The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-14
GROWTH OF MORRISON REEVES LIBRARY
ISRECALLED BY NATIONAL CELEBRATION

Der of card files, in such way that
it may be asked for under various sub
jects, yet its name and location will
make it Immediately available.
Other Activities.
Among the activities of the librarian
and her staff is that of handling
complete library of music rolls, and a
collection of pictures. The music
roll library formerly was very pop
ular part of the work. 1t is still quite
active as evidenced by the fact that
rolls sent out in 1921 numbered 1856.
The picture collection has been In
use for several years. 1t has proved
almost invaluable in helping the art
classes in public schools. 1t Is used
almost entirely by them. In the past
year, 1859 pictures were taken out
/ for use.
| Art classes at Earlham and those in
the high schools of the city use the
collection extensively. Miss Blanche
| Wayt, teacher of art in Richmond
ment that her classes could not be
carried on properly without this col
| lection.
| Collection Used.
| The new David Worth Dennis Junior
/ high school has already made use OF
the collection to carry on a study of
the process of producing tea, coffee,
!! and other beverages. 1t is believed
that the part the Morrisson-Reeves
! library is taking in the educational
| program of the city is not equalled by
any other library in the state.
MY brother and | were members of
the board which had charge of the pur-
chase of the first $4,000 worth OF
books for the library" said Timothy
! Nicholson, when interviewed about the
MORRISON Reeves library. after the
year 1873, when he went to Baltimore
\ | was appointed secretary of the board
of trustees, and / served in this cap
acity for % years. The original lib
rary building was put up by Robert
MORRISON and donated to Wayne
j township. Later, Mrs. Caroline
] Reeves gave 100000 to enlarge the
building, which had been brick al
first. OF this sum, 10000 was to &c
/, for the building and $4,000 for ar
endowment, the income from which
was to purchase books.
THE son of Robert Morrison
; James MORRISON, faced the bricl
front of the building to make it agree
with the rest Of the building.
i Suggested Name
Judge Comstock and l had charge
, of the negotiations with Caroline
, Reeves. and l suggested to Jane!
Morrison that we call it the Morris
son-Reeves library. At that time i
was the second library in the state il
point of size.
Robert Morrison and his wifi,
were members of the Hicksite church
He was a grocer and later became
banker.
1.-THE library was located in tn
, oldest settled part of town, when
was built. Our store was then furthe
west on Main street, and a bank, TIL
T Citizens Bank (Harrison, Blanchart
) and Coffin) was located at the corne
of Fifth and Main.
f Joshua Haynes, the first dry good
, merchant to start the cash down bus
ness basis was located near the col
ner. All of Main street was built u
as far as Seventh at that time.
Books Rebound
Between 500 and 700 books are di:
carded each year by the library, an
, scores of others are rebound. A fe'
rare old books have been turned owe
to the library by local citizens, bu
, these are used merely for reference.
The old reading room, in which cul
, rent publications of the day are t
J be seen, with the picture of Rober
Morrison hanging at one end,
practically unchanged today froI
, what it was over a half century agt
,. when the building was erected.
The only change is in the bay vii
: dow with the memorial inscription
n put in in 1893 when the exterior {
: the building was faced with stone.
Donated $4,000
n The iron ratings around the wall
q the old wall cases, the simple wa
v time architectural style all combine
give the interior a quiet dignity thu
q cannot be combined with moder
!. trappings.
+ About the year 1893 Mrs, Carolir
< Reeves donated to the library the SUI
o of 100000.
v Of this money. nearly $4,000 h;
p been used in extending and impro
ing the building to its present ell
gance and convenience. 1t is now
# model as a public library and ougl
q to be sufficient in that way for IL
needs of Richmond for at least fiji
n years. James Morrison also helpt
. by giving $4,000 for further improv
q ments.
= Robert Morrison, the founder of IL
L library which bears his name, w;
e born in Orange (now Alamance) cou
NJ ty. North Carolina, on the 10Th day
October, 1885, and removed to the pre-
70 ent locality of the city of Richmol
IS in the spring of 1910, at which tin
r. the present site of the city was an ;
is most unbroken wilderness. From tn
as time his residence remained unchar
ne ed, and he was ever a prominent al
n actiy participant in the enterpris