USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1931-1936 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
12,419.27
39.37
Purchase Street
8,000.00
7,999.15
.85
Water Street
8,571.37
8,543.76
27.61
Merrimac Street
28,533.22
28,504.54
28.68
High Street
25,000.00
18,651.13
6,348.87
Plum Island Road
5,725.05
2,320.15
3,404.90
$101,543.16
$91,858.61
$9,850.28
*Overdrawn
165.73
$9,684.55
108
ANNUAL REPORT PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE
Water Department :
Estimated income
$70,000.00
Income received
65,105.35
Income less than estimate
4,895.65
Appropriated accounts :
Appropriations
$69,962.80
Expenditures
60,715.19
Balance
$9,247.61
Department Reports and Reports of City Officials
111
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Annual Report of Board of Assessors
December 31, 1931.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council.
Gentlemen :
The Board of Assessors of the City of Newburyport hereby submits its report for the year 1931.
The City, State and County warrants called for the following amounts.
City Requirements
$589,242.49
County Tax
26,133.55
State Tax
15,975.00
State Parks and Reservations
269.60
State Auditing Accounts
1,382.94
State Civil War Vet. Assist.
307.00
State Highway
1,739.44
Old Age Assistance Tax
4,678.00
Judgments
2.017.71
Overlay
6,579.77
$648,325.50
$648,325.50
Estimated income from all sources
203,227.26
$445,098.24
To raise this amount it was necessary to declare a tax rate of $32.00 per thousand.
Tax on Real Estate
$367,083.20
Tax on Personal Property
64,223.04
Polls
9,114.00
Old Age Assistance
4,678.00
$445,098.24
Moth Assessments
789.52
$445,887.76
Total amount committed to the Collector for collection
$445,887.76
Valuation of Real Estate $11,471,350.00
Valuation of Personal Property
2,006,970.00
Total Valuation
$13,478,320.00
112
ANNUAL REPORT
The board made three committments of Motor Vehicles Excise Tax as follows :
Value
First Committment
$562,040.00
Tax $16,409.32
Second Committment
435,070.00
9,012.43
Third Committment
119,700.00
1,251.48
$1,116,810.00
$26,673.23
There were 3389 cars assessed this year.
The contributing factors for this raise in rate, are the increased amounts required by the City, State and County and certain legislation passed by the Legislature in 1930 and 1931, which became effective in 1931, exempting certain persons and certain per- sonal property from taxation.
The amount of abatements allowed on Motor Vehicle Taxes during this year are as follows :
Year 1929
$1,294.80
Year 1930
222.69
Year 1931
1.828.19
Total
$3,345.77
The amount of abatements allowed on property and polls are as follows :
Year 1929
Polls 1,128.00
Real 423.50
Personal 444.90
Total 1,996.40
Year 1930
266.07
7.35
273.42
Year 1931
112.00
1,695.75
107.20
1,914.95
1,240.00
2,385.32
559.45
4.184.77
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. SHEA CHAS. W. JOHNSON
Board of Assessors.
113
CITY REGISTRAR
Report of City Registrar
Births Registered in 1931
Including 7 stillbirths, 3 males, 4 females
Male
Female
January
8
0
February
15
12
March
12
11
April
14
15
May
16
9
June
14
18
July
9
15
August
12
8
September
9
12
October
13
11
November
18
10
December
16
16
156
146
Nativity of Parents
Father
Mother
Newburyport
84
95
U. S. outside of Newburyport
166
164
Armenia
2
1
Albania
1
0
Canada
7
7
England
0
2
Greece
1
3
Ireland
2
5
Italy
5
5
Lithuania
2
1
Poland
6
7
Provinces
12
10
Russia
3
1
Rumania
1
0
Scotland
2
0
Turkey
1
1
Unknown
1
0
302
302
114
ANNUAL REPORT
Births outside of Newburyport parents residing in City 2 Males 2 Females
Births in Newburyport parents residing elsewhere 40 Males 42 Fe.nales
Marriages Registered 1931
January
6
February
0
March
8
April
10
May
13
June
13
July
8
August
12
September
18
October
8
November
7
December
8
120
Nativity of Contracting Parties
Bride
Groom
Newburyport
43
40
U. S. outside of Newburyport
58
66
Armenia
1
Canada
,3
4
England
2
0
Greece
1
1
Ireland
1
1
Poland
1
3
Provinces
6
1
Russia
1
3
120
. 120
Deaths Recorded in Newburyport
Including 8 stillbirths, 3 males, 5 females
Male
Female
January
12
8
February
10
ยท 8
March
0
8
April
11
12
May
11
115
CITY REGISTRAR
June
5
9
July
9
10
August
0
8
September
11
8
October
12
7
November
9
8
December
13
7
119
104
Non resident deaths in city
20 Males
22 Females
Residents of city dying elsewhere
9 Males
6 Females
Non residents buried in this city dying elsewhere
29 Males
23 Females
HENRY W. LITTLE,
City Registrar.
