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THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1907 - 1944
By
ORPHA MAUD PETERS
4
Exercises Held Upon the Occasion of Unveiling the Portrait of ORPHA MAUDE PETERS
Gary Public Library April 23, 1945 8:00 p. m.
THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1907-1944
By
ORPHA MAUD PETERS Assistant Librarian 1909-1943
027.4 P
GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY Gary, Indiana April 23, 1945
FOREWORD
The writing of history is a complicated task. The story of a single institution, even in the short span of years comprising the life of the Gary Public Library, is filled with half-remembered events and bewildering com- plexities. We are indeed fortunate to have this story told by one who has been an active participant in it al- most from the beginning -- one who has had opportunity to be behind the scenes and even to shift the scenery on oc- casion. The manuscript was revised and edited by Frank L. Brunckhorst and Mrs. Paul Howard.
Miss Orpha Maud Peters is a graduate of the College of Women (now Flora Stone Mather College), Western Reserve University. After one year spent in training for library work at the New York State Library School, Albany, she or- ganized the library at Alexandria, Indiana, and spent two years as its librarian. She had been librarian at Elwood, Indiana, for two years when she was chosen by Louis J. Bailey to help him organize and develop the library in the new town cf Gary.
Miss Peters came to Gary on September 20, 1909, to serve as assistant-librarian, a position she held until 1943, when under the library's retirement policy she went on half-time duty as library consultant.
It is unlikely that any single individual has done more for the Gary Public Library than Miss Peters. At four separate intervals she has served as acting librarian, one of these occasions being a very trying time in the library's history during and immediately after World War I. In ad- dition to these administrative duties, Miss Peters has served the library in almost every other professional capaci- ty at one time or another. She started the catalog, has carried the responsibility for circulation and reference work and for branch and extension work. Early in the library's history she tramped the rural districts obtaining support for the establishment of township branches.
Miss Peters aided in founding many of Gary's wo- men's clubs and other cultural organizations of the city. She was the first president of the Gary Woman's Club and the second president of the College Club. Her influence has been community wide and her work and zeal have won for her love and admiration throughout the city.
Miss Peters knows intimately about the things of which she writes and her story is well worth the telling.
Paul Howard
027.4:P Peters, Orpha Maud. The Gary public library,1907- 1944 ... 1945. t.l Gary (Ind. )-Public library. MUNSTER
45 4555 1
8:2.580
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Chapter
FOREWORD.
V
INTRODUCTION. xí
I. A Bird's Eye View
1
II. The Bailey Administration, 1908-1922.
11
III. The Hamilton Regime, 1922-1935.
21
IV. The Library Under Shaw, 1936-1940
27
V. The Howard Administration, 1941 --
31
VI. Evolution of the Staff.
37
VII. The Library Board
43
APPENDIX
Comparative Table.
47
.
Bibliography
49
Board Members.
50
Staff Members.
53
vii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Central Building.
Frontispiece
Portraits of Librarians 10
Bailey Branch 15
Hobart Public Library 15
Roosevelt Branch. 20
Tolleston Branch. 20
East Side Branch.
2.2
Glen Park Branch.
26
Trailer Service
33
Portraits of Library Board Presidents
44
MAP
Library Service Area
. Facing p. 31
INTRODUCTION
The story of the Gary Public Library is more than the story of a single institution. It is part of the story of a city and of a nation. During the brief span of its history great forces have moved across the world, have affected the course of empires, have altered the philosophy of men, and have by coincidence but inevitably, exerted their influence upon Gary and the Gary Public Library.
The founding of Gary, Indiana, itself was the re- sult of these forces. In the early 1900's competition within the steel industry brought about a search for econ- omies in operation and at the same time a desire to expand in order to gain a greater share of the available markets. These two desires were fulfilled by the establishment of a tremendous mill at the foot of Lake Michigan, the one point where the ore boats from the great Mesabi iron range could meet the railroads bringing limestone and coal from other regions. The resulting city where the laborers, the clerks, the engineers, and Mill executives were to live was called Gary, honoring Judge Elbert H. Gary, President of the United States Steel Corporation.
