USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. II > Part 33
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In the spring of 1841 a ball was given by its man- agers at the Lake house, on the North Side, for the benefit of the library fund, and here were gathered
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the true representatives of Chicago - promise for future advancement in the higher walks of life. The object was a literary one, and of course the blandish- ments of the ball lent an additional charm. Under this double incentive the ladies turned out in effective force, notwithstanding that the mud in the streets was axle deep.
Frink and Walker's stagecoaches plowed through it with their fair charge, and made the enterprise a social as well as utilitarian success. Those days were too early for the professional lecturer to come to Chicago, but this deficiency was satisfactorily sup- plied by home talent. Hon. Mark Skinner began the course with a lecture before the Association on, "Finance and the Illinois School Fund"; Dr. Sawyer followed on "Mesmerism"; Major Otis on "True Mercantile Character"; Dr. Brainard on "Physi- ology," and other members of the Association on sub- jects of interest in that day. The nucleus for a library was provided for by a selection of books presented by Walter L. Newberry, April 24, 1841; which was soon enlarged by donations from S. Lisle Smith, William B. Ogden, W. H. Clark, Dr. Sawyer, and other citizens and members of the Association.
The Association soon afterward occupied larger and pleasanter quarters in the old saloon building, corner of Lake and Clark streets. From thence it was removed to Warner's block, on Randolph street. From thence to 95 Washington street, from thence to Port- land block, and from thence, in 1867, to Metropolitan block, corner Randolph and La Salle streets, where it remained till the great fire of October 9, 1871. Ever since the Association had been established, it had served the purposes for which it had been inaugu- rated, satisfactorily to its founders and the people of Chicago; but an increase of books to supply the liter- ary wants of this growing city was pressing. A good source of income to the Association was through public
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lectures, and great efforts were made to secure the best talent for this service. In this respect, it may be interesting to state that in the spring of 1861, the celebrated Wendell Phillips was engaged to lecture at Bryan hall, under the auspices of the Association, on slavery and the war. The war issue had not yet been decided by the sword, and there was a kind of nondescript element that opposed the sentiments of which Mr. Phillips was so able an exponent. George S. Bowen was then President of the Association, and it was due to his prudential action (in providing seventy- five policemen to preserve order in the hall) that riotous opposition was prevented. At the end of the year, by his good management in securing the services of popu- lar lecturers, the indebtedness of the Association, amounting to over $5,000, was paid, and a balance was left in the treasury of nearly $2,000.
The Young Men's Christian Association had already been well organized, and placed on a permanent footing.
The names of these two organizations being so similar, some confusion arose as to the identity of each. To prevent this, early in 1868 Bryan Lathrop introduced a bill in the library board to change the old name from the Young Men's to the Chicago Library Associa- tion. His bill having received the sanction of the library board, he procured an act of the legislature of Illinois, authorizing this change of title, hence the name, Chicago Library Association, became officially recognized thereafter. Since Mr. Bowen's administra- tion the high character of the lecture course was sus- tained, but at no time after that period was there any large balance in the treasury; and as already stated, an increase of the number of volumes in the library was necessary to keep the literary and financial interests of the city abreast with each other.
An abstract from the report of November 22, 1871, the next month after the great fire, will explain the situation. Thomas D. Lowther, at the request of cer-
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tain life members and subscribers to the library, made a report * to William Bross, the president, showing the extent of the losses and the available means wherewith to reorganize and reproduce a new library, as follows: "The value of our burned library, as stated by the ex-president, Chas. C. Bonney, in March, was estimated at $42,470; number of books, over 30,000. The usual insurance of $15,000 had been suffered to expire for want of funds. The debts of the Association were $3,200. The assets were $70; a life members' fund of $1,100, and a Thomas B. Bryan fund of $250, both held in trust for specific uses. By consent these funds were distributed, and gave a dividend of over 50 per cent to creditors. Its other effects were between 300 and 400 books saved from the fire by being in the homes of members; 200 or 300 volumes of the very valuable re- ports of British patents then awaiting our order (with cash) to be bound by our binder in London, and a small number of books that had already been collected by A. H. Burgess and associates in London, 'to replace,' as he said, 'our burned library . as a mark of
sympathy now, and a keepsake and token of true brotherly kindness forever.' Notwithstanding the cheering prospect presented by Mr. Burgess, of a British gift library, it was still a question whether the old Chicago Library Association should be revived, and, if so, how. The report proceeds: 'Wise men are be- ginning to agree that every metropolitan city needs a public library, supported by taxation, for many reasons besides the obvious one of supplementing and complet- ing our common school system of education.' " As a consequence, one or more bills to authorize public libraries had been brought before the legislature of Illinois, at the time of the fire. To these efforts much credit is due for bringing public opinion up to the taxa- tion point.