DEATHS, WITH PRINCIPAL CAUSE AND AGE PERIODS EXCLUSIVE OF STILL BIRTHS
Cause
1 yr. 1-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64 65-69 70-74
75-79
80-84 85-89
90-94
95 up
Total
M
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Accidental
F
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
6
M
1
1
1
1
1
4
3
2
1
15
F
3
2
2
5
6
4
8
4
4
3
2
13
Circulatory
M
1
1
3
4
4
2
1
4
2
22
System
F
1
2
3
Disease of
M
3
Kidneys
F
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Pneumonia
-
1
1
1
4
2
2
1
13
all Forms
F
1 2
1
1
2
1
3
3
3
2
2
2
18
Nervous
M
System
F
1
1
2
2
4
3
1
2
1
17
M 5
5
1
2
1
1
2
3
4
3
1
1
29
All Others
F 4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
1
2
1
1
24
Totals
1 1
5
3
1
U 1
5
2 5
9
7
9
13
19
32
38
19
16
13
7
1 216
2
1
8
M 1
M
Pulmonary
Tuberculosis
F
3
7
4
Cancer
117
CITY SOLICITOR
City Solicitor's Report
January 4, 1932.
City Council, City of Newburyport, Newburyport, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have to submit herewith the report of the doings of the office of City Solicitor for the year 1931. This report is submitted in order to comply with the requirements laid down in the ordinance creating the office of City Solicitor.
This office has given thirty seven opinions during the year to the different branches of the city government. There has been the usual assistance given the police depart- ment in the prosecution of criminal matters. Several civil suits were started in the local district court against the city but these were disposed of without trial satisfactory to the Mayor and General Government Committee.
The petitions for writs of mandamus were heard before the Supreme Judicial Court in the cases of William J. Hegarty and Edward Porter. Both of these writs were granted in favor of Hegarty and Porter. The Hegarty case is closed but there may be further litigation in the Porter case on account of the peculiar circumstances of this case.
The case of John J. Evans vs. City of Newburyport has finally been terminated with a decision in favor of the City. This case is a result of the Merrimac Street wid- ening, so-called, where the plaintiff, Evans, claimed damages for breach of contract in not being allowed to move the so-called Traister Building. The evidence was heard before an Auditor and when the Auditor's Report was argued before the Superior Court, the ruling was in favor of the City with the right given to the Plaintiff to file a motion for submitting the case to a jury. This motion was argued and on this date, January 4, 1932, I received notice that this motion was denied. The ad damnum in this case was $20,000.
The active suits against the City are as follows :-
Hazel Sass vs. City-sidewalk defect. Goldberg vs. City-highway defect.
Morris Edelstein vs. City-defect in Purchase Street railroad crossing. Mae Rose Shoolman vs. City-defect in overhead bridge, High Street.
118
ANNUAL REPORT
Morse & Dickinson vs. City-Fee for expert testimony in Evans vs. City trial.
Simon Sandler, Assignee vs. City-Action of contract for supplies furnished city by Edward G. Perkins Lumber Company.
The following cases were entered in court during the year and disposed of :-
McLaughlin vs. City-highway defect.
Hanley vs. City-sidewalk defect.
Carens vs. City-legal fees.
Hegarty and Porter cases-petitions for writs of mandamus.
Kuzma vs. City-highway defect.
Daley vs. City-sidewalk defect.
Gove vs. City-attorney's fee for prosecution of writ of mandamus.
