Part Six: Chapter V
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Between the fine library of today, in its rich Carnegie housing, and the earliest organized aspiration of the people for such an institution lay a score of years, marked by numerous vicissitudes. The humble beginnings of the free public library date back to January 24, 1870, when the first organization was formed at a meeting in the Baptist Church. It was soon incorporated under the name of the Horton Library Association and was founded on the promise of Mr. Horton to donate 600 volumes which he had acquired from H. H. Bancroft in exchange for lots. Unfortunately, there was a disagreement with the donor, which ended in the withdrawal of the offer and the filing of new articles of incorporation under the name of the San Diego Library Association. Says one of the members: "The only book the old Library Association ever owned was a pamphlet containing an address before the Bunker Hill Association, by George Warren, president of that society. This pamphlet was donated by Rev. Charles Russell Clark, of this city." In April, 1870, Mrs. E. W. Morse gave the association Lot 1, Block 18, Horton's Addition (now occupied by Unity Hall), which afterward became the property of the Society of Natural History. It was not until several years later, however, that efforts to put the association upon a working basis proved successful. The San Diego Free Reading Room Association was organized March 1, 1872, and maintained until the library was opened to the public, in 1882. It was a movement by a number of the same citizens who had organized the Library Association, to provide a free reading room where periodicals could be found, until such time as the library could be put upon a working basis. The first officers were: Charles S. Hamilton, president; George W. Marston, vice-president; R. C. Grierson, secretary; E. W. Morse, treasurer; W. A. Begole, Bryant Howard, and S. G. Reynolds, trustees. Mr. Cleveland was active in the work of the organization. The reading room was situated on Fifth Street, next door to the postoffice, and was open from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. In March, 1873, a concert given in its aid produced $100, and Mr. Horton gave it the books which had been the bone of contention with the first association. These were afterward turned over to the new public library. In October, 1879, interest had flagged, the association was in debt, and the Union made urgent appeals for its support. There was some talk of a tax for its support in 1881, but the views of those who held that the time had come for the establishment of the public library prevailed.
The first officers of the San Diego Library Association in 1870 were: G. W. B. McDonald, president; A. Pauly, vicepresident; E. W. Morse, treasurer; C. Dunham, recording secretary; Daniel Cleveland, corresponding secretary; G. W. B. McDonald, G. A. Jones, J. Allen, C. Dunham, J. W. Gale, D. Cleveland, A. W. Oliver, A. Pauly, and J. M. Pierce, trustees. These men and their successors kept the spark alive until May 19, 1882, when the first board of trustees of the San Diego Free Public Library was organized. This first official board consisted of Bryant Howard, E. W. Hendrick, George N. Hitchcock, George W. Marston, and R. M. Powers. Howard was made president; Hendrick, secretary; and Hitchcock, treasurer. The Commercial Bank offered the use of a suite of five rooms in its building free for six months, and the offer was accepted. Many citizens made donations of books, and others gave money. Among these early friends of the institution appear the names of Bryant Howard, E. W. Hendrick, A. E. Horton, Judge Alfred Cowles, Judge M. A. Luce, J. C. Frisbie, Rev. Mr. Cronyn, Dr. Remondino, Charles Treanor, George N. Hitchcock, Joseph Faivre, Mrs. Harriet Marston, and others. Generous givers in later years include Charles Nordhoff, Daniel Cleveland, George W. Marston, and others. On July 15, 1882, the library was formally opened to the public, with Archibald Hooker as librarian. The loaning out of books did not begin until early in September, 1883. August 6, 1884, Augustus Wooster became librarian and continued to act until September 6, 1887, when Miss Lou Younkin was appointed librarian and Miss Mary E. Walker became her assistant. When first opened, the library seems to have depended largely upon donations of books; but the raising of funds by taxation soon provided means for the purchase of new books upon a more liberal scale. The amount raised for the library by taxation in 1881 was $648.19. This grew to over $2,000 in 1886, then took a jump to $11,557.48 in the inflated days of 1887, but dropped to less than $6,000 the next year. The number of volumes in 1887 was 1,800; a year later it was 5,500, and in another year was 7,000. In 1889 the fourth floor of the Consolidated Bank Building was leased for four years, at a rental of $150 per month. The first catalogue was issued early in this year. At the expiration of this lease, the library was removed to the St. James building, corner Seventh and F Streets, over the postoffice. Some 1,200 volumes were added in 1892, and in 1894 the total was 11,000 volumes. Early in 1895, the second catalogue was issued, conforming to the Dewey classification, which is still in use. Miss Younkin was succeeded by Miss Mary E. Walker, as librarian, in December, 1895, and she by Mrs. Hannah P. Davison in May, 1903. The latter is the present incumbent. In April, 1898, the upper floor of the Keating building, on the northwest corner of Fifth and F Streets, was leased and the library moved thither, where it remained until the construction of the present library building. In June, 1899, Mrs. A. E. Horton wrote Andrew Carnegie concerning the need of a library building in San Diego, appealing to the philanthropist for aid. She received the following reply:
The trustees immediately accepted the offer and took steps to enable the city to meet its conditions. After several months' consideration a half-block was purchased on E Street, between Eighth and Ninth, for $17,000. Plans were submitted by architects all over the country and those of Ackerman & Ross of New York were accepted. The cornerstone was laid on March 19, 1901, with Masonic ceremonies. Mrs. Horton read an historical review and Judge M. A. Luce delivered an oration. The building is not only a great ornament to the city, but provides ample accommodation for the various departments of the institution. A list of the trustees, from the earliest down to date, follows:
[from William Ellsworth Smythe's History of San Diego, 1908, pp. 610-615]
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SDHS
