Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-10
HISTORY OF LIBRARIES
PAPER ON THOSE IN THE DIS
TRIcT OF COLUMBIA.
Read Last Evening Before Historical
Society by Mr.. w. Dawson john
ston-Origin of the Work.

A contribution of much value to the his
tory of libraries in the District of Columbia
was made in a paper that was read last
evening before the Columbia Historical So
ciety. The author, Mr.. w. Dawson john
ston, had in a paper before the society two
years ago given a history of the establish
ment of the Washington Library and other
similar enterprises which were undertaken
in the early history of the city. The careful
research displayed in that paper was dupli-
Gated in the one that was read last evening.
Even with the exhaustive scrutiny given
to the subject Mr.. Johnston found that
some problems had arisen which he had not
been able to solve. He wanted information
as to the fate of the old apprentice library
organized in 1928, deposited in the WASH
ngton Library between 1s4S and 1857, and
in the latter year delivered by order OF
Thomas DonOho to certain Mr.. j. L. Hal
1eck. a printer. He discussed the relation
of the Columbia Library for Young Men, in
corporated August IL, 1886, with that of the
Y. M. CA. organized in 1852.
The Soldiers Free Library, he said. dis
appeared mysteriously after 1870 1t was
established by John A. Fowle and Miss
Rumsey in 1862, removed to a temporary
building of it's own in judiciary Square in
1863, and transferred after the war to the
control of the American Missionary Asso-
citation. He was anxious, he said, to get
the exact date of the transfer of the Wash
ington library to the High School and the
reason for the transfer.
Early Public Library Movement.
The scope of the paper was confined to a
history of the early free public library
movement, and did not include those pro-
jected for the use of societies, institutions,
classes or sections, but only to such as
were intended for the use of the entire
community, and that only in the period
from 1919 to 1915. At the beginning of that
period Mr.. Johnston estimated that the
various libraries then in the city averaged
one book to every seven residents. suf-
ficlent number perhaps, he thought, but not
free. To make these free was the problem
of nearly half century.
The distinction of being the first to raise
the question of a free library for Washing
ton belongs to Mr.. George Watterston. In
letter published in the National 1ntelli-
gencer February TO- 1S49. he urged the es-
Establishment of such institution This
suggestion was considered at a meeting of
citizens and committee was appointed to
confer with the stockholders of the Wash
ington Library relative to transferring their
property to the proposed new library.
But nothing came of this effort and the
next indication of interest in the subject
was found in a communication in the news
papers in May, 1850, suggesting that Ii
brary be established in each ward of this
city.
In 1854 it was said that Mr.. w. W. Cor
coran was erecting a handsome building in
FL street between 18th and 14th streets for
a mechanics library, but this appears TO
bave been a mere> rumor. After the war
the free public library movement entered
new phase. Subsequent to the assassina
ton of Lincoln it was proposed that Fords
Theater be made a public library as a
memorial, and in the following year, name
ly, 1866, a bill was introduced in Congress
providing for the assembling of the books
in the department libraries and placing
them in one library for free use. This, it
is stated, was the first legislative move
ment in favor of a free public library.
Governments Clerks Association.
A Government Clerks Association to pro-
mote this measure and others was organ
lied in 1867, but, like the other attempt
nothing materalized. In 1869 the revival of
the old Washington library was brought
about by its union with the Y. NJ c. A.
A memorial to Charles Sumner who died
in 1874 was proposed in that year in the
form of a library in Washington. Nothing
came> to this suggestion, and the writer
stated that nothing more was done toward
the establishment of a free public library
until 1886. OF the Workingmen'S movements
of that year and of the late history of the
free public library movement in Washing
ton, these were not within the scope of the
paper.
Before the society adjourned the annual
election was held which resulted in the
reelection of all the officers and members
of the board of managers whose terms had
expired.