02/21/2019
Did you know that Galena‘s first library was located in the Post Office?
The idea behind the Galena Public Library came about in 1892, when prominent Galena citizen and local banker, Benjamin Franklin Felt, presented a petition to the City Council to fund a free public library. Unfortunately, the council voted against the library, pointing out state laws wouldn’t allow sufficient funding for such a facility.
Undaunted, Felt pressed ahead with his idea. He offered to pay for the library’s location as well as its operating cost for two years. He would also donate 1,200 books to the library’s collection. After the initial two-year period, Felt stipulated that the City of Galena would take over the library, taxing each household $.40 per year. The public was in strong support of this proposal, and the City Council voted 7-3 to accept Felt’s offer. The proposal which the council accepted was unusual in that Felt had stipulated that four of the nine library board trustees must be female. This drew national newspaper attention, with the Women’s Journal noting, “This was the first time women have been made directors in any public library in Illinois.“ The Chicago Evening Post responded, “They could not find one woman on a public school or private library abroad in Illinois.“
Benjamin Felt’s daughter, Anna, was one of the four that served on the board. She might have been the influence behind her father’s stipulation since she was a strong supporter of women serving in public places. According to her father, Anna was responsible for everything having to do with the library except paying the bills. In 1894, the year the library was founded, Anna Felt was 35 years old and a graduate of Wells College in Aurora, New York.
The first meeting of the board took place at Benjamin Felt’s home on October 8, 1894. At this meeting, terms of office were drawn, three board members were chosen to form a Rules and Regulations Committee, and a request was sent to Washington, D.C. to house the library in the upstairs rooms of the Galena Post Office, known then as the Federal Building or the Customs House. (110 Green Street)
The Committee on Rules reported that the official name of the facility would be, “The Galena Public Library and Reading Room.“ It was also stated that:
* no “anarchistic”, atheistic or immoral book would be tolerated
* that all “well behaved persons over 10 years of age shall be entitled to the free use of the Reading Room “
* that “no person having a contagious disease be allowed in the library “
* that “perfect quiet must be maintained in the reading room“
The secretary of the treasury, J. G. Carlisle, signed a document appropriating two rooms on the second floor of the U.S. Customs Building for a library and reading room. The rooms were large, airy and best of all, vacant.
Friday I will continue with the history of Galena’s Public Library. If you can’t wait that long this information can be found at stop # 76 on the Main Street Tour on my app. Cost of app-$3.99. Download it on Google Play or on the App Store
galenailtours.com
