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KANSAS CITY

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
As early as 1875 there was a subscription library in the county, and in April, 1891, the board of education began the formation of a public library. On May 15, 1892, a library was opened, and several ladies literary clubs took an active part in supporting it. The true honor of establishing a public library in Kansas City is bestowed, however, upon one Mrs. Sarah Richart, "a public spirited and self sacrificing woman" who had herself appointed as dog enumerator, promising to turn over all the fees of the office to the public library fund. (Previously, dog enumerators pocketed most of the earnings, an apparently accepted custom.) The offer was accepted and thus the library fund was begun.
 
Carnegie Library: Kansas City, Kansas

 
By special act of the Kansas Legislature, the board of education was authorized to levy .50 mills for library purposes. The city officials shunned the responsibility to maintain the library so the board of education accepted responsibility of the library administration on January 2, 1899. The board received special permission of the Kansas Legislature to permit this.
 
When Sarah Richart died, it was discovered that she had left a sum of money to build a library but made the stipulation that if the money was not used for this purpose it would revert to other purposes of the estate. When the Mercantile Club met to take action to secure a Carnegie grant, clubwomen were invited to attend. Only one attended and she protested against a Carnegie library, taking the ground that "Mr. Carnegie would make no sacrifice, suffer no hardship, but would have the honor by which all right of labor, sacrifice and bequest belonged to Sarah Richart, whose efforts, small though they were, were the offering of a life work [and] the gift of money from the steel magnate was a gross injustice."
 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
Andrew Carnegie offered $75,000.00 for a library building on July 4, 1901. A site at Sixth and Minnesota Streets, called Huron Place or Huron Park, had been given to the city by the old townsite company and was intended for the site of a seminary; however, the site was given to the board of education to use as a library location. W. W. Rose was engaged as the architect and the contract was given to F. A. Thompson.
 
The cornerstone laying was held at night, under electric lights. Professor M. E. Pearson, who was the city superintendent, gave a brief address. Mention of Sarah Richart came up. L. W. Keplinger said "Mrs. Richart should be honored above Carnegie," and reminded the audience of "the virtue of the widow's mite compared to the rich man's all." Senator J. K. Cubbison suggested that "the story of Mrs. Reichart [sic], her sacrifices and deeds be laid before Mr. Carnegie" when the building was completed to see if he wouldn't agree the name over the door ought to be "Reichart Library."
 
The date the library was opened has been lost.