USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1938 > Part 20
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1890
Apr. 1894
Hon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman, ex- officio
1892
1895
"
James G. Hinckley
May, 1892
1894
Albert W. Edmands
May, 1893
Oct. 1918
Herbert E. Merrill
May, 1894
1909
Ezra D. Souther
1895
Feb. 1898
Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman ex-officio 1896 James H. Butler March, 1898
1898
"
Hon. George O. Proctor, chairman ex-officio 1899 Henry F. Curtis, M. D. (president 1912-1919) 1910 Philip Koen
1912
Nov. 1916
Michael Coll
Nov. 1916
Fred E. Durgin (chairman 1919-1935)
.. Oct. 1918
Jan. 1935
„
James D. Sharkey
Dec. 1924
1933
Wilbur F. Lewis
June 1928
Jan. 1931
John C. McNally
.Jan. 1931
Frank Cole
1933
Jan. 1934
*Arthur C. Coffey
1933
date
*Quinlan Sullivan
1934
date
Walter V. Robinson (chairman)
1935
Jan. 1938
"
*Edward L. Hagan (chairman)
Jan. 1938
date
"
Dec. 1924
George G. Brayley
Jan. 1922
June 1928
1933
"
* Present Member.
160,269.41
13,393.85
173,663.25
1929
-104,000
A.D.C. 97,511.63
OAA 397,203.74
1899
1921
294
ANNUAL REPORTS
Table No. 10 RECAPITULATION (Miscellaneous)
Expenditures and transfers
$875,654.35
Reimbursements and Refunds 273,126.84
Net cost to city
$602,527.51
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES J. WILLWERTH,
General Agent
295.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE WARDEN OF THE CITY HOME
March 1, 1939.
To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I submit the following as the report of the Warden of the City Home for the year ending December 31, 1938 :
Table No. 1
Number of weeks' board of inmates
3686
Number of males admitted during 1938
38
Number of females admitted during 1938
21
Number of males discharged during 1938
33
Number of females discharged during 1938
15
Number of males supported during 1938
92
Number of females supported during 1938
38
Number of males died during 1938
Number of females died during 1938
Number of inmates in Home December 31, 1938
73
Table No. 2 City Home Hospital
Number of weeks' board of inmates
688
Number of patients admitted
25
Number of patients in hospital December 31, 1938
18
Table No. 3
Expenditures
$16,740.71
Reimbursements and Refunds
6,461.74
Net cost to city
$10,278.97
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN M. REYNOLDS,
Warden
296
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen
Gentlemen :
The work of your city physician and his staff during the year 1938 is presented in the following abstract :
Office consultations and treatments
20,793
Total outside visits
9,229
Visits at City Home
126
Examinations :
Police Department 221
Fire Department
178
Miscellaneous Visits:
Hospital Investigations 338
Miscellaneous calls
629
X-ray Reports 359
Special Cases
67
Respectfully submitted,
CIRO GIOBBE, M.D.,
City Physician
297
CITY CLERK
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK
Office of the City Clerk January 1, 1939
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen,
Gentlemen :
The following is respectfully submitted as the sixty-seventh Annual Report of the City Clerk of the City of Somerville, and is for the year ending December 31, 1938.