At the same time that these economic forces were bringing about the establishment of Gary, a great social conciousness was beginning to stir in the United States. One brought about an industry and the other brought schools, libraries, social agencies, and the strong civic pride which is evident today.
The story of Gary is a story of pioneering, of opportunism, of compelling growth, of striving for economic, social and cultural betterment. There have been clashes of interest, of personalities, and of peoples, set against a background of technical and economic development that has been unparalleled in history. Gary has been the meet- ing place for people from all over the United States and the world. Great migrations from Europe and from less prosperous sections of America have made it a melting pot. -
In such a situation a combined social and education- al agency such as a public library is bound to face many difficult and complicated. problems. When to these problems is added .the difficulty of keeping up with an ever expand- ing city and of building an organization in half the time usually required, it can be seen that the path has not been easy. How successfully it has been traveled can be seen in the following pages.
xi
2
HISTORY OF THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
the wood, used a few of the books as fuel. The next day the books were moved across the sand strip that was to be Broadway, to the shanty which served as Mr. Wildermuth's law office and his home. Thus it was that Mr. Wildermuth, the town's first attorney and first school teacher, also became the first librarian. Mr. Wildermuth's term as school teacher ended in the spring of 1907, but he con- tinued as librarian through the summer and until the new teachers arrived in the fall.
Founding the public library. The founders of Gary were men of forethought and broad vision. They planned profoundly and built quickly so that the new Steel City's residents might have the best in educational, religious, cultural and recreational facilities. Among these men were two who joined Mr. Wildermuth in founding an inde- pendent public library system and dedicating it to public service. They were William A. Wirt and Father Thomas Jansen.
William A. Wirt, the first superintendent of schools, appeared on the Gary scene in the fall of 1907. When Mr .. Wildermuth turned the library books over to Mr. Wirt they agreed that the collection should be enlarged. It was Mr. Wirt who saw in the embryo library the possibilities of a great institution. Unlike many school men in Indiana who had fought for years for control of the public library, Mr. Wirt believed that a library should have an identity of its own apart from the schools so that it might con- tribute to the needs of the adult population as well as to children of school age.
Father Thomas Jansen, first rector of Holy Angels church, also took an early and active interest in the young library. He and Mr. Wirt, Mrs. John E. Sears, wife of the third ward alderman, and Mr. Wildermuth were mem- bers of the first board of library trustees. At their first meeting on March 30, 1908, Father Jansen was chosen as chairman and Mr. Wirt, secretary. 1 The minutes of that meeting record the following action:
"Moved by Ora L. Wildermuth that we have a Public Li- brary and that the Board proceed to arrange for same. Motion seconded by Mrs. John E. Sears. Motion carried. "
The first permanent home of the Gary Public Library was in a store room in Morris Kahan's new building, 31 West 7th Avenue, which was leased for a year beginning August 31, 1908, at $45 per month.
First professional librarian. A policy initiated in the autumn of 1908 has been consistently followed since that time. The board employed a good librarian, gave him free rein and advised with him as counsellor rather than
1. For details of the organization of the first board see Chapter 7 "The Library Board. "
3
A BIRD'S EYE VIEW
critic. Gary's first professional librarian was Louis J. Bailey, who was appointed in July and opened the new quarters on September 1, 1908.
In virgin field, Mr. Bailey took command and guided the early growth of the institution along cultural lines and stressed work with children. SERVICE, in the broadest, truest sense of the word was the basis on which the library was founded. Mr. Bailey realized the importance of gather- ing local history materials as history was being made and from the beginning fostered a collection of early books, maps, pamphlets, newspapers and the like. He laid a firm foundation for the librarians who were to follow him.
Mr. Bailey was succeeded in 1922 by William J. Hamilton.' In 1936, Ralph Shaw became librarian, to be succeeded in 1941 by Paul Howard.
Mr. Hamilton continued the expansion era during his regime. He emphasized the circulation of books and the holding of patrons responsible for their care. Mr. Shaw introduced a re-evaluation of library services and em- phasized. anew the social service of the institution. He placed greater stress on public relations and publicity and introduced many innovations in the interest of better service. Mr. Howard's administration has been character- ized by co-ordination of the library with other organiza- tions in the community, an expansion of the reference functions, and an administrative re-organization of the staff.