* See page 84, " Memorials of the old Chicago Library and the Advent of the New Chicago Public Library." Edited, 1878, by T. D. Lowther.
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The report further suggested, "That should any enabling act for this purpose fail to be passed in the legislature, the old Association might unite with the Michigan Avenue Library Association," which had sprung into existence after the fire, and had already obtained from booksellers and sympathizers in eastern cities, in the name and for the use of destitute Chicago, several thousand books, to which collection, as to a pub- lic property, many of our own citizens had contributed.
In order to understand the real situation, it will be necessary to refer back to the financial condition of the old library previous to the fire. For several years before the fire of October, 1871, the receipts of the Chicago Library had been less than its expenses. A crisis had been averted only by donations from its friends. The retiring president, Chas. C. Bonney, presented at the annual meeting, March 27, 1871, sev- eral plans for securing to the library a sufficient and stable support. Judge W. W. Farwell offered to give to ,the Association commodious rooms, rent free for ten years, provided $15,000 in cash were raised to meet its necessities. On this basis $3,000 were then and there pledged by Governor Bross, E. L. Brown and Thomas D. Lowther; but the outlook was not promis- ing. Every scheme proposed seemed to its members inadequate to the growing wants of the future great city. There was good hope of getting a public library supported by taxation, and for that they preferred to wait and work.
At the annual election, March 2, 1871, an effort was made by members of the Young Men's Christian Association Library (of 6,000 volumes) to absorb the Chicago Library Association (of 30,000 volumes), by uniting them and electing a ticket favorable to such a union; but this attempt miscarried, and the old Library Association continued its work alone in its own broader mission, as it had begun. April 1, 1871, ex-Governor Bross was chosen president, six months later the
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library was burned, and just one year after, on April 1, 1872, the Chicago Public Library was established by order of the city council.
So nearly total had been the destruction of the old Chicago Library by this conflagration, and so complete the discouragement of the members of the Association, that Mr. Lowther, finding none of its officers willing or able in that time of general distress to attend to its affairs, consented to give up his usual southern residence for the winter and undertake the work (which he de- scribed as a self-condemnation to hard labor for the next six months) of investigating its affairs and prospects, and report on the question of its resuscitation ; and, if it could not be revived, bury it decently. This was the way Mr. Lowther came to be receiver for the old library and an important promoter of the new.
As an initiatory step to this end, at his own expense he sent the old librarian, John Robson (him- self an Englishman), to London, to solicit from the commissioner of patents a renewal to us of the several hundred volumes of their very valuable reports, which were burned, uninsured, as the possession of these im- portant and rare books alone would be equal to a found- ation for any library. The series consisted of 3,000 vol- umes. The report concluded by saying that, " If the legislature does its part, and the proposed library bill becomes a law, Chicago would probably possess within a year a magnificent library, aggregating 20,000 vol- umes, which our large hearted British brethren had begun to gather up for us, to replace the one lost; but, in case the legislature should fail us, and the friends of the Chicago Library Association should determine to resuscitate it, an attempt. might again be made to obtain enough funds for that purpose by stock sub- scription of our citizens." No action on this report was taken, the members choosing to await events.
After the destruction of all the libraries of Chicago by the fire of 1871, Mr. A. Hutton Burgess, of London,
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proposed and advocated in the newspapers of London, November 1 and 3, 1871, and in the New York papers, December 6, same year, the giving of a free library to Chicago, to replace its loss. This project found favor with the Anglo-American Association (of which Thomas Hughes, M. P. a former friend of America, was presi- dent), which firms then made an appeal to the authors, publishers, scientific societies and literary institutions of Great Britain for donations of books for the free library, in the following circular :
CIRCULAR.