The receipts and payments were as follows :
For dog licenses issued in 1938 :
1458 males at $2.00
$2,916.00
256 females at $5.00
1,280.00
395 spayed at $2.00
790.00
1 kennel at $25.00
25.00
$5,011.00
For hunting and fishing licenses issued in 1938 :
397 fishing at $2.00
794.00
210 hunting at $2.00
420.00
107 sporting at $3.25
347.75
70 minor fishing at $1.25
87.50
3 trapping at $5.25
15.75
7 duplicate licenses at $.50
3.50
1,668.50
Recording mortgages, assignments, etc. 1,408 papers
2,327.50
Certificates of marriage intentions, 1308 (including postage)
2,203.29
Furnishing copies of records
300.32
Licenses :
Auctioneers, 25 at $2.00
50.00
Barber Shops, 9 chairs at $2.00
18.00
Carried forward
$4,899.11
$6,679.50
298
ANNUAL REPORTS
Brought forward
$4,899.11 $6,679.50
Billiard, pool tables and bowling alleys, 137
licenses for 88 tables and 49 alleys, at $3.00
411.00
Bus Route, 2 at $10.00
20.00
Cut meat and sausage, 4 at $50.00
200.00
Drain layers, 2 at $1.00
2.00
Drivers, 27 at $1.00
27.00
Engines and motors, 5 at $1.00
5.00
Garages, 4 licenses:
1 at $5.00
$5.00
3 at $10.00
30.00
35.00
Garage renewals
583.00
Hackney carriages, 29 at $1.00
29,00
Intelligence offices, 5 at $2.00
10.00
Junk and second hand licenses:
Collect junk, 14 at $10.00 Junk shops, 11 at $25.00
275.00
Lodging houses, 32 at $2.00
64.00
Second hand auto dealers:
4 licenses at $50.00
$200.00
36 licenses at $25.00
900.00
1,100.00
Slaughtering, 11 at $1.00
11.00
Street Musicians, 12 at $.50
6.00
Storage of explosives:
1 license at $1.00
$1.00
7 licenses at $10.00
70.00
3 licenses at $20.00
60.00
2 licenses at $40.00
80.00
2 licenses at $50.00
100.00
4 licenses at $100.00
400.00
711.00
Storage of explosives renewals
3,419.00
Wagon licenses, 17 at $1.00
17.00
Wagon stand licenses, 28 at $1.00
28.00
Permits for projections over the sidewalk, for
4 awnings
16 electric signs
34 neon signs
3 shelves
1 cottage sign
3 metal signs
1 canopy
1 building front
4 wooden signs
4 licenses at $1.00 $4.00
63 licenses at $5.00
315.00
319.00
Badges
8.00
Carried forward
$12,319.11
$6,679.50
$6,211.11
$6,679.50
140.00
299
CITY CLERK
Brought forward
$12,319.11
$6,679.50
Registration of physicians, optometrists, and chiropodists
3.25
Copies of ordinances
9.00
Fees for notices of hearings
8.80
Advertising fees
40.00
Recordings
17.20
Duplicate of dog license tags
3.90
Transfer of dog licenses
.75
12,402.01
$19,081.51
PAYMENTS
To City Treasurer for dog licenses in 1938:
1458 males at $2.00
$2,916.00
256 females at $5.00
1,280.00
395 spayed at $2.00
790.00
1 kennel at $25.00
25.00
5,011.00
Less City Clerk's fees, 2110 at $.20
422.00
$4,589.00
To the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game for hunting licenses, etc. in 1938 :
397 fishing at $2.00
794.00
210 hunting at $2.00
420.00
107 sporting at $3.25
347.75
78 minor fishing at $1.25
87.50
3 trapping at $5.25
15.75
7 duplicates at $.50
3.50
1,668.50
Less City Clerk's fees, 787 at $.25
196.75
1,471.75
To the City Treasurer monthly :
City Clerk's fees for issuing and recording dog licenses in 1938, 2110 at $.20
422.00
City Clerk's fees for issuing and recording hunting licenses, etc. in 1938, 787 at $.25 .... All the receipts above specified except for hunting licenses and dog licenses
196.75
12,402.01
13,020.76
$19,081.51
LICENSES AND PERMITS
Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of re- ceipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the Board of Aldermen, without charge, as follows:
300
ANNUAL REPORTS
To hold religious services in streets, etc. 1 To parade in streets with music 5
Newspaper licenses 26
BIRTHS
1938
Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1938 :
Males 676
Females 604
1280
1937
The following is a statement in full of the births for 1937 :
Number of births (exclusive of still-births in Somerville in 1937 registered
1223
Males
622
Females 601
1223
Born of American parents
698
Born of Foreign parents
256
Born of American father and foreign mother
100
Born of Foreign father and American mother
150
Born of American mother and father unknown Nationality 17
Born of Foreign mother and father unknown Nationality
2
1223
Number of still-births in Somerville in 1937 registered.
