May 12th, 1853, at Ambos Hall, with addresses by Hon. S. S. Cox, Hon. Samuel Galloway and others. The institution prospered at first, and interest was kept up by bringing lecturers from a distance during the winter of 1853-4. The following are noted in the old record: Hon. S. S. Cox, "The Satanic Element in Literature;" John G. Saxe, "Poets and Poetry;" Bayard Taylor, "The Arabs," and later on "Japan;” P. T. Barnum, "The Philosophy of Humbug." His lecture was vigorously assailed by newspaper card-writers both before and after his visit but the Library idea benefitted by the free advertising given, and it is a matter of record that Barnum's effort was the only financially successful lecture of the season. In 1856 Hon. Allen G. Thurman was elected President and Rev. D. A. Randall, Vice President. Among the lecturers of this winter course were Hon. Thomas Ewing, Wendell Phillips, Donald Mitchell (Ik Marvel), George Sumner (brother of U. S. Senator Sumner), Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Mackay. The lecture feature was soon discontinued and the institution soon ceased to exist as originally planned. Its collection of books was, however, preserved intact and, as will appear later, were presented to the Trustees of the Public Library and Reading Room. The Public Library and Reading Room is the direct result of a meeting of citizens called to meet June 15th, 1871, at the City Hall. There was both a public need and a legal opportunity for the establishment of a Free Public Library. Hon. John W. Andrews presided and remarks pertinent to the subject were made by Joseph Hutcheson, who was one of the strong pillars of the Atheneum movement. The following were appointed a committee to petition the City Council to take the necessary action, and provide quarters for the Library it had power to create: J. R. Swan, S. S. Rickley, Charles Breyfogle, James Westwater and Dr. Wm. E. Ide. There seems to have been a strong belief that the object sought would be obtained through the liberality of a wealthy citizen and this seems to have temporarily diverted the Committee from its purpose. After watching this beautiful bubble for three months, it burst, and another citizen's meeting was called and a committee appointed consisting of J. Sullivant, John G. Mitchell, L. J. Critchfield, A. S. Gleen and Henry C. Noble. This committee reported a method of procedure which was practically the plan upon which the present Public Library and Reading Room was subsequently organized. It noted the fact that Council had full power by ordinance to establish and maintain a Free Public Library and Reading Rooms, and manage and control the same, and suggested that the management of the Library be vested by Council in a Board of Trustees consisting of four citizens elected by the Council, and that, ex-officio, the Mayor, President of the City Council, and President of the Board of Education also serve with the Trustees. This report was unanimously adopted and sent to the Council with a request for early and favorable action. The desired ordinance was passed by the City Council January 15th, 1872, and immediately thereafter at this same session, the Council elected as Trustees for one year Messrs Wm. B. Hayden and Otto Dressel, and as Trustees for two years Messrs. John W. Andrews and A. S. Glenn. A further meeting of citizens was held January 18th, and the following committee was selected to co-operate with the Trustees in the establishment of the new enterprise: Luther Donaldson, P. W. Huntington, Charles Breyfogle, John G. Thompson, Henry C. Noble, F. A. Marble, James Patterson, Isaac Eberly and L. G. Critchfield. The Board of Trustees held their first meeting February 19th, 1872, with all the members present, viz: Hon. James G. Bull, Mayor; Luther Donaldson, President City Council; Frederick Fieser, President Board of Education; Wm. B. Hayden, A. S. Glenn, John W. Andrews, Otto Dressel. The organization was effected as follows: President. Treasurer. JOHN W. ANDREWS. A. S. GLENN. Mr. Andrews continued to serve as President until June, 1891. Among the first acts of the Board was to enter into correspondence with the surviving Trustees of the "Atheneum Library," with a view to securing control of the 1,200 volumes belonging to the defunct organization as a nucleus for the new Library. Their efforts were successful as is evidenced by the following letter which is recorded in their "minutes of proceedings": P. W. Huntington, Esq. FLORENCE, March 26, 1872. DEAR SIR-I have just received your favor of the 1st inst., enclosing a note from John W. Andews, Esq., stating that a room had been assigned in the City Council in the new City Hall, in which is to be established a free public library of the city of Columbus, and that it is desirable that the books belonging to the Columbus Atheneum shall be turned over to the new library. These books, I suppose, are technically under the control of the three surviving directors, viz: Mr. J. J. Janney, Dr. W. E. Ide and myself. I suppose there will be no difficulty in obtaining the consent of these gentlemen to the transfer. As for myself I have to say, that it has always been my wish to have these books preserved and disposed of in the manner here contemplated, and that the original object, for which many of them were donated, should be faithfully carried out. It so happened that during the last year that the Atheneum was kept open, its income was