(Distributed by the Anglo-American Association.) CHICAGO NEW LIBRARY.
MR. T. HUGHES, Q. C., M. P., 9 OLD SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN, CHAIRMAN ; SIR JOHN ROSE, K. C., M. G., 1 BAR- THOLOMEW LANE, E. C., HON. TREASURER ; MR. A. HUTTON BURGESS, 136 STRAND, HON. SECRETARY.
"The gift by the people of England of a new library to Chicago is intended to be a mark of sympa- thy now, and a token of that sentiment of kinship which, independently of circumstances and irrespec- tively of every other consideration, must ever exist between the different branches of the English race.
" Accordingly, while the home literature of the present day and of the last 100 years will form an im- portant portion of the new library, the characteristic feature of the gift will consist in sending to the Ameri- cans, works of the preceding thirteen centuries, which are the common inheritance of both peoples.
" While, therefore, authors, publishers and book- sellers are invited to co-operate in furnishing a com- plete collection of modern works in all departments of literature-general and professional-the public gener- ally, and especially the owners of large private libra- ries, the heads of societies, and the representatives of
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distinguished and historic names, are invited to send donations of old books of all sorts, and of money for purchasing rare works, so as to give completeness to the gift as a national act.
"Donations of books addressed, 'Chicago New Library,' will be received at No. 136 Strand, London, W. C .; or they may be forwarded direct to the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, where the collection is being arranged and stored. Donations of money to be sent to the honorable treasurer. Every book will bear the donor's name, and a list of all donations will be ulti- mately printed and copies will be sent to Chicago."
Among many hundreds of donations already re- ceived or announced are those from :
H. M. The Queen.
The Duke of Argyle.
The Lords Com's of Admiralty.
The Proprietors of the Athe- næum.
The British Museum.
The University of Cambridge.
The Camden Society.
Mr. Carlyle.
The Com. of Council on Education. Lord Alfred Churchill, M. P.
Mr. Disraeli, M. P.
The Archbishop of Dublin.
Early English Text Society.
Mr. Evelyn.
Mr. Forster, M. P.
Mr. Furnival, M. A.
The Royal Geographical Society. Mr. Gladstone, M. P.
Lord Houghton.
Earl of Kimberly, Colonial Office. Sir C. Lyell, Bart., F. R. S.
Messrs. Longmans Co. The Marquis of Lorne.
Proprietors of the Law Reports.
Sir John Lubbock, Bart.
Messrs. Macmillan & Co.
Mr. John Murray.
The University of Oxford.
Sir F. Pollock, Bart.
Sir R. Palmer, M. P.
The Patent Office. The Religious Tract Society.
Lord Romily-the Record Office.
The Social Science Association.
Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co.
Mr. Herbert Spencer.
Dr. William Smith.
Professor Tyndall.
Mr. Tennyson.
Sir Chas. Trevelyan, Bart.
The Royal United Service Insti- tution, etc .*
Under this appeal books began to come in until certain members of the American colony in London assumed that, "begging of books" was inconsistent with the independence of Chicago, and positively hu- miliating. Upon this hypothesis our British friends ceased from their (reported thankless) endeavors, and stored the books already donated (some 600 volumes
* Publishers and others who may wish to communicate with au- thors or friends on the subject are informed that copies of this circu- lar and printed labels for easy exhibition of autographs can be had on application at 136 Strand London, W. C.
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only) in the Crystal Palace, subject to our order. The British Museum presented all its publications; the University of Oxford, the publications of the Univer- sity Press, of which about 250 volumes were elegantly bound, and were stamped with the University seal. The commissioners of patents gave a complete set of the British patents; the master of the rolls, a set of the Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain, and Calen- dar of State Papers, and many of the most prominent writers in the kingdom gave their works. The rela- tives of deceased authors, as Lord Macaulay and Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, donated complete sets of their writ- ings; Her Majesty the Queen gave "The Early Life of the Prince Consort," inscribed with her autograph, and bearing this book plate:
PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Toward the formation of a free library, after the great fire of 1871, as a mark of English sympathy,
BY HER MAJESTY, THE QUEEN VICTORIA.
A similar book plate, with the name of the donor changed, was placed in nearly all the gifts. But there was, until January, 1872, no library to receive these books, and no law of our state under which a free public library could be organized.