51
Number of births in other places in 1937 registered
657
Number of cases twins
18
MARRIAGES
1938
Number of intentions issued in 1938
1040
Less than previous year
74
Marriages registered
1061
Less than previous year
44
Both parties American
801
Both parties foreign
76
American groom and foreign bride
82
Foreign groom and American bride
102
1061
First marriage
1916
Second marriage
182
Third marriage
23
Fourth marriage
1
2122
301
CITY CLERK
DEATHS 1938
(Exclusive of Stillbirths)
Number of deaths in Somerville in 1938
69
More than previous year Males
490
Females
478
968
Under ten years
77
10 and under 20 years of age
10
20 and under 30 years of age
21
30 and under 40 years of age
45
40 and under 50 years of age
85
50 and under 60 years of age
125
60 and under 70 years of age
222
70 and under 80 years of age
254
80 and under 90 years of age
115
90 and over
14
Age of oldest person deceased
104
Born in Somerville
135
Born in other places in U. S.
406
Of Foreign Birth
427
Of unknown nationality
0
"
"
February
92
=
"
"
May
72
"
"
June
74
July
52
=
=
August
84
=
,,
September
77
"
"
October
71
"
November
80
" December
95
968
March
87
=
April
89
Number of deaths in January
96
968
The number of stillbirths during the year was forty-one; In addition to the above, 301 deaths occurred elsewhere, were recorded in Somerville. Almost the entire number of persons deceased having been residents of this city.
302
ANNUAL REPORTS CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1938
MAYOR JOHN M. LYNCH, 52 Porter Street
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
President, LEO B. HAVICAN Vice-President, GEORGE W. PRATT
ALDERMEN-A-LARGE
JOHN F. FOSTER, 62 Willow Avenue EDWARD F. MOYNIHAN, 905 Broadway GEORGE W. PRATT, 35 Clark Street IRVING L. STACKPOLE, 36 Lowden Avenue
ALDERMEN
WARD ONE
WALTER J. MORAN 28 Kensington Avenue
WARD TWO
THOMAS J. DOYLE 87 Concord Avenue
WARD THREE
WILLIAM J. MELLEY 145 Summer Street
WARD FOUR
LEO B. HAVICAN
32 Willoughby Street
WARD FIVE
JAMES M. REDMOND 8 Bellevue Terrace
WARD SIX
ALLAN ROY KINGSTON 77 Liberty Avenue
WARD SEVEN
RALPH L. GARRETT 519 Mystic Valley Parkway
303
CITY CLERK
City Clerk, NORMAN E. CORWIN Assistant City Clerk, WILLIAM C. ARBUCKLE City Messenger, DANIEL A. DOWNEY Assistant City Messenger, RICHARD A. KEYES
Regular meetings, second and fourth Thursday evenings of each month, at eight o'clock, except when such Thursday is a holiday, in which case, the meeting is held on the preceding Tuesday evening.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS-Chairman Foster, Stackpole, Red- mond.
FINANCE-Chairman Havican, Kingston, Foster, Moynihan, Melley, Doyle, Garrett.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY-Chairman King- ston, Stackpole, Melley, Redmond, Foster.
LICENSES AND PERMITS-Chairman Moran, Pratt, Doyle, Garrett, Moynihan.
PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS-Chairman Pratt, Hav- ican, Moran, Moynihan, Doyle.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF-Chairman Havican, Kingston, Moynihan.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE Chairman, CHARLES A. CAMPBELL Vice-Chairman, WILLIAM J. KOEN HON. JOHN M. LYNCH Mayor, ex-officio LEO B. HAVICAN President of the Board of Aldermen, ex-officio
WARD ONE
WALTER E. WHITTAKER 135 Walnut Street
WARD TWO
LAWRENCE J. DONOVAN 68 Elm Street
WARD THREE
EDWARD M. MCCARTY
42 Pleasant Avenue
WARD FOUR
EDITH L. HURD 125 Central Street
304
ANNUAL REPORTS
WARD FIVE
WILLIAM J. KOEN ..... 34 Lexington Avenue ....
WARD SIX
EDWIN A. SHAW
63 College Avenue
WARD SEVEN
CHARLES A. CAMPBELL 22 Barton Street
Superintendent and Secretary EVERETT W. IRELAND
Assistant Superintendent WALTER P. SWEET
Regular meetings last Monday of each month, except July and August.
