; one that would stand as an object lesson for beauty, harmony and permanence within and without; one that insured the greatest economy in administration and command the just pride of,every man, woman and child, in the city. We have earnestly sought these results. We owe much to Miss Webster for her careful assistance in the details about the library administration and William A. Corwine as superintendent of construction. The building, as it stands, is a free gift to the city, in trust for everyone. It stands as a pledge of our interest in the advancement of learning and the spread of knowledge."

The building stands midway in the quarter block facing Pekin street and Latham Park. On the west, the grounds join those of the Christian church, while the eastern boundary is McLean street. Durably constructed of red mottled brick, its walls are trimmed and ornamented with stone and the whole surmounted by a heavy roof of light red tiling. There is no tin or galvanized iron in its construction, only the best copper being used. There are over three carloads of steel and iron in the structure and three carloads of oak were used in the inside finish. A portico, supported by heavy stone columns, reached by ascending the broad front steps, constitutes an entrance. The floor is covered with cork matting. Above the delivery desk on a panel, in mosaic are these words: "Erected through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie and Stephen A. Foley."

Back of the desk are the book stacks. Above the stack room is a false ceiling which may be removed to accommodate a second story of stacks when additional shelf room becomes necessary. To the right of the de- livery desk are the children's reading rooms. Large oak tables and fine chairs, furnish an inviting place for one to sit and read. During the day sufficient light is provided through the large windows. At night electric lamps, softened by green shades, will furnish the necessary light. At the rear of the west reading room is the librarian's room, provided with all necessary improvements. The woodwork on the first floor is of massive oak, giving the room an appearance of strength and durability. Above the wainscoting, the walls are covered with green, which has a restful effect upon the eyes. In the center of the room, immediately above the approach to the delivery counter, light is furnished by a light well, beautifully made of fine art glass. In the front part of the building on the second floor there is a room for directors to hold meeting's and for the transaction of such other business as may come up. In the basement are storage rooms, the heating plant with huge bins for coal and one large assembly room, which may be used for purposes to be developed in the future.

Entering the building from the front you first come to a vestibule 5 feet, 6 inches wide, by 11 feet, 6 inches in length. On either side of this vestibule are coat and cloak rooms, each 10 feet square. Passing through the massive oak double doors, swinging on reversible hinges, you enter the delivery room and lobby of the library, which is 36 feet long by 18 feet wide. To the left of the lobby is the main reading room, which is 19 feet wide by 37 feed in length. Immediately to the rear of the reading room is the reference room, which measures 14x20 feet. To the rear of the lobby and delivery room is the stack room, 29x33 feet. To the right of the lobby and immediately opposite the reading room is the children's department, 18x38 feet. At the rear of the children's department is the librarian's room, 15x16 feet. The entire dimensions of the first floor being 57x78 feet. At the head of the stairway is the directors' room, 9x16 feet. In the basement are the unpacking roomis, one on the extreme east and one on the extreme west, each measuring 1412x25 feet. Between these two unpacking rooms is the furnace room, 29x30 feet, out of which is taken a fuel room, 1214x15 feet. Occupying the entire front of the basement floor, well ventilated and lighted is the audience room of the building, which can be entered from the street as well as from the library room inside, covering a floor space of 30x78 feet. The entire cost of the building was $30,000, of which $25,000 was the gift of Andrew Carnegie and $5,000 the gift of Stephen A. Foley. The grounds represent $7,500 more, the west half having been bequeathed by Isabel Nash and the east half purchased by the city.

