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  Table of Contents about Andrew Carnegie About Allen Gardiner, author of The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas Further information about Libraries featured in this book Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  

OTTAWA

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The Ottawa Library was established in March, 1872, when members of the Ladies' Reading Club decided to establish their club "on a broader basis." Fifteen ladies were present at that meeting, and nine paid $1.00 in dues. As an outgrowth of that meeting the Ottawa Library Association was organized September 20, 1872, and the first business meeting was held on October 1. At that time 57 ladies had each paid $1.00; Mrs. M. L. Ward was elected president of the Association. Miss Julia Marion Walsh, who came to Ottawa in 1868 and began teaching school, was one of the organizers of the library and was in charge of it for two separate terms.*
 
Photo: Carnegie Library in Ottawa Kansas

 
State Senator J. P. Harris, in 1878 or 1879 (records conflict) secured legislation authorizing a one mill tax for support of the library. A newspaper history of the quarter-centennial in September, 1897, reported this tidbit from history and stated that following the passage of the said legislation "Mrs. Fuller braved the august presence of the city fathers and made the request that the law be complied with." The 1902 Handbook of Kansas Libraries states that when 300 volumes had been accumulated, $100.00 was set apart by the city for support of the library by a special act of the Legislature.
 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
In response to Mrs. R. A. Wasson and Mrs. R. S. Black, who had solicited a gift on behalf of the Ottawa Library Association, Andrew Carnegie offered $15,000.00 for a library building. This was on January 9, 1902. In March of that year, the city voted to accept the gift from Carnegie and pledged $1,500.00 annually for maintenance of the library. The stockholders and owners of the Ottawa Library Association transferred all property to the Ottawa Free Library, and it became tax-supported.
 
As the city had to provide a site, it offered a location in the city park. Written approval had to be gained from owners of all property adjacent to the park. The location is on the southeast corner of Fifth and Main Streets. The building was designed by George P. Washburn, an architect who lived in Ottawa. The name of the contractor has been lost. The building was dedicated October 27, 1903.
 
*Published accounts of the early history of the library disagree. The Handbook of Kansas Libraries, published in 1902, says the Ottawa Free Library was established in 1871 by 10 ladies who each gave $1.00 to start a library. The Ottawa Herald, in an article which appeared Nov. 1, 1965, says the library was organized in September, 1873, as a small circulating library with eight members and eight books, and that the Ottawa Library Association was formed at that time. These accounts are incorrect. An old newspaper cliping gives the date of establishment as March, 1872; a handwritten ledger account shows "First business meeting held at Mrs. T. C. Sears Oct 1st 1872"; and the old minute books indi- cate the first meeting was held in March, 1872.