ASSESSORS
MAURICE F. AHEARN, Chairman, term expires 1939
JOHN A. COLBERT, term expires 1940
HORACE A. LEWIS, term expires 1939
FRANCIS J. TAGUE, term expires 1941 ALBERT A. WALSH, term expires 1941
BOARD OF APPEALS
PLUMER E. POPE, Chairman, term expires 1940 CHARLES BRUNELLE, term expires 1939 ALBERT F. BYRNES, term expires 1941 GEORGE W. LOWDEN, term expires 1940
ROBERT J. MOSELEY, term expires 1939
Associate Members
GEORGE FULGINITI, term expires 1941 JOSEPH SOUZA, term expires 1939
BOARD OF HEALTH
PROFESSOR JAMES REYNOLDS, Chairman, term expires 1940 CHARLES F. McCROSSAN, M. D., term expires 1939 EDWARD McPARTLIN, term expires 1939
Agent, GEORGE I. CANFIELD Medical Inspector, FRANK L. MORSE, M. D. Veterinarian, E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN Inspectors of Animals and Provisions
305:
CITY CLERK
HENRY T. MURRAY - JAMES A. DWYER Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, WILLIAM H. WALLIS
Assistant Milk Inspector, JAMES C. MOORE Supervisor of Dental Hygiene, DR. ANTHONY F. BIANCHI
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
EDWARD L. HAGAN, Chairman, term expires 1941 ARTHUR C. COFFEY, term expires 1939 QUINLAN J. SULLIVAN, term expires 1940 Agent, CHARLES J. WILLWERTH Warden, City Home, HERMAN M. REYNOLDS Matron, City Home, MARY REYNOLDS
LICENSING COMMISSION
EUGENE M. FLANAGAN, Chairman, term expires 1940 LAWRENCE SHEEHAN, term expires 1939 JOHN F. McNAMARA, term expires 1941
PLANNING BOARD
JOHN J. HURLEY, Chairman, term expires 1942 JOSEPH LONERGAN, term expires 1943 HARRY MacNUTT, term expires 1940 JOHN P. SILK, term expires 1939 DR. VINCENT W. SENA, term expires 1941
PUBIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
CHARLES L. DOHERTY, President, term expires 1941 J. HELEN CLOUGH, term expires 1940 LOUIS B. CONNELLY, term expires 1939 REV. ANTHONY J. FLAHERTY, term expires 1939 JOHN J. GRIFFIN, term expires 1938 KATHRYN HUEBER, term expires 1939 JOHN F. McGANN, term expires 1941 WILLIAM H. McKENNA, term expires 1940 DAVID Y. ROSS, term expires 1940 Librarian and Secretary, JOHN D. KELLEY
SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMSSION
REV. NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman, term expires 1939" MARY R. COUGHLIN, term expires 1939 JOSEPHINE HAM, term expires 1940 WILLIAM F. HARKINS, term expires 1940 WILLIAM STUART HOWE, term expires 1939 MRS. ARTHUR W. HURLBURT, term expires 1939 JAMES J. McCARTHY, term expires 1940
306
ANNUAL REPORTS
ANNETTE MURPHY, term expires 1940 ANTHONY TRANIELLO, term expires 1940 DR. SOTER G. ZAHAROOLIS, term expires 1939
BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
WILLIAM F. BURNS, Chairman, term expires 1941 WARREN C. DAGGETT, Secretary, term expires 1939 DENNIS L. DONOVAN, term expires 1940 WARREN S. JOHNSTON, term expires 1941
RETIREMENT BOARD
EUGENE M. CARMAN, Chairman, term expires 1940 MAURICE F. AHEARN, term expires 1941
FREDERICK W. HALE, City Auditor
SOMERVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY
In accordance with Section 26L, Chapter 449, Acts 1935, five members of the Somerville Housing Authority were ap- pointed and confirmed in the year 1938, as follows :
DAVID LOONEY, Chairman WILLIAM J. EAGAN, Vice-Chairman, term expires 1943 "MARY CARR, Secretary, term expires 1940 "EUGENE B. HAMILTON, term expires 1942 RICHARD C. TIGHE, term expires 1939
CITY CLERK NORMAN E. CORWIN
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK WILLIAM C. ARBUCKLE
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES JOHN J. DONAHUE
CITY MESSENGER DANIEL A. DOWNEY
ASSISTANT CITY MESSENGER RICHARD A. KEYES
MAYOR'S SECRETARY JAMES F. STYNES
CITY CLERK 307
CITY AUDITOR FREDERICK W. HALE
CITY SOLICITOR ROBERT J. MULDOON
ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR CHARLES L. DOHERTY
CITY ENGENEER THOMAS HEGARTY
COMMISSIONER OF STREETS JAMES J. CORBETT
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS ALBERT PARKER
WATER COMMISSIONER JOHN T. FORD
SUPERINTENDENT OF SANITARY DEPARTMENT JOHN F. MESKELL
CLERK OF COMMITTEES JOHN P. CLAIR
ASSISTANT CLERK OF COMMITTEES JOHN J. MANSFIELD
ASSISTANT TO CLERK OF COMMITTEES FRANCIS L. McGONAGLE
CHIEF OF POLICE THOMAS DAMERY
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT JOHN C. MCNALLY
COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS ROBERT F. MAGUIRE
308
ANNUAL REPORTS
CITY PHYSICIAN CIRO GIOBBE, M. D.
