Jacksonville Public Library

"Above all things, talk the library up—not down; be a booster for this organization that means so much to you, your children and your town." This was an admonition in a library report of February, 1913, published in a newspaper article concerning the library.

"Talking the library" began not long after the arrival, in 1909, of a young Christian church minister, the Reverend Tom Dean. Finding no library facility in Jacksonville, his enthusiasm for one spread and a room above Tucker Furniture Company (present site of J. C. Penney Co.) housed the first public library. In November, 1912, the Jacksonville Library Association was formed.

Officers in 1913 were Tom Dean, president; Mrs. H. H. Parker, vice-president; Mrs. O. D. Jones, secretary; Mrs. T. R. Gragard, treasurer. The officers and purchasing committee members, including Mrs. Parker, Mrs. E. S. Park, Mrs. C. H. Rhodes and J. W. Hoppe, constituted the executive committee. Mr. Hoppe of Jacksonville College gave 500 books from his private library, other volumes were donated and a few purchased. Ladies of the Shakespeare Club, organized in 1904 as a literary club, volunteered their services in assisting in organization and as librarians.

As interest heightened, space diminished and soon the library was moved to larger quarters on the fifth floor of the First National Bank building. Within a year or so, with Mr. Dean's perpetual boosting and contributions of money and time by many people, a rough-shingled frame structure "representing about $800" was built for library purposes at the corner of Larissa and South Bonner streets, directly across Larissa Street from First Methodist Church, where union services were held in dedication of the small building.

During Jacksonville's Golden Jubilee, August 8-9, 1922, the Tuesday afternoon program included the announcement: "At 2 o'clock, the doors of the Public Library will be thrown open and the public invited to inspect the Heirloom Exhibit. This exhibit also will be on display from 9 to 10 o'clock in the morning!"

In the middle 1920s, problems relative to the property resulted in the closing of the library and storing of books. The structure was moved to Georgia Avenue, and still is in use today as a residence.

Records show that in 1933, Mrs. T. R. Gragard, who was a charter member of the original Library Association, was president of the City Federation of Women's Clubs. She appointed a committee composed of Mrs. George Singleton, chairman, Mrs. W. F. Ivers and Mrs. E. S. Park, to formulate plans for re-organizing a library in Jacksonville.

On April 20, 1933, a library association was formed and Mrs. Singleton elected president; Mrs. Ivers, vice-president; John C. Box, Jr., treasurer; Mrs. Park, secretary; and Larue Cox, C. D. Molloy, Mrs. T. R. Gragard, Mrs. A. G. Adams, Bryan Miller, Miss Roberta Barcus and the Reverend Tom Dean, directors. Mrs. H. H. Parker was named a director later in the year to replace Mrs. Park, who resigned.

On April 24, 1933, application was made to the city for a charter, and on April 26, 1933, the charter for the Jacksonville Library Association was issued to Mrs. George Singleton, Mrs. E. S. Park and Mrs. W. F. Ivers, for a period of 25 years. At a Federated Club luncheon, Mrs. C. A. Childs, acting as spokesman for the Garden Club, pledged $10 to secure the charter. The City Commission granted use of space vacated by removal of the Jacksonville Building & Loan Association to its new location and on July 10, 1933, there was once again a Jacksonville Public Library.

Miss Edwin Sue Goree, state library organizer, came here to assist Miss Elizabeth Albritton, a high school teacher, and a corps of high school girls in organizing the library facility.

In October, at the first annual board meeting, the library had 914 volumes, 400 borrowers and 1,608 books circulated. Volunteer staffers came from members of the Shakespeare, Wednesday Study, Utile Dulce, Arno Art, Mothers Study and Music clubs. The library was free and sale of memberships paid for books purchased.

In September, 1933, under the Civil Works Administration, services of Miss Lillian Golightly of Dallas, a graduate in library science from Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman's University, were made available. Following termination of C.W.A. assistance, a salary, secured by subscription, was paid Miss Golightly. Miss Fain Goodson, Miss Mary Forrest and Mrs. Fred Fuller followed Miss Golightly as librarians.

Plans made by the City Commission and Library Board as early as 1933 for a new building on a lot the city had donated on Bonner Street, site of the present Fire Department practice tower, did not materialize because some of the C.W.A. projects were abandoned, including the proposed library structure.

In 1936, by vote of the people of Jacksonville, the library became city-supported. Memberships continued being sold and supplemented library funds. On October 11, 1939, citizens voted in a bond election for sufficient expenditures to build a public library and granted permission for it to be built in the City Park. Completed in 1941, through aid of the Works Progress Administration, a formal opening was held in October in the spacious structure of pink native rock quarried near Alto, with an estimated value, including furnishings, of $20,000. Board members at the time were Mrs. C. A. Childs, president; Larue Cox, vice-president; Mrs. F. D. Newton, secretary; John C. Box, treasurer; and Mrs. H. H. Parker, Mrs. George Singleton, J. L. Brown, Ernest Whitaker and A. E. Garner.

There were 5,757 volumes transferred to the new building, along with numerous files of newspapers and periodicals. Mrs. Fuller and her assistant, Mrs. Mildred Fulton, classified the books according to the Dewey Decimal System. Miss Marguarite Miller had been added to the staff under W.P.A. The succeeding years saw continued growth of the library. Mrs. Fuller resigned in 1951 and was succeeded by assistant librarian, Mrs. Lee G. Carter.

In the early 1960s, an agreement was reached whereby funds derived from a park area that the J. L. Brown Estate had deeded to the city north of Love's Lookout, might be used for construction of a new wing on the public library. This was accomplished in 1965, with 3,200 square feet of floor space added, along with 812 square feet to house the Vanishing Texana Museum, which was assembled by the efforts of many, but through coordination of Mrs. Frank W. Ebaugh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Brown, who acts as curator. The museum opened on June 7, 1965.

Mrs. Garter resigned as librarian on April 1, 1966. She was succeeded by Mrs. Ross Causey, who serves at this time, along with Mrs. Robert R. Adams, assistant librarian, and Mrs. Earl Williams and Mrs. Richard P. Sheffield, clerks.

In June, 1966, 4,000 volumes from the treasured library of Carl Gibson Smith, a former resident, who left in 1908 for Chicago, were received. This was to commemorate the pioneering efforts of his father, Yank Smith, in the peach and tomato growing and shipping industry, and its promotion, and the collecting and growing of roses by his mother, Betty Smith.

In 1969, additional impetus was given to the Library by organization of Friends of the Library, composed of interested people who wanted to promote and improve the facility. Mrs. Finis Harris served as first president and first activity was presentation of Garland Roark, noted author, in a speaking appearance. More recent fund-raising activity of the Friends has been two Book Fairs, wherein contributed books are offered for sale to the public. Two such Fairs have been held in 1970 and 1971. Memberships in Friends also are available. Raymond West currently serves as president.

In 1972, the library is open six days each week and the book collection totals 23,576. Circulation in 1971 was 33,596 volumes. Indicative of progress being made is the fact that 550 new borrowers were added in 1971 and 922 new books were added to the shelves.

Original building of the Jacksonville Public Library in City Park on Bolton Street was first occupied in 1941.

Present building of the Jacksonville Public Library, remodeled and enlarged in 1965, to give more space to include the Vanishing Texana Museum.

Vanishing Texana Museum in Library building has attracted wide attention with exhibits of articles dating back to founding of Jacksonville and beyond.