USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912, Volume II > Part 53
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"In 1837 Mr. Doolittle vacated his office, and Mr. Holly was appointed libra- rian. In 1838 the first printed catalogue was published and sold at a moderate price to such members as chose to purchase. The expenses over and above these receipts were paid for by a few gentlemen. In the year 1839, the number of paying members was increased to five hundred, and all the debts of the associa- tion, for the time being, discharged. This year Mr. James Wildey was elected librarian. Matters began to improve, connections were better, and the number of volumes in the library increased.
"In 1840 a special collection was made of one thousand dollars, which was sent to London to purchase some choice editions of books, and resulted in the importation of seven hundred and sixty-eight volumes. The record shows, as I have ascertained, that the number of volumes at this time was one thousand, six hundred and sixty.
"During this year the association moved its quarters from Fourth street to the old College building on Walnut street, paying a rent of three hundred dollars.
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That building was a predecessor of the present one. From the south end of the College to Fourth street there was a beautiful garden, with shrubbery and trees.
"In 1841 a new catalogue was prepared and published, which showed some three thousand volumes in the library. There were then some six hundred mem- bers, and the annual receipts amounted to two thousand dollars.
"Among the notable events in which the association participated in a body, were the funeral of President Harrison in 1841, and the laying of the founda- tion of Mount Adams Astronomical Association building in 1843, when the oration was delivered by ex-President John Quincy Adams.
"In the year 1842 there was an effort made to establish classes in French and German languages, but they were not successful. The annual contests, which have been a marked feature in the elections of this association, were originated at the election in January, 1843; and I think this fact worth mentioning, as these contests, conducted always with good feeling, have had a marked effect on the progress of the association.
"It may seem strange to mention the fact; but a very important event in the history of the association, in a small way, was the introduction of gas into the library and reading room in 1843. Previous to that time the association, like the community at large, had depended for light on the use of tallow candles and lard oil.
"On Sunday morning, January 19, 1845, the College building was entirely destroyed by fire, but by the great exertions of the members and citizens gen- erally, all the books of the association were saved, and the little damage done was covered by insurance. This fire, however, resulted in an arrangement with the trustees of the Cincinnati College for the present quarters occupied by it.
"By great exertions there was raised, chiefly by subscriptions from merchants, the sum of ten thousand dollars to pay for the fee-simple of its quarters, and one thousand, six hundred dollars in addition for the furnishing of the rooms. The association took possession of its new quarters in May, 1846, amid the con- gratulations of all the members and their friends.
."In those days of small things it is well to acknowledge that the eleven thou- sand, six hundred dollars contributed by the merchants for the purpose showed great liberality.
"About the same time Mr. Cist was elected librarian, in the place of Mr. Wildey, deceased.
"As a good many inquiries have been made, and as there has been considerable discussion for some years past, in reference to the origin of the Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati, it is well to say that during the early years of the existence of the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association, there were many reports made on the subject of forming a chamber of commerce, or merchants' exchange, or board of trade, as it was variously styled from time to time. Many resolutions were passed and conferences had between the officers and merchants of the city. Commencing in 1839 and running the following years up to the spring of 1844, when a committee was appointed, of which Mr. John W. Hart- well was chairman, on the part of your association, and Mr. Thomas J. Adams, a prominent merchant, represented the merchants of the city. They employed Mr. Lewis J. Cist to collect the commercial statistics of the city then accessible,
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in the shape of imports and exports of merchandise, etc., by canal and river. For the purpose of paying the expense of this undertaking, ninety merchants contributed five dollars each. The result of Mr. Cist's labor was daily recorded in the books in the library rooms, accessible to contributors; but no daily meet- ings were held. After the association had moved into its present rooms, an arrangement was made for a rominal consideration, by which the Merchants' Exchange became a fixed institution under its own management, as it now exists.