ASSISTANT CITY PHYSICIAN JOHN M. TAVARES, M. D.
AGENT OF MILITARY AND STATE AID AND SOLDIERS' RELIEF AND BURIAL AGENT THOMAS F. MCGRATH
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR WILLIAM H. WALLIS
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT
CONSTABLES
Charles M. Austin
Philip J. Beyer, Jr.
Arthur J. Bibby
Henry A. Blackman
Daniel A. Downey
Anthony John Scolles
Maurice Gilbert
Joseph A. Silva John M. Smith
Frank H. Gilmore
William R. Judson
Manuel C. Souza
Bernard Levin
Samuel L. Terhune
Francis MacDonald
James E. Votour
Thomas A. O'Connor
Daniel J. O'Donoghue
Charles G. Pickett
William M. Quirk
John F. Scannell
Arthur W. White
309
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CITY HALL, MASSACHUSETTS
January 1, 1939.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :
The following report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1938 is respectively submitted.
Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1938
Scales :
Not
Adjusted
Sealed
Con- Sealed demned
Platform over 5000 1bs
0
28
2
0
Platform 100 to 5000 lbs
0
200
58
6
Counter 100 lbs or over
0
21
4
1
Counter under 100 1bs
0
297
6
4
Beam 100 1bs or over
0
4
4
0
Beam under 100 1bs
0
0
0
0
Spring 100 1bs or over
0
42
1
0
Spring under 100 1bs
0
346
0
8
Computing 100 lbs or over
0
0
0
0
Computing under 100 1bs
0
396
5
5
Personal Weighing (Slot)
0
72
0
6
Prescription
0
47
0
0
Jewellers
0
3
0
0
Weights:
Avoidupois
0
1225
0
0
Apothecary
0
464
0
21
Metric
0
104
0
4
Troy
0
31
0
3
Capacity Measure:
Vehicle Tanks
0
0
0
0
Liquid
0
488
16
13
Oil Jars
0
0
0
0
Dry
0
0
0
0
Fuel Baskets
0
2
0
0
310
ANNUAL REPORTS
Automatic Measuring Devices:
Not
Con- Sealed demned
Gasoline Pumps
0
5
14
0
Gasoline Meters
0
323
0
46
Kerosene Pumps
0
0
0
0
Oil Measuring Pumps
0
30
542
0
Quantity Measure on Pumps (ea.)
0
76
0
0
Grease Measuring Devices
0
18
38
4
Linear Measure:
Yard Sticks
0
90
0
4
Taxi Meters
0
19
0
0
Cloth Measuring Devices
0
4
0
0
Total
0
4411
690
125
Summary of Inspections made:
Clinical Thermometers
124
Coal Certificates
4
Ice Scales
72
Junk Scales
0
Marking of Bread
138
Marking of Food Packages
416
Metal Ice Cream Containers
252
Milk Jars
1032
Oil Jars
2213
Paper or Fibre Cartons
0
Pedlers' License.