It was necessary for me to be absent from the City sixteen different times on court trials, conferences with state and county officials and legislative hearings, on matters pertaining to the City.
The recodification of ordinances and revision of general and special statutes pre- liminary to the publication of the new municipal register is now ready for submission to the City Council for its approval. It was impossible to complete this work during the year of 1931 for it entailed considerable further reasearch work and conferences with the different department heads with the view of bringing such department af- fairs up to date. Since there is an appropriation for the completion of this work, it is recommended that this new register be printed as soon as practicable. We have had no general revision of the ordinances and general and special statutes pertaining to the City since 1900 and since there has been so many changes in the law since that time, it would be practicable to print this new register at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
T. FRANCIS KELLEHER,
City Solicitor, 1931.
119
LIST OF JURORS
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
List of Jurors, 1932 and 1933
Published in accordance with Chapter 234 of the General . Laws, amended by Chapter 311, Acts 1924.
Name
Residence
Occupation
..
Abbott, Wilbur
27 Charter St.
Farmer
Abbe, Roy H.
36 Woodland St.
Mechanical Engineer
Aldrich, Ray W.
49 Carter St.
Silver finisher
Andrews, Hudson A.
46 Fair St.
Shoe Op.
Broderick, Daniel M.
46 Middle St.
Salesman
Bresnahan, Thomas L.
49 Kent St.
Shoe Op.
Besse, Harold A.
14 Garden St.
Accountant
Blaisdell, George C.
26 Strong St.
Painter
Bryant, Walter N. B.
8 Collins St.
Silver worker
Bingham, Francis M.
313 High St.
Silvershop
Brown, Leander M.
339 High St.
Broker
Baumgartner, Frederick W.
26 Eagle St.
Boat builder
Bohaker, Otis F.
20 Oakland St. Carpenter
Bollman, Paul L.
35 Bromfield St. Shoe cutter
53 Boardman St. Shoe maker
Boyd, Clarence M.
32 Purchase St.
Electrician
Brogan, John J.
7 Coffin Ct.
Heel maker
Bean, George E.
60 Marlboro St.
Silver shop
Burke, Francis J.
8 Purchase St. Mason
Batchelder, Edgar J.
12 California St.
Shoe worker
Cannizaro, Anthony
80 Federal St.
Merchant
Casey, Patrick F. Coffey, John J.
28 Oak St.
Painter
Colby, John P.
36 Franklin St. Dog fancier
Colby, William H.
21 Chestnut St.
Shoe cutter
Currier, James S.
71 Marlboro St. Brown Sq.
Bookkeeper
Coskery, Elmer D.
22 Ferry Rd.
Shoes
Cusack, William J.
42 Washington St.
16 Lafayette St.
Bank clerk
Currier, Myron R. Crombie, Raymond Davis, Winthrop P.
11 Arlington St.
Clerk
42 Boardman St. Engineer
Dineen, John A.
12 Merrill St. Foreman
Donoghue, Joseph P. Davis, Charles B.
63 Liberty St.
Grocer
Shoe cutter
248 Water St.
Auto worker
Cheney, Lawrence B.
Reporter
Bray, Ralph H.
16 Purchase St. Auto worker
120
ANNUAL REPORT
Name
Residence
Occupation
Doyle, Patrick J.
40 Middle St.
Foreman
Estes, Samuel E.
76 Middle St.
Auto worker
Fuller, John H. Jr.
8 Howard St.
Shoe op.
Elwell, Carl W.
50 Purchase St. Clerk
Fields, Benjamin
111 Prospect St.
Grocer
Fuller, Alex F.
72 High St.
Merchant
Fowle, Frank O.
15 Ferry Rd.
Shoe foreman
Ford, Joseph F.
5 Buck St.
Bottler
French, Charles C.
44 Fair St.
Shoe op.
Goldsmith, Albert A.
16 Otis Pl.
Merchant
Groves, John J.
5 Vernon St.
Restaurant
Gallagher, Peter A.
26 Dove St.
Heel maker
Grover, Sidney F.
6 Jackson St.
Plumber
Gorwaiz, George T.
234 High St.
Heel Manuf.
Godfrey, Henry J.
12 Neptune St.
Merchant
Gould, Edward E.
17 Marlboro St.
Shoe op.