In general, each of the librarians has moulded the library to fit the community needs:, has thrown traditions of the profession to the winds when they hampered efficient library service, and has made the institution not only ac- ceptable to the residents of the area but one of their proud possessions.
The Central Library. The need for an adequate li- brary home was immediately recognized by the trustees and the first librarian. Efforts were initiated toward ob- taining financial assistance from Andrew Carnegie. The philanthropist gave $65,000 for the building, and the Gary Land Company donated 10 lots on 5th Avenue between Adams and Jefferson streets. The board employed Whitfield and King of New York as architects, J. J .. Verplank of Gary, supervising architect, and James I. Barnes of Logan- sport as contractor. By August 11, 1911 work on the build- ing was well under way.
While the building was under construction, larger quarters for the library became imperative, so the collec- tion was moved from the 7th Avenue location to 620-24 Washington street.
The Central building was formally dedicated on November 17, 1912, with Father John Cavanaugh, President
6
HISTORY OF THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Glen Park has the largest branch circulation. There is evident interest in home decoration and maintenance ma- terials, club program materials, information for student use and a great variety of fiction, popular biography and travel. This branch also has greater reference use than other branches. It would seem to have more opportunity for becoming a well-rounded branch supporting a full-sized staff than any other branch in the city.
Established in co-operation with the Carnegie- Illinois Steel Corporation, the Gary Works Branch serves the administrative and engineering staffs of the world's largest steel mill. It is primarily an agency for refer- ence service in the fields of metallurgy, industrial re- lations, production methods and business management. With- in recent years materials for recreational reading have been added with a resultant gain in circulation. Because the engineers ask many technical questions, there is close co-operation with the Central Library.
Extension of services to outlying areas. One of the factors which make the Gary Public Library unique among American libraries of the same population group is the ex- tent of its service to cutlying areas. Service from Cen- tral Library into contiguous territory was accomplished with the same rapidity which marked its growth within the corporate limits. Outside the city, nine branches have been established as funds and other conditions warranted. In addition to these services, the library has developed traveling branches and deposit stations in order to reach into every section.
In 1939, when North, Ross and Hanover townships petitioned for library service, COUNTY-WIDE library ser- vice became a reality in Lake County. The Gary Public Library in 1940 was giving service to six of the eleven townships in Lake County, and the balance had service through the public libraries of Crown Point, Hebron and Lowell.
Branch libraries outside the city limits. The first branch to be established outside the city limits was in the town of Hobart. The first collection was placed in Hobart in 1913. Andrew Carnegie donated money for a building and the library moved into its permanent home January 15, 1915. Service was extended to East Gary, also in Hobart township, in 1914.
The Sam B. Woods Library, which is located in the town of Griffith, Calumet township, started as a deposit collection in 1915. Mr. Woods donated a closed bank build- ing for the permanent home . of the library, in 1939.
Service was extended to St. Jchn township when branches were established at Dyer and Schererville in 1919. A branch was established at Chesterton, in adjoining Porter County, in 1920. North township received service
7
A BIRD'S EYE VIEW
in 1939 when branches were established at Highland and Munster. The ninth branch was established at Cedar Lake:, Hanover township, in 1942.
Mobile branches. In an effort to reach rural areas . and sparsely settled sections of the city where a stationary branch was impractical, the first trailer to be used in Gary as a traveling branch was put into operation in 1937. This was a standard house trailer fitted up as a branch library and provided shelving space for about 1,500 volumes :
The service proved so successful that a second. trailer, larger and better equipped, was purchased in 1941. The shelf capacity of the second trailer is about 2,500 volumes.
These two trailers operate on a regularly scheduled route and make stops at twenty-two locations. In 1944 they circulated 60,000 volumes.
Service to schools. The Gary Public Library has always worked closely with both the public and parochial schools of the city. This friendly relationship has evolved through the years into a mutually satisfactory program. And though the program has developed farther in the city of Gary than in the suburban townships similarity of patterns is evident.