The fifteenth annual report of the Lincoln library in 1909, showed 16,700 volumes, a registration of 5,596 names and cards in force to the number of 2,700. The circulation was 63,006 volumes, an increase over the former year of 6,679 volumes. The circulation in 1910 reached 66,028, the largest in the history of the library. The Tuohy memorial of nearly 1,000 volumes, presented by the people of St. Patrick's parish and

Judge Foley, was established in 1909, much of the success of this circulation being due to the efforts of Father J. T. Mulgrew and the sisters of the parochial schools. Another addition is the Jewish library made possible by the efforts of the Jewish ladies of the Beth El congregation and the gift of Judge Foley. During the last four years, Judge Foley has given over 4,500 volumes to the library, which have been purchased with a view to facilitate the work of co-operation with the schools and the civic and educational institutions of the city. Each year the usefulness of the library increases, its influence constantly extends and its rich and valuable opportunities are more and more appreciated by the people as the years speed by. The organization of the Lincoln Public Library is at present as follows: President, Stephen A. Foley; vice president, Caroline C. Lutz; secretary, D. H. Harts, Jr.; treasurer, Ida M. Webster; directors, Stephen A. Foley, Caroline C. Lutz, D. H. Harts, Jr., Ida M. Webster. Katherine H. Pegram, Joseph A. Tabke, C. E. Gullett, Katherine M. Reed, C. E. Smith, J. L. Lowrie; librarian, Ida M. Webster; assistant librarians, Lulu M. Hayes and Hope Nicholson.

Atlanta Public Library

The Atlanta Public Library dates from 1873, but the present building, in which the library is now housed, was erected in 1907. The new building faces Race street and is a commodious and artistic structure. The lot occupied by the building is 147 by 180 feet in dimensions and is near the business portion of the city. The following sketch of the history of the Atlanta Library Association is furnished by the present efficient librarian, Miss Harriet J. Hamilton:

"In February, of the year 1873, a number of Atlanta's citizens, who had long felt the need of a public library and reading room, in the city, met for the purpose of establishing a library and organizing a library association in accordance with the statutes of the state of Illinois. At this meeting, a board of directors was chosen, of which James Shores was president, S. D. Fisher, secretary, and Benjamin Bean, librarian pro tempore. The other members of the board were Seth Turner, Dr. B. F. Gardner, Frank Hoblit, W. S. Dunham, Sr., Rev. E. J. Thomas, and Dr. J. B. Tenny. The front room of the Atlanta Argus office was selected as a suitable library room, and George L. Shoals, editor of the Argus, was appointed as the first regular librarian. Books were purchased from time to time for the new library and in 1881 the first catalog was printed and issued. In 1893, the library was moved to the town hall and Miss Alta Chenoweth was elected librarian, in which capacity she served for a period of fifteen years.

As time went by more room was needed for the books and the question of erecting a library building was frequently discussed. In 1906, Seward Fields, of New York city, but formerly of Atlanta, donated to the library association three lots, in the business part of town, to be used as a building site. His splendid generosity was followed by liberal gifts of money from other public-spirited citizens,.and what had long been a dream became a reality and a fact. Atlanta thus became the possessor of a public library building, a beautiful structure costing in the neighborhood of $10,000. On the 28th.of March, 1907, the new library was opened and dedicated, and a book shower was given by the patrons. -

Great credit indeed is due to the directors who labored so faithfully, and now have so lasting a monument to their zeal. The following are the names of the members of the board of directors at the time the building was constructed: A. O. Haines, president; Mrs. E. May Dunham, secretary; Mrs. Charlotte Thomas, treasurer; Mrs.. Martha Webster, Mrs. Helen Sater, Mrs. Eda Quisenberry, A. E. Church, Dr. Maskell Lee and Dr. Chenoweth. Statistics show that the circulation of books in this community is increasing greatly every year, the reading rooms are well patronized and a great deal of reference work is being done, especially during the school months. We now have about three thousand volumes on the library shelves.

In July, 1908, Miss Chenoweth resigned and the position of librarian has since been filled by Miss Harriet J. Hamilton. The present members of the board are T. C. Harry, Mrs. Nellie Burke, Mrs. Hattie McClure, Mrs. Eda Quisenberry, A. E. Church, A. O. Haines, J: W. Hoblit, Dr. Chenoweth and E. G. Ransdell. The people of Atlanta are justly proud of their library and know that all it has cost them to establish and maintain it will be repaid a hundred-fold by the good it will bring to every generation.