Giles, James E.
14 Olive St.
N. E. Tel. Co.
Greenfield, Benjamin J.
83 Pleasant St.
Merchant
Guy, James
25 Charter St.
Blacksmith
Healey, Jeremiah
55 Boardman St.
Fireman
Healey, Dennis D.
16 Merrill St.
Teamster
Hallisey, Daniel E.
3 Congress St.
Shoe maker
Hale, Joseph W.
24 Marlboro St.
Teacher
Halliday, Elmer A.
511 Merrimac St.
Farmer
Hicks, William W.
35 Marlboro St.
Baker
Hopkinson, Greenleaf W.
3 Myrtle Ave.
Clerk
Hallisey, Daniel E.
3 Congress St.
Shoe op.
Hughes, Thomas B.
56 Kent St.
Blacksmith
Hardy, Jerome A.
15 Lafayette St.
Silvershop
Hoyt, Frank
6 Park St.
Druggist
Husk, Harry M.
281 High St.
Shoe manuf.
Hubbard, Frank B.
111 State St.
Merchant
Healey, Daniel H.
39 Winter St.
Auto worker
Harrington, Arthur D.
113 State St.
Clerk
Ireland, Roy B.
87 High St.
Shoe manuf.
Jaques, Frank N.
14 Horton St.
Druggist
Jackman, Charles H.
40 Marlboro St.
Clerk
Jackman, Worthen A.
5 Broad St.
Laster
Jacoby, Edward H.
18 Orange St.
Clerk
James, Louis R.
13 Fair St.
Garage
Knight, Elliot P.
43 Lime St.
Engineer
Knight, Willard B.
31 Purchase St.
Shoe cutter
Knight, Franklin D.
23 Oakland St.
Shoe op.
Kelleher, Cornelius H.
16 School St.
Shoe op.
Kimball, Philip R.
19 Barton St.
Optometrist
1
121
LIST OF JURORS
Name
Residence
Occupation
Kane, Leo
47 Winter St.
Shoe cutter
Kendall, George
61 Hill St.
Carpenter
Knights, John J.
304 High St.
Clerk
Kessler, Paul A.
25 Chestnut St.
Grocer
Lucy, Timothy F.
22 Vernon St.
Moulder
Lambert, Eben N. Jr.
6 Lunt St.
Manager
Langmaid, Walter C.
538 Merrimac St.
Motorman
Lynch, Cornelius F.
29 Summit Pl. Mechanic
Lambert, Wm. H.
59 Boardman St.
Merchant
Littlefield, Sidney
182 State St.
Clerk
Leighton, Henry E.
1 Jackson St.
B. & M. R. R.
Leary, Timothy R.
16 Carter St. Steward
Littlefield, Wilbur A.
7 Summit Pl. Laundry
McCurdy, George
16 Vernon St.
Teamster
Mckay, Frank H.
61 Federal St.
Boat builder
Menut, Kendall P.
32 Lime St.
Clerk
Millerick, Edward F.
20 Market St.
Upholsterer
Meader, William P.
11 Eagle St.
Chauffeur
Moulton, George E.
8 Parsons St.
Bookkeeper
Morse, William E.
17 Titcomb St.
Electrician
Murphy, John J. Nealey, Charles F.
39 Boardman St.
Shoe cutter
Noyes, Wiley D.
88 Bromfield St.
Carpenter
Noyes, H. Greenleaf
11 Allen St.
Comb mfg.
Osborne, George P.
10 Fair St.
Shoe foreman
Oliver, Leon E.
311 Merrimac St.
Watchmaker
Phillips, William J.
18 Boardman St.
Plumber
Page, Joseph P.
291 Merrimac St.
Shoe op.
Perkins, Edward G.
27 High St.
Contractor
Peabody, Louis A.
6 Bromfield St. Box shop
Plumer, Edmund M.
16 Allen St. Salesman
Perkins, Albert G.
27 High St.
Bookkeeper
Pettingell, George B.
62 Marlboro St.
Merchant
Barton St.
Clerk
Parker, George W. Phelps, Charles A.
188 High St.
Insurance
Quimby, Orrin W.
7 Tremont St.
Printer
Roach, William J.
6 Bricher Pl.
Teamster
Richard, George J.
