Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
This week has been National Library Week, so today we engage in a little shameless self-promotion and salute HCPL with a glance back at our humble beginnings. So hats off to the library and to its many patrons and supporters over the years!
Olive Griffin at the lending library in Griffin’s Dry Goods Store, ca. 1898.
Olive Griffin (1876-1958) peruses a book in the lending library that she conducted in the millinery department of her family’s dry goods store in Corydon. The collection of books in Griffin’s store served as a precursor to the Corydon Public Library, which Olive and other members of the Griffin family helped develop. Visit HCPL’s Griffin Family Photos Collection.
1909 newspaper article about a benefit given to help establish a public library.
This 1909 newspaper article covers a tea held by the Women’s Literary Club of Corydon to benefit the establishment of a local public library. The tea was held at the home of one of the club’s members, and the admission fee was a donation of a book for the proposed library. The event was a success with the donation of 119 books. The article lists all who donated and the titles of the works they contributed.
See the Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon minute book.
This paragraph, taken from the above article, shows a deep appreciation for library supporters and their “wide-awake interest” in developing a public library that will “have reason to rejoice” over the library’s continued growth.
HCPL strives to meet and exceed these expectations, and we hope to continue giving our patrons reasons to rejoice!
