jefferson.advantage-preservation.comDigital Archives of the Jefferson Public Library :: The Community History Archive Of The Jefferson P

Toggle navigation Home Resources Advanced Search Contact us Directory advantage-companies.com Search For And Or All Of The Words Exact Phrase Any Of The Words None Of The Words Between On Before After And Discover About Browse By Title Browse By Year Thank you! About The Community History Archive Of The Jefferson Public Library The Jefferson Public Library was founded in 1901. A $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation in 1903 enabled the city to construct the existing library building. In 1967, a new... Learn More Browse By Title Jefferson Herald (1917-2018) 81,001 Pages Bee (1871-2014) 70,381 Pages The Souvenir (1894-1903) 4,356 Pages The Free Lance (1915-1917) 1,025 Pages The Jefferson Era (1866-1871) 804 Pages The Jefferson Herald Free Press (2012-2012) 35 Pages Browse By Date 1860-1869 773 Pages 1870-1879 607 Pages 1880-1889 2,333 Pages 1890-1899 6,503 Pages 1900-1909 5,648 Pages 1910-1919 6,189 Pages 1920-1929 8,699 Pages 1930-1939 8,966 Pages 1940-1949 11,070 Pages 1950-1959 14,695 Pages 1960-1969 13,896 Pages 1970-1979 20,850 Pages More × Browse By Title Jefferson Herald 81,001 Pages 1917-2018 Bee 70,381 Pages 1871-2014 The Souvenir 4,356 Pages 1894-1903 The Free Lance 1,025 Pages 1915-1917 The Jefferson Era 804 Pages 1866-1871 The Jefferson Herald Free Press 35 Pages 2012-2012 × Browse By Decade 1860-1869 773 Pages 1870-1879 607 Pages 1880-1889 2,333 Pages 1890-1899 6,503 Pages 1900-1909 5,648 Pages 1910-1919 6,189 Pages 1920-1929 8,699 Pages 1930-1939 8,966 Pages 1940-1949 11,070 Pages 1950-1959 14,695 Pages 1960-1969 13,896 Pages 1970-1979 20,850 Pages 1980-1989 22,937 Pages 1990-1999 15,737 Pages 2000-2009 11,129 Pages 2010-2019 7,570 Pages × Years THANK YOU! Page 1 Of The Jefferson Era Published On Friday April 6th, 1866 What will YOU find in our Learn More × Thank You Page 1 Of The Jefferson Era Published On Friday April 6th, 1866 What will YOU find in our Archive? × About The Community History Archive Of The Jefferson Public Library The Jefferson Public Library was founded in 1901. A $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation in 1903 enabled the city to construct the existing library building. In 1967, a new addition was built to house the growing collections. Renovations completed in 1990 made the library handicapped accessible. The Galaxy Automation System, which computerized the card catalog and circulation functions of the library, was installed in 1995. In 2005, a new automation system called Polaris was installed, making the library collection accessible via the World Wide Web. The Jefferson Public Library celebrated its centennial in 2004. The following article outlining the library’s history was written by library director Jane Millard and published in the April issue of the The Jefferson Bee newspaper, Rick Morain, editor. History of the Jefferson Public Library 1904 ~ 2004 On the Occasion of Its Centennial Year Women’s Clubs Hold Fundraisers For some time prior to the year of 1900 the subject of a public library had been discussed by the club women of Jefferson. While all felt the need of a public library, it was not until the spring of 1900 that definite steps were taken. In April 1900, Mrs. Florence Dean, President of the Culture Club, submitted a plan for holding an Art and Loan Exhibit, the proceeds to be used as the foundation of a fund for a free public library. The plan met with the approval of the Culture Club, and an invitation was sent to the Friday Club and Chautauqua Club to join them, which both accepted. The exhibit was held the first week in May and the profit was $192.03. The money was equally divided between the three clubs, as per agreement, each club preferring to keep their fund separate until they were ready to offer it to the city. During the summer, the Sorosis Club compiled and sold a Book of Quotations and earned $25 for the library fund. The Culture Club followed with a cookbook, and also held a bazaar and supper, the proceeds being $125. From a poem included in the front of the cookbook, we read: “The proceeds thereof, from the sale of these books, will go to the library fund instead of the cooks. We hope with this effort, to make it quite strong, when you see a good thing, help push it along.” One week later, the Friday Club held a book social. The public was invited and the entrance fee was a book for the library. It was a grand success with 450 books received. One of the first purchases for the collection was a set of encyclopedias, purchased with private donations from club members and their acquaintances. Vote for Library in City Election The public spirit and interest coupled with the readiness with which this money was donated, prompted the city solicitor to advise offering the books and funds to the city council and ask that a tax for the support of a free public library should be voted upon at the spring election. Acting on this advice, a joint meeting of the clubs was held in January 1901, and a motion was made to combine the results of their endeavors, being 950 books and $325.27 and offer them to the city for the establishment of a free public library. The council accepted and a tax was voted upon and carried at the spring election. “For the first time in Jefferson’s history, woman, lovely woman, will have a chance to vote next Monday at the city election. Our wives, mothers, sisters and sweethearts are to decide the fate of the library proposition, and in their hands there is little doubt about the outcome. Any woman, who is a resident of Jefferson and over 21 years of age, may present herself at the polling places next Monday and demand the right of suffrage, with the certainty that her right will be recognized by the judges. The Bee hopes the women may take general advantage of this first opportunity to vote and thus encourage the lawmakers to extend the franchise to them on other matters.” These three paragraphs appeared in the Jefferson Bee on March 21, 1901. The “library proposition” spoken of was a proposed library tax for the city. The ladies did vote, and a week later The Bee reported: “The women of Jefferson are believers in the promotion of literature, science and the arts, not only in theory, but in practice. They never had a chance to make a public record until Monday of this week, but they seized that opportunity to make it with a vengeance. The feminine vote on the library proposition was: for the library tax – 144; against the library tax – 1.” The First Library Opens In July 1901, the mayor appointed the first board of trustees as follows: Captain Albert Head, Dr. F.M. Dean, Dr. H.C. Kettell, Owen Lovejoy, E.B. Wilson, Henry Haag, Mrs. Dinsmore Austin, Mrs. Charles [Mary] Warrington, and Mrs. E.H. [Lulu] Barrett. Charles Bofink, city treasurer, was made treasurer of the library fund. Mrs. Maud Culbertson was elected librarian and a two mill tax was levied. Captain Head offered the use of two rooms over the Greene County State Bank, rent free for one year. The work of organizing, classifying, and cataloging the collection of books and Congressional records was completed and furniture and shelving was purchased. Jefferson’s first free public library was opened to the public December 4, 1901 at 202 East State in the theater block (above what is presently Floral Designs by Jean where Dr. Buzzard’s optometry offices were for many years). By this time even more books had been donated by the Margaret Fuller Club and private donations, so the library opened with 2,090 items. The library was open Wednesday afternoon and Saturday afternoon and evening of each week. According to the Rules and Regulations, “Any person of good deportment may use the reading rooms. All persons are required to speak in a low tone of voice.” A fine of 2c per day was charged on overdue books. 200 Jefferson residents held borrower’s cards. Andrew Carnegie Donates $10,000 The library was so well patronized that in April 1902, Henry Haag, acting as a member of the library board and also of the city coun...