46 Federal St.
Shoe op.
Reed, Almon R. Rochette, Joseph A. Roberts, William H. Reeves, Hector
12 Washington St.
Merchant
51 Lime St.
Grocer
61 Ashland St. Machinist
13 Howard St Shoe op.
Rollins, Frank
18 Fruit St. Salesman
Richard, Wilfred J
19 Titcomb St Barber
Randall, Charles A.
130 High St.
Shoe op.
3 Lincoln St. Comb shop
122
ANNUAL REPORT
Name
Residence
Occupation
Short, LeRoy A.
518 Merrimac St.
Shoe op.
Strangman, Everett C.
466 Merrimac St.
Auto worker
Steward, Harrison M.
275 Merrimac St.
Truck driver
Short, James N.
8 Neptune St.
Engineer
Stevens, Robert J.
17 Barton St.
Mechanic
Shea, Denis
27 Carter St.
Watchman
Stevens, Charles W.
291 Merrimac St.
Shoe op.
Soars, John W.
17 Payson St.
Foreman
Stickney, George E.
12 Summit Pl.
Bank Treasurer
Stevens, Frank E.
17 Barton St.
Retired
Short, Charles L.
200 Water St.
Wood heeler
Smart, Harrison F.
204 High St.
Bookkeeper
Stevens, John W.
13 Marlboro St.
Shoe cutter
Sloman, Louis A.
14 Marlboro St.
Clerk
Schrempf, John P.
8 Tremont St.
Wood heeler
Simmons, Herbert W.
260 Water St.
Draw tender
Twoomey, Daniel H.
15 Fair St.
Shoe maker
Toggerson, Edgar A.
433 Merrimac St.
Painter
Thurlow, Paul E.
19 High St.
Shoe mfg.
Thurlow, Rufus E.
25 High St.
Shoes
Toppan, Louis H.
56 Spofford St.
Clerk
Toomey, Jere J.
41 Winter St. Janitor
Tilton, Walter E.
12 Collins St.
Silversmith
Thurlow, Leslie
19 High St.
Merchant
Welch, Earl C.
189 Merrimac St.
Shoe op.
West, William P.
22 Woodland St.
Shoe cutter
Wright, Moses E. Jr.
11 Fruit St.
Clerk
Walton, Elmer W.
20 Chestnut St.
Florist
Welch, George H.
25 Barton St.
Shoe mfg.
White, William W.
320 Merrimac St. Halter
Wise, Arthur D.
10 Oak St.
Real estate
White, John J.
320 Merrimac St.
Auto worker
Woundy, Harold C.
14 Woodland St.
B. & M. R. R.
Worcester, Chauncy M.
351 High St.
Clerk
DANIEL H. HEALEY LEILAND S. STEVENS JOHN J. O'BRIEN HENRY W. LITTLE, City Clerk.
Board of Registrars.
123
CITY PRIMARIES
City Primaries
NOVEMBER 17, 1931
Wards
1
2
3
1
5
6
Totals
MAYOR
Twomey, Eugene
21
63
25
22
65
25
221
Morrill, Gayden W.
502
494
296
30,3
416
714
2725
Kipp, Henry
5
8
0
2
3
5
23
Gillis, Andrew J.
279
372
266
311
292
280
1800
Leary, John F.
1.34
178
155
182
290
194
1133
Hoyt, Edward B.
9
12
10
0
10
59
109
Blanks
7
11
5
10
7
11
51
COUNCILLORS - AT - LARGE
Currier, Warren S.
599
562
408
421
506
718
3214
Herl'hy, Thomas H.
85
157
128
153
219
101
843
Ealy, James E.
24
56
38
27
45
17
207
Parsons, Earl B.
98
92
80
89
81
183
623
Murphy, Leonard B.
117
215
153
173
261
139
1058
Wright, Moses E. Jr.
210
285
209
214
273
434
1625
Brown, Edward S.
437
498
323
362
414
635
2669
Collins, Forrest E.
319
461
241
245
248
403
1917
Peebles, William
266
285
215
254
378
587
1985
Ryan, James W.
335
266
164
138
174
165
1242
Perkins, Edward G.
512
572
376
402
440
596
2898
Newhall, Ramaleno A.