135
Pedlers' Scales
49
Transient Vendors
0
Wholesale Milk Cans
176
Taxi Meters
0
Fuel Meters
0
Gas Pumps and Meters
0
Coal in Paper Bags
50
Kindling Wood in Paper Bags
330
Oil Measures (5 Gallons)
0
Summary of Tests made:
Berry Baskets
0
Cartons (approved as measures)
0
Gasoline Devices (other than Sealing)
54
Ice Cream Cartons
0
Scales in Stores
205
Taxi Meters (other than Sealing)
7
Fuel Meters (other than Sealing)
14
Beer Kegs
11
Applications inspected and signed for Special Licenses:
Special City Licenses
27
County
92
State
65
Disabled Veterans
8
Transfers
8
Total
200
Adjusted
Sealed
311
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Gasoline Station Tests:
Total number of calls
153
Number of different stations
125
Number of call-backs to stations previously inspected
28
Number of Gallons drawn for tests
3975
Trial weighings and measurements of commodities sold or put up for sale:
Total No. Tested
Number Correct
Under
Over
Beans
276
189
43
44
Bread
138
102
10
26
Butter
214
191
22
1
Coal (in paper bags)
50
34
1
15
Coal (in transit)
4
1
0
3
Confectionery
38
38
0
0
Dry Commodities
389
254
50
85
Flour
136
79
27
30
Fruits and Vegetables
265
146
48
71
Ice
0
0
0
0
Lard
87
87
0
0
Meat and Provisions
181
112
25
44
Potatoes
75
13
22
40
Total
1853
1246
248
359
Miscellaneous :
Court Cases
5
Complaints investigated
4
May I respectfully call to your attention again the need of a public scale, for reweighing purposes. The department is greatly handicapped in reweighing of coal in transit by having to direct vehicles to different parts of the City to weigh loads on privately owned scales that have been sealed previously by this department.
The purchase of a 50 gallon Test Tank has filled a long felt want, and added greatly to the accuracy of testing Fuel Truck Meters.
B. S. ABBOTT,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Incorrect
312
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen :-
The sixty-sixth annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted ; being the report of the librarian and tables of statistics of operation.
Very respectfully, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
CHARLES L. DOHERTY,
President.
313
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Charles L. Doherty, President
Term Expires January 1, 1941
Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty, Vice-President
1939
John J. Griffin
1938
Mrs. Anna C. McBrearty
(resigned February 16, 1938)
1939
Louis B. Connelly (appointed March 14, 1938)
1939
Mrs. Kathryn E. Hueber
"
1939
Mrs. J. Helen Clough
,
1940
William H. McKenna
1940
David Y. Ross
1940
John F. McGann
1941
COMMITTEES
On Administration The President, Mr. McGann, Mr. McKenna, Mrs. Clough, and Rev. Anthony J. Flaherty
On Books and Cataloging The President, Mr. Ross, Mrs. Hueber, Mr. Connelly and Mr. Griffin
On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President
Secretary of the Board JOHN D. KELLEY
314
ANNUAL REPORTS
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, .1938
CENTRAL LIBRARY-Highland Avenue and Walnut Street WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH-40 College Avenue EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH-Broadway and Illinois Avenue UNION SQUARE BRANCH-50 Bow Street
WINTER HILL STATION-424 Broadway
GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian Emeritus JOHN D. KELLEY, Librarian
GRADED SERVICE
NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian
VIVIAN J. MORSE, Executive Assistant
CORA B. EAMES, Reference Librarian and Second Assistant
MABEL E. BUNKER, Chief Cataloger
DOROTHY H. TERRY, Branch Librarian, West Branch
ELSIE K. WELLS, Branch Librarian, East Branch
KATHRYN KENNY, Branch Librarian, Union Square Branch
MARY B. BARTLETT, Supervisor of Schools, Deposits, and Children's Work
R. VIVIAN SMITH, Assistant Cataloger MYRTLE NICHOLSON, Central Desk Chief
CATHERINE COTTER, Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding
GERTRUDE REYNOLDS, Executive-in-Charge, Winter Hill Station MILDRED A. BOWLEY, First Assistant, West Branch
RUTH HOLMES, First Assistant, East Branch MARION E. SMITH, First Assistant, Union Square Branch
MARY M. NOONAN, Children's Librarian, Central
SOPHIE MARGOLIS, Children's Librarian, West Branch
EMMA MERLINI, Children's Librarian, Union Square Branch BARBARA NILES, Senior Assistant KATHLEEN MARTIN, Senior Assistant
MARJORIE L. HOLT, Senior Assistant