"In regard to the lectures that were a prominent feature for many years, some recollections may be of interest. The first lectures delivered before the association were upon commercial law, in the winter of 1835-36, by Joseph L. Benham, a prominent and distinguished lawyer. In the winter of 1838 Judge Timothy Walker gave a course of lectures. No charge was made for attendance upon either of these courses. In the winter of 1840 and 1841, Dr. Robinson gave a course of lectures on American history, for which, if I recollect aright, he received three hundred dollars from the association, but donated by individuals. In the winter of 1842, Dr. John Locke delivered a course of twelve lectures on geology, which were well attended. William Green, Esq., also lectured three or four times on various subjects. There were also some miscellaneous lectures the same year, but to the best of my recollection they were not successful.
"Up to this period home talent had been entirely enlisted in this matter. Efforts were made to get literary men from the eastern cities to lecture, but the time, fatigue, and expense of traveling were so great that it was impossible to accomplish it, as it required from five to seven days to travel to New York and other eastern cities. Finding this impossible, for two or three seasons the officers and some of their intimate friends, took the bold step of delivering their own lectures. These were very well received by the community, and if they did not enlighten the people on the subjects of which they treated, they at least had the benefit of teaching their authors the subject of composition and delivery.
"In the winter of 1843 and 1844, these lectures were delivered by Messrs. R. M. W. Taylor, Richard A. Whetstone, Lewis J. Cist and others. The follow- ing year lectures were delivered by Messrs. J. T. Headley. J. F. Annan, James Calhoun, George S. Coe, John D. Thorpe, William Watts, James Lupton, and John W. Ellis. All these were active members of the association.
"The celebrations of the anniversary of the founding of the association were quite prominent features, and an effort was made to have these anniversary orations delivered by active members of the association, but this was not strictly carried out. The first was delivered by Mr. R. G. Mitchell, on April 18, 1839. The next by Mr. John C. Vaughn, an honorary member and editor of the Cin- cinnati Gazette, April 18, 1841. This was followed by that of 1844, when the anniversary address was made by John W. Ellis, and a poem was read by Wil- liam D. Gallegher. On the 18th of April, 1845, the address was made by J. T. Headley ; the following year, . 1846, by Judge James Hall.
"This brings me up to the period at which I ceased to take an active interest in the association, and shall therefore leave the future history to others."
On October 21, 1869, a fire of considerable proportions took place in the College building where the library was located. While the building was not destroyed, the floor used for the library and reading room was much damaged
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and considerable injury was done to the books. Rooms were then engaged at 137-9 Race street, where a reading room was opened. The functions of the library were suspended until the College building could be reoccupied.
In 1905 the Young Men's Mercantile Library building was ready for occu- pancy, and is now the location of this important and influential institution.
The Mercantile Library has now seventy-eight thousand books, and has a circulation annually of about sixty-five thousand.
The Library of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio had as the first depositary for its books, a room at the top of a brick house at Third and Race streets. They were placed, about 1853, in the basement of the college. Next they were transferred to the store of Mr. Buchanan. It is supposed that it was about 1860 that the books were boxed and placed in the public and school library, which at that time was located in the building of the Mechanics' Institute.
When the society was reorganized in May, 1868, the library was also revived and the books were arranged in the rooms of the Literary Club. John D. Cald- well became librarian. In 1869, John M. Newton became librarian. He was followed in that position by Julius Dexter, who served until 1880. From 1880 to September, 1886, Miss Elizabeth Appleton became librarian. She was fol- lowed by Mrs. C. W. Lord.
The library in 1871 changed its quarters from the Literary Club to rooms in the College. In 1885 it was removed to 107 West Eighth street. In 1901 it was removed to the Van Wormer Library on the grounds of the university.
This library has 17,450 bound volumes and 65,320 pamphlets, as well as a large number of manuscripts, many of these being of historical value.