37
56
43
65
83
89
373
Fogg, Clarence E.
433
456
349
392
436
8.36
2902
Tapley, Guy W.
132
88
56
51
95
224
646
Blanks
1181
1641
1004
1209
1762
1313
8108
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Lawton, Peter I.
443
451
357
355
430
672
2708
Meader, William P.
73
124
103
131
220
120
771
124
ANNUAL REPORT
Wards
1
2
3
1
5
6
Totals
Carey, Norbert A.
137
259
181
213
321
182
1296
Nelson, Oscar H.
232
211
184
185
24-4
438
1494
Chouinard, Henry N.
102
225
84
70
76
81
638
Soucie, William P.
67
122
99
115
137
131
671
Knight, Elliot P.
531
482
254
332
303
612
2514
Blanks
329
402
252
277
432
340
2032
Total
957
1138
757
839
1083
1288
6062
125
CITY ELECTION
City Election
December 8, 1931
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6
Totals
MAYOR
Morrill, Gayden W.
602
732
467
475
690
964
3930
Gillis, Andrew J.
468
552
389
475
492
443
2819
Blanks
......
11
7
1
6
11
16
52
COUNCILLORS
Currier, Warren S.
713
677
456
556
613
887
3902
Herlihy, Thomas H.
133
237
178
221
308
152
1229
Murphy, Leonard B.
154
290
222
203
347
183
1399
Wright, Moses E. Jr.
265
357
233
262
330
524
1980
Brown, Edward S.
553
606
395
421
512
790
3277
Collins, Forrest E.
449
582
343
344
360
596
2674
Peebles, William
315
322
253
269
397
692
2248
Ryan, James W.
405
357
227
232
263
213
1697
Perkins, Edward G.
621
687
446
496
535
750
3544
Fogg, Clarence E.
564
600
426
501
579
1015
3685
Blanks
1233
1740
1106
1275
1712
1304
8370
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Lawton, Peter I.
535
551
416
403
519
770
3194
Carey, Norbert A.
322
566
351
406
570
401
2616
Nelson, Oscar H.
236
287
249
289
272
506
1839
Knight, Elliot P.
706
650
367
433
492
800
3448
Blanks
363
528
331
381
533
369
2505
Totals
..............
1081
1291
857
956
1193
1423
6801
Annual Report of the Directors of the Public Library
129
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Annual Report of Public Library
Trustees, the Mayor and City Council
DIRECTORS, 1931
Andrew J. Gillis, Mayor ex-officio
Eugene A. Twomey ex-officio
Lawrence B. Cushing, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio
Alex. G. Perkins, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio
Peter I. Lawton, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio
Dr. T. R. Healy, term expires 1931
Arthur P. Brown, term expires
1932
Mrs. Ella D. Nutter, term expires 1933
Jacob W. Shoul, term expires
1934
Dr. P| Loring Weed, term expires 1935
Dr. Charles F. Johnson, term expires
1936
TRUSTEES OF PEABODY FUND
L. B. Cushing, Rev. L. Hayward, B. P. P. Moseley, J. D. Parsons, G. W. Richardson. Librarian John D. Parsons
Superintendent of Reading and Reference Rooms Wilhelmina L. Plumer Children's Librarian Mrs. E. M. Blake Head of Circulation Helen M. MacIntosh
Assistants-Ruth C. Arrall, Yvonne Chatigny, Sarah E. Mulliken, Alice W. Toppan, (Reading Room); Annabell Chatigny, Agnes Goldsmith, Jessie E. Robertson, ex- tras.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
To the Mayor and City Council :
Gentlemen :
Your attention is called to the accompanying report of the Librarian and other officers of this library to the Board. As fully covering the subject of Public Library
130
ANNUAL REPORT
matters we endorse the same, instruct the Secretary to append the names of the various Directors and to forward the same to your honorable body as the annual report of the Directors of the Public Library for the year.
Newburyport, Dec. 31, 1931.