insufficient to defray its expenses, and some debts created before were unpaid. My advances from time to time to meet these obligations, in the hope of keeping the institution alive, would at this time, adding interest, amount to over six hundred dollars. Trusting that the new library is organized upon a basis that will insure its permanence and success, I will donate to it my claim upon the Atheneum, and give my consent to the transfer of books belonging to it. Any formal transfer that may be deemed necessary to carry out the object may be made, I do not doubt, by Mr. Janney and Dr. Ide, and their action shall have my approval. With my best respects to Mr. Andrews, and heartily wishing for the best results, I am Truly yours, Jos. HUTCHESON. As one of the directors of the Columbus Atheneum, I fully concur in the transfer of the books belonging to that instiution, as proposed by Mr. Hutcheson in the foregoing note. I concur in the above. J. J. JANNEY. W. E. IDE. Rev. J. L. Grover was employed to make a catalogue of the books thus secured and remove them to the rooms of the Public Library, which work he completed during the summer of 1872. In April, 1872, a "successful men's" banquet was held, and the Committee in charge found they had a surplus of $49.00. This was donated to the Library-its first cash donation. The work of fitting. up the rooms with the necessary shelving and newspaper racks progressed during the fall and winter, and the Trustees had everything in first-class shape for the formal opening which took place March 4th, 1873, pursuant to the following notice given by the Trustees: OPENING OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND READING ROOM OF COLUMBUS, AT THE CITY HALL, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1873, -8 P. M. We take pleasure in anouncing that the Public Library and Reading Room of Columbus, now completely and well furnished, will be thrown open to the public from and after the fourth of next month. This new institution belongs to no sect, creed, class or sex in particular, but is the common property of all. All are therefore cordially invited to avail themselves at pleasure of the inexhaustible source thus furnished for intellectual enjoyment. We open with about 1,200 books, donated to the Library, and with about 50 leading newspapers and magazines, representing a wide neld in the news, literature, politics, science and art of America and Europe. The means at our disposal are limited, but we rely upon the well-known generosity and liberality of our fellow citizens to assist us in our most earnest efforts to render the Public Library and Reading Room one of the most interesting and attractive features of Columbus. The formal opening will take place at the City Hall, Tuesday, March 4, at 8 P. M. The exercises will consist of An Address to be delivered by John W. Andrews, Our President, and choice instrumental and vocal music, to be performed by leading musicians of Columbus. For particulars we refer to the programs. PRICE OF ADMISSION 50 CENTS. Tickets for sale at all the Music and Book stores of the city. Let the people of Columbus turn out en masse, and thus prove to the world that they take a deep interest in and cheerfully encourage means for mental culture and the dissemination of knowledge. By order of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library and Reading Room of Columbus, OTTO DRESSEL, See y The celebration of the opening of the Library to the public was held Tuesday evening, March 4th, 1873, in the City Hall, and the following programme was carried out: CITY HALL, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 4TH. INAUGURATION CONCERT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREE PROGRAMME. 1. Overture HEMMERSBACH'S BAND. 2. Silent Stars Solo Quartette... ..Beschnit. MESSRS. H. HEYDE, J. FALKENBACH, WM. BACH and ED. BACH. 3. Robert, toi que j'aime (from Robert Le Diable)........Meyerbeer. 8. Largo and Allegro Molto (from Quintette No. 2)..... .Abt. .David. .N. Millard. ...Mozart. .Luther. Wagner. $0.50 Doors open at 7 o'clock. Concert to commence at 8 o'clock. The address of Hon. John W. Andrews, President of the Board of Trustees, was a splendid effort, reviewing the work done to establish the Library, the present conditions, and hope for the future, with a strong presentation of the great benefits to result to the community. He appealed to the citizens to assist in every practical way the growth of the Library. Among other things he said: * * "I congratulate you, that in the midst of the numerous and some of them almost gigantic projects in which the people of this city are now engaged, and in the pressure of great prosperity, our City Council backed by the unanimous. voice of the citizens, has established and liberally endowed a free library and reading room, free to the whole population of the city. * This speaks well for us and shows that the people of Columbus are asking for and are determined to have something more than mere material prosperity, and that we seek to train up a body of well educated men and women with high moral aims and purYou will be glad to know what is the present condition of this institution: Our rooms are provided by the city, warmed and lighted at the public expense, our furnishings cost $3000, and from the subscriptions already received and the proceeds of this concert we expect to pay for them. We owe this sub poses. * * * * * * |