The Lloyd Library and Museum is a unique institution of special value. The Lloyd Library is devoted almost exclusively to botany, materia medica and phar- macy, with a section on eclectic medicine. It contains at a conservative estimate, twenty-five thousand volumes, which is possibly the most extensive collection of books and periodicals directly pertaining to these subjects. It is now in ex- tensive use, as evidenced by the number of persons who consult its contents, as well as by the increasing inquiries for bibliographical information concerning special subjects.
Quarterly catalogues are published devoted to the various departments of this library. The object of these catalogues is twofold: First; to let it be' known what publications are now in this library, so that persons wishing to con- sult them may know where they may be seen; Second; to indicate the publica- tions they do not have but desire to obtain, hoping that correspondents may be able to supply them. They are glad to hear from anyone who can furnish. a missing part, or help to complete a set, and are thankful for copies of any publication on these subjects not now in their catalogue.
This institution is legally a stock company, the stock being owned and the institution supported by Curtis G. and John Uri Lloyd. Mr. C. G. Lloyd has erected the buildings and supports the botanical section, and Professor John Uri Lloyd supports the pharmaceutical department. The buildings and contents are transferred to the stock company, and funds are provided for its continuance when the life work of its builders is finished. It will never be sold, and will always be a free and public institution for the benefit of science.
A CLIFTON CONVEYANCE
F+ 125
PASSING OF THE OLD TOLL GATE
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Building Number One, which is devoted exclusively to a museum of fungi, was erected by C. G. Lloyd in 1902, and was designed to contain both the books and the specimens, the two upper floors being devoted to the books and the lower floor to the specimens. The library increased so rapidly that the building proved inadequate for its purposes, and in 1908 a new building was erected to be devoted exclusively to the library. The old building, now known as the Lloyd Museum, contains the herbarium and the mycological collection. The herbarium of pressed plants is estimated at about thirty thousand specimens, chiefly obtained by C. G. Lloyd during his earlier years. The mycological department contains many thousand dried specimens of fungi, estimated at not less than five thousand different collections. There are more specimens of this family ten times over than in all the other museums of the world combined.
The Lloyd Building Number Two was erected in the winter of 1907 and 1908. It is four stories in height. It is devoted exclusively to botany and phar- macy (with a section on eclectic medicine), and contains a collection of books among the largest on these subjects. The volumes have not been counted, but some idea of the number may be obtained from the following statistics: There are 6,253 linear feet of shelving, and the books now occupy 2,600 linear feet of this space. As a shelf is found to hold on the average 429 books to every 50 linear feet, the estimated number is 22,308 volumes. Cases have been placed in the upper floor, but the other three floors have only wall shelves, with pro- vision made for floor cases in future as the needs of the library may require. When completely filled with shelving the library has a capacity of 11,413 linear feet, sufficient to shelve 98,000 volumes. If the collection of books continues to increase as it has in the past five years, the full capacity of this library will be taken in the next twenty years. It is the aim to make the Lloyd Library in time, practically a complete library of its subjects.
The Cincinnati Law Library is of great importance. A charter from the legislature for a Cincinnati law library was obtained in 1834. While those in charge of this movement were eminent lawyers, the organization was inactive until 1846. At the latter period there were 125 members of the bar. A bar meeting was called in 1846 to be held in the old superior courtroom. A com- mittee was appointed to procure money for a law library. This committee con- sisted of William R. Morris, Daniel Van Matre, W. M. Corry, Alphonso Taft and George E. Pugh. Mr. Morris undertook to procure subscriptions, and a considerable proportion of the lawyers of that time in the city contributed.
By January, 1847, books to the amount of $1,400 had been purchased. A bookcase, capable of holding several hundred volumes, was procured and located in the courtroom of the court of common pleas. The librarian appointed was Bernard Bradley.
The contributors organized themselves into a corporation early in 1847. Their first formal meeting was in June of the same year. Mr. Morris was chosen president, and trustees were elected.
The courthouse was burned in 1849, but most of the books of the library were rescued. The books were temporarily placed in the brick building of James Wilson on Court street, where the county offices and courtrooms were for the time.