Meantime and before this misrepresentation, our librarian, Mr. Robson, was not idle in London. He reported to Mr. Lowther that the sympathy felt in England for our loss was sincere, and that donations of books might with little effort be secured, if he were commissioned authoritatively to collect; whereupon, early in December, a resolution was passed by the Chicago Library Association, empowering him by let- ter from its president, ex-Governor Bross, and others, to receive donations of books, "In the name of the old library, if revived, or of any new free public library that might be established, into which the old one would be merged." Furnished with these credentials and a pledge from Mr. Lowther to raise the necessary
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funds, Mr. Robson - as soon as the "Hughes collect- ing " (as it was called) was suspended and prematurely closed - prepared an appeal for books, by a circular intended to be sent to literary and other societies of Great Britain; but before this was done news came to him that the creation of a free public library for Chicago was then assured; and a few days later he received from Mr. Lowther an official letter, obtained by him from the mayor of Chicago, giving Mr. Robson authority to receive in the name of Chicago the prom- ised collection of books.
The following is a copy of the letter :
"MR. JOHN ROBSON, LATE . LIBRARIAN CHICAGO LIBRARY :
"Sir: It is understood here that you are operating in London, obtaining contributions of books for the Chicago library, lately destroyed by fire, or for the new free "City Library," into which it may be merged.
"It is also understood that Thomas Hughes, M. P., and associates, Anglo-American, have-with a wise forecast and a large liberality that do honor to the British nation-already gathered for the free library, to be founded in Chicago, a considerable collection of books, which are now in the Crystal Palace, Lon- don, and elsewhere, awaiting transportation to this country.
"We have no further information as to the plans of these gentlemen, whether they purpose forwarding the books direct to Chicago, or whether they would prefer to deliver them to an agent appointed by us to receive them in London, when their generous labors in our behalf shall finally be closed.
"If, on proper inquiry delicately made, you shall ascertain the latter to be the fact, you are hereby authorized to receive the books for the city of Chicago whenever they shall be presented. We will then pro- vide for their shipment home, and make what feeble
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acknowledgments we can for the kindness and spon- taneous munificence of the donors.
"CHICAGO, January 12, 1872.
"JOSEPH MEDILL, Mayor."
When the credentials were shown they were held to be a quasi-sanction by the citizens of Chicago of what had been erroneously styled, "A begging of books"; and then all opposition ceased. Mr. Hughes and associates, taking a correct view of the improved situation, decided to resume the abandoned work. They saw the advantage of co-operation, felt the necessity for help, and finding our librarian, Mr. Robson, emi- nently capable and zealous, they complimented him and us by inviting his assistance in their work. The former machinery was again set in motion. The fol- lowing appeal, inclosing a new circular from the Anglo- American Association, was printed and distributed:
CIRCULAR.
"LONDON, 136 Strand.
"Sir: With this you will receive a circular relative to the English gift of books to the free public library of Chicago, United States, which is to replace those destroyed at the great fire, October, 1871. The representative of the mayor and citizens of Chicago is now in London, on library business, and we wish the gift so complete that we can hand it over, to him before his return. We shall, therefore, feel obliged if you will assist us in our efforts to make it worthy of the country by kindly adding your donation.
"We remain, yours sincerely, " T. HUGHES, Chairman.
"A. HUTTON BURGESS, Hon. Secretary."
Thenceforward most of the great labor of seeking and getting in the gift books was done by Mr. Robson, the librarian of the old Chicago library, as the collector under the Anglo-American Association of contributions to our new public one, we furnishing the man and means to carry through their grand scheme with what
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measure of success it had, by putting to their fullest use their prestige, name and influence. Each seemed necessary to the other. "If it had not been for you,'' said Mr. Hughes to Mr. Robson, :"I don't think we should have got another hundred books, all told." Some remuneration for Mr. Robson's services and at- tendant labors was paid by subscription of the follow- ing citizens of Chicago :
Thomas D. Lowther, $51.25 ; E. S. Evarts, $15 ; E. L. Brown, $50; Doggett, Bassett & Hills, $100 ; R. T. Crane, $25 ; W. H. Lotz, $2 ; Furst & Bradley, $25; O. W. Potter, $50 ; E. C. Larned, $25; Goodwin & Towle, $15; Joseph Medill, $20 ; L. L. Coburn, $15 ; J. L. Chapin, $5; N. S. Bouton, $50; L. L. Bond, $10; Thomas Hoyne, $5; Charles Hitchcock, $15; Wm. Chisholm, $15; A. B. Meeker, $50; J. M. Walker, $50 ; Western Railroad Association, $100.