GERTRUDE F. CONNOLLY, Senior Assistant
FRANCES M. HAYES, Junior Assistant IRENE F. WARD, Junior Assistant
RITA FINN, Junior Assistant, and Acting Children's Librarian, East Branch
FLORENCE I. CLARK, Junior Assistant
MARY B. CONNORS, Junior Assistant ANNE HOPKINS, Junior Assistant
ELEANOR F. DEWIRE, Junior Assistant
315
PUBLIC LIBRARY
NON-PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
MARY E. CULLINANE
HARVEY CURTIS KATHARINE J. WHITE
ANN F. DENNIS MARGARET B. SCANLAN ELIZABETH FLYNN
UNGRADED SERVICE
RICHARD LOMBARD GEORGE DOOLING
LOIS J. MCCARTHY MARY F. WARREN
KATHERINE AUSTIN PATRICIA SULLIVAN NELLIE EGAN
LILLIAN G. CASEY
RUTH D. WARNER
APPRENTICE SERVICE
ELIZABETH L. CLIFFORD, Senior Apprentice ANNA E. CULLEN, Senior Apprentice CATHERINE P. KILLILEA, Senior Apprentice
316
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees :
The Annual Report of the Librarian to the Trustees of the Public Library of the City of Somerville, being a part of the Sixty-Sixth Annual Report of the Library for the year 1938 is herewith submitted. It is concerned with the details of admin- istration, the present condition, and the problems of the library.
Special statements of the records of the year setting forth in statistical form the use and condition of the library will be found in Appendix A.
In the past few years the outstanding feature of the Libra- rian's Report has been the crying need of finances to stem the tide of our continuing decreasing collection. At this time I am very happy to report that this condition has at least been temporarily corrected, yet it will require a number of years to offset the financial disadvantages under which the library labored during the depression period. Many books which should have been discarded have been salvaged, through the generosity of the Commissioner of Public Buildings in loaning to the libra- ry a bookbinder who has saved a tremendous number of volumes which otherwise would have been discarded because of the lack of sufficient funds for binding. We also have, through his as- sistance, repaired a considerable number of the popular circu- lating books of fiction and non-fiction which ordinarily would have been set aside during the period of their popularity because of broken bindings or loose pages.
The work of the past year makes it certain that the book purchase appropriation must remain the same, if not larger, if the library is to satisfy the requirements of its readers. As predicted in the annual report of last year-"The trend in reading appears to be leaning toward informative rather than the recreational and leisure type" has been fulfilled during the current year. The demand for non-fiction of a general nature- history, philosophy, biography, economics, travel, poetry, and drama-has increased throughout the system. The library is now purchasing practically all of the best books in most fields. A large circulation of books of fiction could be maintained at low cost, but books dealing with science, technology and eco- nomics are expensive and become out-of-date. To give service the library must have books.
317
PUBLIC LIBRARY
That the public appreciates the efforts of the Trustees and Library Staff to maintain the high efficiency for which the li- brary has always been noted is evidenced by the remarkable increase in circulation during 1938 of 67,818 in addition to the increase of 61,803 in 1937, but more effective is the decided increase in the number of borrowers, 20,358 in 1938, an increase of 895 over 1937. I point to the increase of borrowers with a feeling of pride for, without any intensive effort to obtain reg- istrations, many of our citizens are turning to the library in appreciation of the courtesy and cooperation of the staff. Another factor is the innovation of placing on each charging desk a box marked "Borrowers' Requests" which contains cards to be filled out by the borrower (without the assistance of the staff members) for any volumes which he may desire. These cards are checked each morning, and either the books are reserved for the borrower, or, in the case of new titles for the library, the borrower is advised that same day whether or not we will consider the purchase of the book. The effect on the public has been most encouraging for they appreciate the personal service and attention of being notified as to our deci- sion.
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