The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-31
BISMARCK'S HANDSOME NEW LIBRARY
Erected with Endowment Of $4,000 Given Capital City by Car
negie Foundation in 1915 -

city commission following this cleo
ton. Contracts for the erection of
the building were let to John l.. Lar,
son. The building was completed in
1917. and the city library was trans
ferrcd from the Commercial club
rooms to it's new quarters January ),
1918. 1t had been planned to dedicate
the new library on February %. 1918,
ne. second anniversary of the dedica.
ton of the city's first library. war
conditions, however, made it impos-
sible to obtain interior furnishings,
which have not been available in their
entirety until this late date.
The library is beautiful adaptation
Of the colonial. 1t occupies the corner
OF Thayer and Sixth street. adjoining
the city hall, opposite the county
building, and within short distance
of the bismarck hospital, the munich.
pal auditorium and the Will school.
within radius of five blocks are both
of the city's large hospitals, all of its
municipal, county, and federal build.
ings, and its several large hotels, as
well as public and parochial schools
and the Bismarck business college.
The location Is central, both as to geo.
graphic and civic lines, and the lot
fortunately, was owned by the city,
obviating the necessity of expanding
any money for a site.
The interior OF the library is of un.
usual charm. The walls are in light
tints, with woodwork finished in ivory, |
the chairs and tables in mahogany. "A
special, noiseless carpet of solf hues
covers the floor. The ceiling is high
and the entire arrangement tends to
create a. sense OF space and airipes.,
while at the same time alcOves and re- !
cesses offer ar, opportunity for privacy
and seclusi0n.A The basement con,
tains a large civic auditorium await; j.
able IF club, meetings and other pub
lis gatherings, office. and / committee
rooms, janit0r's room and furnace ana !.
boiler room, and this. section of the ,
building is reached by an entrance
leading directly, from Sixth street. "
Recognizing the fact that the heart
and soul Of library are in its libnr.
ian, the Bismarck library commission
exercised much care in the election
of head for the new institution. The
regarded themselves
very fortunate when they discovered
that the services of Mrs. Florence
Brennan Davis, then with the city IL
brary at Madison Wis, were avail
able Mrs. Davis was Immediately en-
gagged. and she assumed her duties No.
vember ! 1917. +
Mrs. Davis is no stranger to Bis
narck. Eorn and reared in Bathgate,
rs q. young woman she became a stem
,grapher in the offices Of Cochran 4
Corliss at Grand Forks, and later
came. to Bismarck as library clerk
md editor of the department Of educa,
ion. which position she had held for
xix years at the time the public H.
)rary commission was created to, take
,ver this division OF the work.
Her marriage to Rep Davis Of Orr
forks followed The ceremony was
performed at the state executive luan-
ion, then occupied by Governor and
drs. John Burke, with whom Miss
Brennan had made her home during
Ter stay here. Mr.. Davis had been in
he office of the clerk Of the supreme
curt, and was at that time a member
I the Grand Forks law firm of Rex
Davis. 5SF
After her return to Grand Forks,
FRS. Davis served as secretary to the
can of the college of arts and secre-
Try to the dean Of education, resign.