Respectfully submitted,
A. J. GILLIS, E. A. TWOMEY,
L. B. CUSHING,
A. G. PERKINS,
P. I. LAWTON,
T. R. HEALY,
A. P. BROWN,
MRS. E. D. NUTTER,
J. W. SHOUL,
P. L. WEED,
C. F. JOHNSON,
Directors.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
The 76th annual report of the Librarian on the "state of the library" submitted to the Board of Directors, personally my 43d, shows a total circulation last year of 94,574, by far the largest in our history. Of this number 55,835 books went from the main library desk, 28,797 books and magazines were circulated from the Children's Department, 3,651 magazines from the Reading Room, 6,251 books and magazines from the E. L. Andrews Branch and 40 volumes which we donated to the Fiske Memorial Library should certainly be credited with one circulation.
There are now in the library 67,902 volumes, of which 1,070 were added during the year by purchase, 270 were donated, and 56 pamphlets were bound in pasteboard covers and put on the shelves for circulation, which may be reckoned as books. 214 books were cancelled as of no further use. This makes the figures as above, with the 66,763 at the beginning of the year.
There are now 4,728 borrowers' cards in circulation from the main library, 84 were cancelled during the year, 2,399 have expired since the beginning of the registra- tion a few years ago. 329 books and magazines have been sent to the bindery besides a large number put in good condition herc.
131
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Contrary to the usual custom I have instructed the heads of the various depart- ments in this library to report direct to me the work of their own divisions and what they are accomplishing, over their signatures, so that when it is made public they can share in the benefit of the same, if there is any. All of which I fully endorse and make a part of this report.
Circulation Department Report for 1931
With an increase in circulation of almost 20,000 volumes it will easily be seen that the main charging desk has been a busy place in the last year. The business depres- sion has meant much extra work for us but we feel that it has been worth while from our standpoint. With no extra assistants it has only been through simplification of work and more efficient methods that the Department has carried on satisfactorily.
During the past season two of the assistants, at their own expense, attended the course of library lectures at the Boston Public Library conducted by the State Depart- ment, and we have attempted to carry out suggestions made there in bringing our own work up to modern standards.
Also with the aid of the State Department of Education in Boston, we are now able to supply books written in foreign languages, which have been much appreciated by foreign-born citizens of the city. To introduce this new feature arrangements were made with Mr. McLeary in charge of the Americanization class of the evening school, for his pupils to visit the library, where the books were displayed, library methods ex- plained and the pupils made welcome. The foreign-book work has become a regular feature of the Circulation Department, the books being sent back to Boston for renew- al every three months. The collection is comprised of Greek, French, Polish and Rus- sian books and more can be added as called for. A small collection of Polish books has also been purchased for our own shelves.
We have also deposited a loan collection at the Home for Aged Women and hope to add other institutions as desired.
During the year many special collections have been placed on display near the main desk with pleasing results. These groups have been changed each month and have included varied collections, biography, travel, garden books, astronomy and gen- eral works according to the season.
High School book reports play an important part in our work during the school year. Each year more outside reading is required and as there is no High School lib- rary this call comes to us. We should like to take this opportunity to thank the teachers for their cooperation with us in filling their requirements. Some teachers take collections to school, distributing them there but others prefer to send the pupils direct
132
ANNUAL REPORT
to the library. The Reading List is available at the main desk at all times and might be of interest to the general public, listing as it does many interesting worth while non-fiction books, travel biography, poetry, essays, etc.
We have also many interesting lists for home reading and are always glad to help any reader make up his own, according to his own taste.
Last of all, we should like to add a word of thanks to our many friends and pat- rons who have made the year such a pleasant one for us. Although occasionally mis- understandings arise, we feel that in general the public realizes that we are honestly trying to give them what they want and we hope that they will help us in the coming year to make the library even greater an asset to the community which we serve.
H. S. MACINTOSH,
Head of Circulation Dept.
Reading Room Report for 1931
Looking back over a very busy year in the Reading and Reference Rooms we find the statistics still growing on work that can be measured in this fashion. The maga- zine circulation is still increasing, recording a total of 3,651 given out, nearly 400 more than last year. The regular routine work goes on as usual, with cold weather bringing the natural increase of Reading Room attendance. This last year should have been a more comfortable one for our patrons, as we were able to partly refurnish the room with new chairs, which were greatly needed. The Reference Room has been newly painted throughout, and new lights installed, a great help in the evening work of the room. A new filing cabinet has recently been purchased, and the clipping collection is being transferred to it for casier reference.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.