In the first year of the library's existence sup- plementary materials were purchased for lending to class- rooms . Some of the early public library branches were established in school buildings, and as the library began to build branches of its own they were located close to schools. Bailey, Tolleston, Roosevelt, and Glen Park branches reflect this policy today.
For a number of years the public library branches served as school libraries. This program began in a small way by scheduling class visits to the neighboring library and giving school credit for instruction in the use of the library. In 1923 an experimental program was inaugurated by which the board of education paid the salaries of teacher-librarians and paid one dollar per student for each regularly scheduled class meeting in the library. In ad-
dition, the schools paid a share of equipment and janitor costs. The teacher-librarians were employed and super- vised by the library. This program was carried out in six branches. From the beginning the program was beset by difficulties -- the safety of children was endangered when crossing busy streets -- the diverging nature of school and public library service began to make itself felt. By 1927 the schools had found it necessary to establish ele- mentary school libraries in their own buildings and in 1944 only a vestige of this program remained in Roosevelt Branch where classes attend the library regularly under their own teacher-librarian.
8
HISTORY OF THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Supplementary service to the schools is still given by the public library. Classroom collections are loaned to those schools with inadequate library facilities. Collections of books are loaned for special projects, and students and teachers are regular users of the Central Library and the branches after school hours. Library trailers visit a number of schools. In 1944 the library loaned a large collection of books to form the nucleus of the Edison high school library.
In 1939 a Young Adult room was established to serve young' people of high school and junior college age. In 1942 a collection of professional books and library ma- terials was established in the Teachers' Room of the Cen- tral Library to serve teachers and social workers.
Co-operation with township schools has followed a similar pattern and has reached approximately the stage reached in the city of Gary in 1922. Branches were es- tablished in the schools at East Gary, Ross, and Munster, but with increased enrollment in the schools from 1940-42 they were crowded out of the school buildings. At Ross the branch was replaced with trailer service and class- room collections, while at East Gary and Munster separate branches were established. In 1943 a cataloged collection of 1550 books was loaned to the Merrillville high school to serve as a nucleus for its high school library.
Development of trailer libraries in 1937 opened the way for expanded services to township schools, and by 1944 a good portion of the 60,000 volumes circulated through the trailers was circulated at school locations.
Although there has been a considerable expansion of school libraries since 1927, the classroom collections of the public library have had a parallel growth so that in 1944 they reached a circulation of 90,000 volumes.
Service to hospitals. In 1925 library service was extended to the three hospitals in the city -- Mercy, Method - ist:, and the Steel Company hospital. It has proved to be one of the most effective services the library offers. Members of the medical and nursing staffs as well as the patients are provided with books. In 1944 the hospital librarian visited or directed service in Mercy, Methodist, and St. John's hospitals in Gary, a convalescent home, Mt. Mercy sanatorium at Dyer, and Parramore hospital at Crown Point. The service at Parramore, which is the largest hospital for the care of tubercular patients in the state, is a co-operative project with the public libraries, of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago, the Lake County Tubercu- losis Association, and Parramore hospital participating. Bv 1944 the total hospital circulation was 36,689 volumes.
Film service. The newest service developed by the library is the film service, which was established in 1943. In 1944, 730 war related films, issued by the Office of
9
A BIRD'S EYE VIEW
War Information, were shown to various civic organizations. Approximately 41,300 persons viewed these films. This service was made possible through the co-operation of the Gary United War and Community Chest and the local motion picture operators union.
Summarv. In the thirtv-six years since it was housed in a rented storeroom on 7th Avenue, the Garv Public Library has developed into a system comprising a central library, seventeen branches, 105 deposit stations, and two traveling branches. In 1944 it served a local and rural population estimated at 153,000 persons, in an area of 255 square miles. Its annual income was $147,918, and there were 38 full-time staff members.
The book stock had grown from 936 volumes in 1908, to 232,581 in 1944. circulation increased from 1,292 the first vear to 813,560 in 1944, but reached a peak of 1,000,000 volumes in 1940, the year before American entry into World War II.