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In 1852, rooms for the library were obtained in the building to the east but connected with the Wilson structure. At that time the library was composed of 1,080 volumes, half of them reports of eastern states.
The library, consisting then of 14,000 volumes, was destroyed in 1884 by fire. But a new library came into being. It now consists of 30,000 volumes. The present Cincinnati Law Library is among the most important of its kind in the land.
The law library of the United States circuit court of appeals is in the Federal building. It consists of 15,000 volumes.
Still another law library is in the Law School building.
Lane Theological Seminary has a very valuable library, as also do St. Joseph's College, St. Xavier's College, the Cincinnati Hospital and the Ohio Mechanics' Institute.
The University library is treated in this volume under the chapter on education.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Public library had several forerunners, accounts of which have been already given. The library was for many years considered and treated solely as an adjunct of the public schools. From its organization in 1855, under the law of 1853, until the passage of the law of 1867, it was governed by the library committee of the board of education. The law of 1867 provided for the election by that board, of six managers for the library, the president of the board to be ex officio a member of said library board. Under this law the board of educa- tion at all times elected a majority of the board of managers from their own membership. Finally, in 1890, the entire library board was elected from the membership of the board of education.
This was evidently not the intention of the law, for it could hardly be pre- sumed that the legislature would empower the members of any board to elect themselves members of another board. The legislature of 1891 changed the law so as to provide for the election of two members of the library board by the directors of the university, two by the union board of high schools, and two by the board of education, providing that the president of the board of education ex officio should be a member of the board, and adding a further proviso that no member of any board exercising the appointing power should be appointed a member of said library board. This was somewhat changed by the law of 1898.
The library during its existence has had several titles. Originally it was called The Ohio School and Family Library, for the reason, evidently, that it was declared by law to be for the use of the families of the school district, although "no member attend any of the schools of the township." Later it was known as The Ohio School Library. In the early part of 1867 it was called The Public and School Library of Cincinnati. After July of 1867, under the rules of the board of managers, it was called The Public Library. Now it is known as The Public Library of Cincinnati. Thus it appears that the library long since ceased to be recognized as simply an adjunct to the public schools. It belongs to all the people generally,-old and young, scholar, student, graduate,
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citizen, resident,-so that its beneficent influences may be felt by all ; that it may do the "greatest good to the greatest number." This is the controlling idea of its management.
There have been distinct periods in the history of the public library of Cincinnati ; periods of progress and of retrogression; of prosperity and of ad- versity. These may be divided as follows :
First Period-From the organization of the Ohio School Library, under the act of 1853, to the enactment of the law of 1867. This includes the. occupation, under contract of lease, of the rooms in the Mechanics' Institute, and merger of the library of that institution with the Ohio School Library. Librarians : Dr. J. C. Christin, from the organization to July 3, 1855; John D. Caldwell, clerk of the school board and librarian, from July 3, 1855 to March 16, 1857; N. Peabody Poor, from November 2, 1857 to April 22, 1866; Lewis Freeman, from April 22, 1866.
Second Period-From July, 1867 (act of March 18, 1867, providing for a board of managers), to the opening of the library in the front part of the present library building, December 9, 1870. Librarians: Lewis Freeman, until Novem- ber 5, 1869; W. F. Poole, from November 15, 1869.
Third Period-From December 9, 1870 to February 26, 1874, when the rear building was occupied. Librarians : W. F. Poole, to December 31, 1873; Thomas Vickers, January 1, 1874.
Fourth Period-From the opening of the rear building, February 26, 1874. to May 21, 1891, the date of the organization of the board of trustees, appointed under act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed April 30, 1891, providing for the appointment of a board of trustees in place of a board of managers. Librarians : Thomas Vickers, to December 31, 1879; Chester W. Merrill, from January 1, 1880 to November 26, 1886; Albert W. Whelpley, from November 26, 1886.