Elkhart Public Library

The founding of the present Elkhart public library was the result of a promise made the citizens of Elkhart, by Mrs. Lemira P. Gillett, in 1888, that if saloons were voted out of that village for a period of three successive years, she would present the village with a public library. Subsequent to this promise, the three successive "dry" years occurred and Mrs. Gillett called the citizens together in a mass meeting for the purpose of organizing a library association. The following officers were elected: President, John L. Brady; vice president, Mrs. F. W. Cottle; secretary, W. L. Newton; directors, Mrs. Lemira P. Gillett, Miss Celia L. Stratton, Dr. J. B. Chittum and Mrs. N. L. Martin; librarian, H. E. Newton. Following the organization a room was selected in the Gillett building, Mrs. Gillett bearing the expense of the rent, the shelving and furnishing of the room, and on March 5, 1893, the library was opened to the public with 214 volumes. Mrs. Gillett also contributed the sum of $1,000, the interest to be used for the purchase of books, and Mrs. Charlotte Barnes, of Decatur, contributed a like sum, the interest of which was

The library was formally and legally accepted by the town in 1902, when a two mills tax was voted by the citizens for the support of the library. This was in response to a further proposition made by Miss Jessie D. Gillett, that if such a tax were voted, she would erect a library building and present it to the village, as a memorial to her mother, Mrs. Lemira P. Gillett, who had since died. At the village election in 1904, the first board of elective trustees of the library was selected, as follows: Dr. G. G. Taylor and Dr. Joseph T. Wood for the one year term; Patrick Bohan and Charles S. Stahl for the two years' term; and Thomas J. ' Henneberry and William G. Schafer for a three years' term. Work on the building was begun early in the spring of 1904, Jobst & Sons, of Peoria, being contractors, and was completed in May of 1904, and formally dedicated that same month. The building is of gray pressed brick and Bedford stone, and consists of a basement and one story above it, each containing two large rooms. It is an ornament to the village.

The first effort to organize a public library in Mt. Pulaski occurred in 1861 but the effort was not successful. Another effort was made Jan. 3, 1877, with more satisfactory results. At that time Dr. F. D. Cass was elected president and A. G. Jones secretary. A. G. Jones, Wm. M. Allen and W. P. Sawyer were appointed a committee to draft by-laws and W. P. Sawyer and S. Linn Beidler to solicit subscription for stock. A charter was secured anda library established. This organization was quite successful for awhile but later the interest lagged. In 1896, however, the ladies of Mt. Pulaski organized a Women's Library club and through their efforts the library has been re-established on a permanent basis, which augurs great success for the future. The present library is located in the upper room of the old court house building and contains about 1,400 volumes, under the direction of Mrs. Mae O'Connor as librarian. The library board is constituted as follows: President, Mrs. Maude Huck; secretary, Mrs. Maude Stafford; treasurer, Mrs. Mary Scroggin; members of the board, Mrs. Clara Gordon, Mrs. Minnie Mueller, Mrs. Annette Aitchison and Mrs. Mary Fryer.

In addition to the public libraries in the county above enumerated. there are a large number of school and private libraries of greater or less magnitude. As before stated the State School and Colony possesses an extensive library largely of a scientific and medical character, which is kept up and continually increased by annual appropriations from the state, and the Lincoln College library contains over 4,000 volumes, well selected and arranged. The school libraries of the county, as shown by the report of the superintendent of schools for 1910, contain 13, 564 volumes, 2,500 volumes of which belong to the libraries of the Lincoln city schools. The school libraries of the various townships are reported to contain the following number of volumes: Lake Fork, 500; Mt. Pulaski, 2,203; Elkhart, 957; Laenna, 515; Hurlburt, 125; Aetna, 400; Chester, 645; Broadwell, 626; Corwin, 264; Oran, 784; East Lincoln, outside the city of Lincoln, 654; West Lincoln, outside the city of Lincoln, 626; Sheridan, 613; Atlanta, 432; Eminence, 831; Orvil, 781; Prairie Creek, 340.