Aims of the library in the war years. At the time this history is being written, the library program is be- ing profoundly affected by the second world war. Although all the resources of the library and all the energy of its staff are devoted to the winning of the war, this devotion has created new opportunities and new horizons of service in Garv. The war has brought about a re-evaluation of library service and a re-definition of its relation to the community.
LOUIS J. BAILEY
RALPH R. SHAW
ORPHA MAUD PETERS
WILLIAM J. HAMILTON
PAUL HOWARD
10
Chapter II THE BAILEY ADMINISTRATION 1908-1922
Having sketched the broad outlines of the library's history, we shall retrace the development. by administra- tions, detailing the establishment of branches and other phases of growth.
One of the first tasks of the library trustees in early 1908 was the selection of a professional librarian to give the leadership needed in an important institution. At their April 30 meeting, the trustees invited Chalmers Hadley, then secretary of the Indiana Public Library Com- mission, to come from Indianapolis to consult with them about librarians who might be available for the position. By June 8 applications were invited from persons inter- ested in the position at an annual salary of $900 to $1,000 .. In July Louis J. Bailey was appointed.
A graduate of the University of Rochester, Mr. Bailey held the B.L.S. degree from New York State Library School. His experience before coming to Gary included a year as assistant in the New York State Library and a year in the Library of Congress.
His splendid educational qualifications, wide know- ledge of books, his genuine interest in people and his genial personality combined to make him an ideal leader in the establishment of the Gary Public Library .: On Septem- ber 1, 1908, Mr .: Bailey went to work to put Gary on the library map of the United States.
Although the library on West 7th Avenue was not of- ficially opened until December 1, 19 08, Gary pioneers well remember borrowing books from Mr. Bailey over a wooden box that served in lieu of a desk. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey lived at the rear of the library since quarters in the booming town were scarce.
On opening in 1908, the library had 936 books and a traveling library of 250 volumes loaned by the Indiana Public Library Commission. Subscriptions had been placed for 75 magazines. The first month, 384 people had regis- tered and 1,292 books were circulated. At the end of eight months the library had a total of 3, 328 books, and 18, 536 books had been circulated to 1,450 registered borrowers ..
Miss Lucy Newlin was appointed part time assistant in January, 1909. During the first year Grace Sears, Evelyn Burke, and Mildred Gottlieb were employed as temporary as- sistants. Miss Orpha Maud Peters was employed as assistant librarian in 1909 and assumed her duties on September 20 ..
11
12
HISTORY OF THE GARY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Five year plan. In September 1909, Mr. Bailey presented a five year plan to the trustees. He estimated that there would be an, increase of 10,000 population each year, and that the library would have need of an addition- al branch each year, with an increase in book stock from 4,000 to 9,500 volumes, and an income advanced from $7,000 to $25,000. The records reveal that the plan was more than fulfilled.
Before the five years were over, Central Library had moved into the new building. Tolleston and Froebel branches and Emerson station had been established. Ser- vice had been extended to Hobart township, with Miller, East Gary and Hobart branches under way. The book stock numbered 32,094, and there were 2,727 borrowers. Income had reached $21,000. Book circulation for the five years, was second to that of Indianapolis, totaling 554,637. Gary's population had swelled to 40,000.
Central Library. Perhaps the most important sin- gle event of the Bailey administration was the moving of the library into its new home at 5th Avenue and Adams streets, November 17, 1912 ..
The new building not only provided space for in- creased regular library work and the beginnings of library departmentation, but it also provided an auditorium which served as a desirable meeting place for many new organiza- tions which were springing into being in Gary. The li- brarian believed that "the use of public library auditori- ums for the spread of the SPOKEN word is quite as legiti- mate as the maintenance and use of reading rooms for the dissemination of the WRITTEN word, or of books."
The new building, which was planned so that addi- tions could be made as library service grew, enabled the library to take its place as a real community center.
Tolleston Branch. So apparent was the need for library facilities in outlying residential communities that, even before the ground was broken for a central building, the first branch was opened in Tolleston on December 17, 1910. Quarters were in a room over the fire station, which had been used as the town hall by the form- er town of Tolleston. The branch was soon moved to a store building on street level. Miss Grace Fisher was the first regularly appointed librarian.
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