Fifth Period-From May 21, 1891 to April 23, 1898, the date of the passage of act of the General Assembly of Ohio, transferring to the board of trustees complete control of the library, extending the privileges of the library to the county at large, and authorizing a levy by said board upon the tax duplicate of Hamilton county, in which Cincinnati is situated, the trustees to have the disburse- ment of the funds realized therefrom; providing for the appointment by the judges of the court of common pleas of a trustee who should succeed the presi- dent of the board of education, who had previously been an ex officio member of the board of trustees, and providing for such an election of trustees as that the board should be a continuous body, and further providing for the establish- ment of branch libraries and delivery stations throughout the county. Libra- rians : A. W. Whelpley to February 19, 1900: N. D. C. Hodges, May 11, 1900.
It appears that the libraries were in 1853 largely under state supervision.
The first mention made of school libraries in Cincinnati is found in the report of the Hon. Rufus King, president of the school board for 1854, wherein he says: "In conclusion, we must not omit to render just acknowledgment to Winthrop B. Smith for a handsome donation to be applied to the foundation of a teachers' library, to be aided and conducted under the auspices of this board. This, together with school libraries, which will soon be established out of the
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state library fund, will supply to the teachers and pupils of the public schools invaluable resources of knowledge and usefulness." The donation of Mr. Smith, was $700.
Under the provisions of the state law each school in the district was en- titled to a library, and in 1854 sixteen libraries had been sent to Cincinnati under the direction of the school commissioner, and distributed, one to each school, each the precise duplicate of the other. The board of education on December 18, 1854, adopted a resolution that there should be but one library in Cincinnati for the use of the public schools. This plan was agreed to by the school com- missioner. Mr. King gave his personal attention to the purchase of a list of books, and reported in 1855: "The past year is worthy of being signalized in the history of our schools as the era of the introduction of the free school library, established in the late general school law, and to be sustained by a state tax of one-tenth of a mill annually." He said further, as to the purchase of books: "Due reference was had to the use of the library which is to be allowed by law to the older and more mature population of the city."
The books were gathered together from the different schools, and, with those which the committee had purchased, were placed in a room in the Central High School building on Longworth street, near Race, and Dr. J. C. Christin was em- ployed May 21, 1855, to put them in order on shelves, catalogue and take care of them, at a compensation of three dollars per day. His service terminated July 2, 1855.
July 31, 1856, a contract was entered into with the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, by which the school library was to occupy the second floor and part of the first floor fronting on Sixth street, of the institute building. A perpetual lease was entered into on a consideration of ten thousand dollars in city bonds. The institute library was to be transferred to the school library, with provision for a retransfer should the same become necessary by reason of surrender of the lease by the school board. They also agreed to repay the $10,000 if the school board desired to cancel the lease, upon receiving twelve months' notice thereof.
To this building the books were removed, and in July of 1856, the library was opened to the public with 11,630 volumes. Of these, 6,583 belonged to the Mechanics' Institute, and 5,047 to the school library proper. The latter volumes had cost $7,54I.
The number of registered borrowers the first year was 2,400, and the circula- tion 20,179. Mr. Caldwell, the librarian, had a catalogue made by the students of the Hughes high school, which is still in existence and is an interesting document.
Thus was laid the foundation of the present great library, and the city of Cincinnati owes a debt of lasting gratitude to such men as Rufus King, Dr. C. G. Comegys and John D. Caldwell, for the tireless energy and devotion with which they labored to place the infant institution on its feet.
The state tax was suspended by an act of the general assembly, passed April II, 1856, for one year from said date, and again by the act of April 17, 1857, for another year.
Mr. King, in his report for 1856, said: "Whatever be the fate of the library provisions of the school law, enough has already been acquired to lay the foun-
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dation of a most useful library, and though the legislature should strike away the cheap and unfelt tax which has served to inaugurate these noble institutions, we may safely trust to the munificence of our private citizens to sustain ours for the future."
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