LIBRARIES

LIBRARIES

City of Syracuse

Submitted by Robert T. Bond

Source:  Dwight H. Bruce (ed.), Onondaga's Centennial.  Boston History Co., 1896, Vol. I, pp. 559-562.


Libraries - The first circulating library in Syracuse was called the “Parish Library,” and was established chiefly through the efforts of Rev. Palmer Dyer, then rector of St. Paul’s church. Mr. Dyer took a deep interest in the welfare of the village, particularly in its moral and educational advancement. This small library was accommodated, during at least part of its existence, in a room provided by L. H. Redfied; it was subsequently removed to the old academy and consolidated with a library belonging to that institution. Madame A. J. Raoul, a lady who manifested deep interest in educational and intellectual affairs, had a circulating library at one period, previous to the incorporation of the city, which accomplished much good.

A building which once stood on the northeast corner of South Salina and Washington streets was known as “Library Hall,” from the fact that therein was a public hall and also a library which was the offspring of the “Syracuse Library and Reading Room Association.” The hall was used for public lectures and entertainments, among those given in it being a performance by Ole Bull, the celebrated violinist, readings by Fannie Kemble-Butler, with many others by lesser lights. The library never reached more than 1,200 volumes and the association was not long-lived; it closed its affairs under a burden of debt, and the books were purchased by W. E. Leavenworth, Capt. Hiram Putnam, Dr. Lyman Clary, and others, and placed as a library in Dr. Clary’s office. At a later date the books were presented to the “Franklin Library and Institute,” an institution that enjoyed a long period of prosperity, increasing its library and giving public entertainment and lectures which were very popular. One of the first librarians of this institute was Dr. Henry Gregory, then rector of St. Paul’s church, and his zealous efforts contributed much to the success of the institution. The library was for many years kept in commodious apartments in the Wieting block. But brilliant as were its prospects during one period, it finally fell into decline and its affairs were closed up and effects sold. Many of the books found their way into other local libraries.

About the year 1844 the Society for Mutual Instruction was founded, the plan of which bore a close relationship to library work. The officers and members were each assigned a branch of natural science, and in rotation each furnished an essay at the weekly meetings, using natural specimens for illustration; these essays were supplemented by remarks from the assembled members on the subject in hand. In the first year the members met in the school house on Church street, and the last year in A. G. Salisbury’s school room, in rear of the old Congregational church (site of the Convention block) on East Genesee street. This society accomplished much good to its members.

Small circulating libraries were connected with the district schools from almost the date of their existence, and were continued a few years under the city organization. The superintendent’s report for 1857 said:

No equal amount of public money is doing more good to the community than that expended in the purchase of books for the district libraries. There are nine of these libraries, so distributed over the city as to be conveniently accessible to every  one. The aggregate number of volumes is 4,620. During the year 20,000 volumes have been drawn. This excessive reading, principally by the pupils attending the schools, but largely by others, cannot fail to have an important influence in forming the tastes and habits of those who thus devote their leisure hours.

These libraries continued until after the adoption of the plan of a Central Library, when many of the less valuable and important books were sold and the standard and valuable works were turned over to the Central.

The Central Library was begun in 1857 by the bringing of various school libraries together in the City Hall and putting them in charge of the superintendent of schools. In 1862 John Strachan was made librarian. In 1863 he was followed by Patrick McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy was a most able and careful librarian and many of the good books in the library were purchased by him.

In 1867 the library was moved with the superintendent’s office from the City Hall to the new High School building. Mr. McCarthy died in 1870 and was followed by his son, William McCarthy, who served for one year. After him came John S. Clark, who was librarian for three years. In 1870 Mrs. Gambia was appointed librarian and served three years. In 1880 Ezekiel W. Mundy was appointed librarian, and he has remained at his post to the present time.

The library remained under the direction of the Board of Education until February, 1893, when that body, by reason of a change in the laws of the State concerning libraries, recommended that the library be placed under the supervision of the Board of Regents, and appointed President Stilwell, of the Board of Education, to lay the matter before the Common Council. The result was that the charter of the city was amended and a commission by the mayor to take the matter in hand. This commission consisted of Giles H. Stilwell, president of the Board of Education; Seckel Brommer, James K. McGuire, Nicholas Peters, jr., Horace White. Afterward Hon. Jacob Amos, mayor of the city, and Andrew B. Blodgett, superintendent of public schools, were added to the commission by the Board of Regents.

The commission met August 23, 1893, agreed upon a name for the library -- Syracuse Central Library -- and signed an application to the Board of Regents asking for a charter. A charter was granted dated December  13, 1893, appointing Jacob Amos, mayor; Andrew B. Blodgett, superintendent of schools; Giles H. Stilwell, James K. McGuire, Seckel Bronner, Nicholas Peters, jr., and Horace White, trustees, the mayor and superintendent of schools to hold their places ex-officio. The Board of Education at once delivered to this Board of Trustees the entire books, furniture, funds and other property pertaining to the library, and generously offered to continue to the library for one year the use of its rooms in the High School, with all the service and privileges hitherto enjoyed.

Soon thereafter, however, the Common Council set apart the old Putnam School building, then unused, to the service of the library, and voted a sum sufficient to put the building in repair, to move the library and to recatalogue it. The building committee was able to put the building into the hands of the trustees for use July 15, 1894, and on that day the moving was begun. On December 1 the book committee was able to announce the library ready for the distribution of books and the library was opened, and since then the work has been going on daily with excellent results.

STATISTICAL TABLE


 

                   Days        Avg. Daily         Total           Volumes     Volumes      Money
                   Open       Circulation    Circulation        Added      In Library   Expended
  1870           187               130           24,310          2,659        10,000     $7,090.50
  1871           308               129           39,694            664         10,592       4,671.92
  1872           304               128           38,956                           11,423
  1873           267               135           36,010          1,148        12,423       3,778.41
  1874           264               137          362,732          1,006       13,300       3,634.75
  1875           301               138           41,623            491         13,791       4,086.36
  1876           308               133           41,057            501         14,070       3,162.75
  1877           307               153           47,218            602         14,442       3,240.50
  1878           198               175           35,616            633         14,829       2,566.30
  1879           307               165           47,760            376         13,344       3,308.95
  1880           294               138           40,525            105         13,423       1,773.05
  1881           275               137           36,878            434         13,692       2,079.77
  1882           305               130           39,785            995         14,603       2,653.51
  1883           307               123           37,906            917         15,494       2,738.32
  1884           307               114           34,926          1,993        15,899       3,126.87
  1885           307               135           41,443            318         17,107       4,000.16
  1886           306               146           44,686            761         17,182       3,100.71
  1887           308               129           39,823            745         18,062       3,107.09
  1888           308               131           40,542            790         18,687       3,057.31
  1889           308               143           43,416          2,336        20,518       5,487.16
  1890           306               145           44,303          1,466        21,541       5,298.65
  1891           306               145           44,238          1,074        22,274       3,500.00
  1892           307               134           41,403            861         23,023       3,850.00
  1893           306               108           33,149            866         23,608       3,700.00
  1894           306               165           50,659          2,296        25,600       4,948.00
  1895           177               252           44,585          1,993        27,253     15,077.48


Submitted 14 December 1998