Sometimes the persistence of Mr. Burgess or the personal influence of Mr. Hughes was found necessary in order to obtain books that were desired, but gener- ally the contributions were voluntary, and almost any- thing could be got for asking ; and between January and April, through the joint efforts of Burgess, Rob- son and Hughes, more than 6,000 volumes had been added to the 600 first gathered for the British gift library to Chicago. The Anglo-American Association voted £200 for the purchase of books otherwise unat- tainable.
Among the many early responses received by Mr. Hughes, the following are quoted :
"CHELSEA, November 12, 1871.
"Dear Hughes : Forgive me that I have not sooner answered your friendly, cheery and altogether pleasant little note. I suppose Burgess would have told you my objection to the project-that it seemed to me super- fluous, not practical by the methods he proposed (for the gift of all the books of living authors will go for very little in such an enterprise), and third and worst,
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that it wore on the face of it a visible pick and thank kind of character-a thing greatly to be avoided, both at Chicago and here. These objections do not vanish on reflection, but, on the contrary, gather weight. Nevertheless, if you and the literary world feel nothing of the like, and the project take fire and go on, it con- tinues certain that my poor contribution of a copy of my books shall not by any means be wanting. Believe me always yours with regards, T. CARLYLE."
" HUGHENDEN MANOR, November 10, 1871.
"Dear Mr. Hughes : Our friends at Chicago, so far as English authors are concerned, have a free library which no conflagration can destroy. I fear they may smile when they receive our offerings in this fashion ; but mine, if you wish it, shall be made.
" Faithfully yours, B. DISRAELI."
It is eminently just that Mr. Disraeli's good natured hint, that America had refused copyright to English authors, should accompany his donation.
The news of the intended generosity of our British brethren was received with grateful enthusiasm. The moment was opportune for effecting our long cherished purpose, and steps were promptly taken for the estab- lishment of a public library. George S. Bowen, who had been a former president of the Chicago Library Association, called a public meeting for January 8, over the signatures of twenty-eight representative citizens. This call was drawn up January 5, 1872, by George S. Bowen, E. C. Larned and Rev. Dr. Ryder, who had met by appointment for consultation on the subject of a free library. The next day Mr. Bowen obtained a few fitting signatures, and also obtained the consent of Mayor Medill to preside.
The call was as follows :
"A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
"The following correspondence will be read with general interest:
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"HON. JOSEPH MEDILL, MAYOR OF CHICAGO :
"The undersigned respectfully request that you call a public meeting of the citizens of Chicago, with reference to the establishment of a free public library in Chicago, to be held at Plymouth church, corner of Wabash avenue and Eldridge court, on Monday the 8th inst., at 7:30 P. M., and that you would preside over said meeting.
George S. Bowen.
C. M. Henderson.
Philip Wadsworth ..
C. C. P. Holden.
Henry M. Shephard.
Rev. W. H. Ryder.
Gilbert A. Smith.
T. D. Lowther.
Wirt Dexter.
Isaac N. Arnold.
N. K. Fairbank.
Rev. W.A. Bartlett.
C. G. Hammond.
A. H. Winslow.
E. C. Larned.
N. S. Bouton.
O. S. Hough. Horace White.
Charles L. Wilson.
William Bross.
Marshall Field.
Enos Brown.
L. Z. Leiter.
Simeon Farwell.
W. E. Doggett.
John K. Harmon.
F. A. Eastman.
C. H. McCormick.
At this meeting a committee was appointed to prepare for such legislation. The committee reported, January 20, the draft of a free library law, which was subsequently enacted by the legislature, and approved March 7, 1872. The common council passed an ordinance establishing the Chicago Public Library, which was signed by the mayor, April 1, 1872. The state law authorized a tax for the support of the library not exceeding one-fifth of one mill per cent on the taxable property of the city.
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