This Month - July

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Morrisson-Reeves Library History

July

1864

On July 16, the Quaker City Weekly Telegram reported that the "Morrisson Library will not be opened till sometime next week. This delay is occasioned by its taking a much longer time to print the Catalogue than was expected at first. The Catalogue will contain more than 100 pages, and the titles of books being printed in small capitals but few pages can be done at a time."

The Morrisson Library finally opened on July 30, apparently with little fanfare. The four original members of the Library Committee, Jesse P. Siddall, Jesse S. Wilson, William Parry, and John Nicholson placed a message in the Quaker City Weekly Telegram stating that the library

will be opened this day, at 9 A. M., and will continue open during the day. It will be open every day hereafter (Sundays excepted) from 3 to 6 P. M., until further notice. The Committee would say that none have regretted more than they the unavoidable delay in admitting the public to partake of the rich intellectual feast prepared for them by the munificence of a fellow-citizen, but all who have a just appreciation of the value of such a Library will approve the course of the Committee in not opening until a Catalogue could be published containing such rules for the circulation of the books as will preserve, for the longest possible time, the rich legacy now inherited by every citizen of Wayne township; which legacy, if properly preserved, will be a continued reversion to benefit and bless generations yet unborn. The Committee rely upon an appreciative public to second and sustain them in their efforts to make the Morrisson Library one of the valued institutions of our city.

1899

Mrs. Wrigley told a Daily Sun Telegram reporter on July 15 that the library had begun using the Brown charging system. This process involved placing cards in envelopes into the back of each book in the collection, and when a patron checked out a book, the card was removed from the book and placed in another envelope bearing the patron's name. This charging system replaced the ledger system that Mrs. Wrigley said had "gone out of use in all modern libraries."

1904

Mrs. Bernhardt's first annual report appeared in the Palladium on July 9, and it showed that 1800 books had been added during the year, bringing the total number on the shelves to 30, 627. She also reported that there had been four Sketch Club exhibits which "were skillfully arranged by Miss Ether Griffin White, to whom the library is indebted."

1905

On the first of July the Sun Telegram reported that the large bronze plaque of Arthur Reeves had been installed in the lobby of the building. The Reeves family had commissioned the well-known Terre Haute native, Janet Scudder, to create the piece.

1945

President of the Library Board, Clarence Brown, announced on July 20 that Mrs. Bernhardt was retiring after 42 years as librarian. Mrs. Harriet Bard, librarian of the Hagerstown Library and graduate of the librarian school of the University of Michigan, was named as her successor. Mrs. Bernhardt would continue serving as secretary of the Library Board.

1964

The staff and board members held a party on the south lawn on Thursday, July 30, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the library's founding. Invited guests included Robert McClanen, director of the Indiana State Library. Nearly 500 people attended the event.

Mrs. Bard (center) and adult staff.

Student staff dressed in period costume.

1969

On Morrisson-Reeves Library's 105th Anniversary, the celebration emphasized the many Outreach programs that had been initiated since the Centennial. The library opened branches at the Boys' Club and at the Townsend Center in 1965, as well as starting what is now known as Homebound Service. 1966 saw the beginning of the Parks and Playgrounds Bookmobile, followed the next year by the Wayne County Contractual Library Bookmobile service.

1975

The new Morrisson-Reeves Library opened for business on July 7 at 8:30 a.m.

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