This Month in
Morrisson-Reeves Library History
November
| A reporter from the Quaker City Weekly Telegram visited the studio of John C. Wolfe and recorded that, Mr. Wolfe had just put the finishing touches to the life-size portrait of Robert Morrisson. The reporter noted that the painting was on its way to the Library "where it will remain to reflect the features of the honored founder of that beneficent institution to generations that are to come after us." |  |
| The Item reported on November 20 that the library had reopened after being closed for three weeks for maintenance to the "old part." The new addition which had been under construction since June was not, however, ready for occupancy, as had been hoped. The addition, which was described in detail, nearly doubled the size of the library and included new offices for the Librarian and Township Trustee. |
| Mrs. Caroline Siddall, widow of Jesse P. Siddall, donated his personal library of more than 200 books to Morrisson-Reeves. Jesse Siddall had been Robert Morrisson's lawyer, and reportedly it was he who suggested that Morrisson fund a library. Consequently, Siddall was named one of the four original members of the Library Committee on which he served until his resignation in 1886. He died in 1889. |  |
The Depression was reaching its most severe state, and Morrisson-Reeves was also suffering under reduced income. The Board met in a special meeting on November 25, to discuss a proposal from the Reeves Committee.
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The present unemployment and enforced leisure of many of our citizens make it important that the Morrisson-Reeves Library should be thrown open this winter to readers during the evening hours and on Sunday afternoon, and that the facilities of the circulating department should also be increased. As we understand it the funds available to the committee of the Library are inadequate for that purpose. The trustees of the Reeves fund would like to expend a limited amount in extending the use of the reading room and the circulation department. We suggest that the hours of the reading and reference rooms be extended from 5:30 to 9 P.M. on week days and from 2 to 5 P.M. on Sundays, and the general circulation department from 6:30 to 9 P.M. on week days. If the necessary attendants could be provided fo this purpose for a period of four months beginning the first of December at an expense of $250.00, the trustees of the Reeves fund are prepared to defray the expense. In view of the approach of winter an early consideration of this proposition by the Committee of the Morrisson-Reeves Library, and its acceptance if possible, is earnestly desired. Mary T.R. Foulke Trustees of the Reeves Fund |
The board accepted the proposal, and the Reeves Fund provided for these extended hours throughout most of the 1930s.
The Board accepted an offer from Mrs. Caroline Foulke Urie of oval portraits of her grandparents, Mark and Caroline Reeves. The two portraits first hung in the Reading Room, and when the new building was built, they were placed in the Board Room on the lower level, where they remain today.
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| The first delivery of books to "shut-ins" was reported on November 7. The new program provided books to patrons who could not easily get to the library themselves. The program was scheduled to begin the previous February, but the telephone company fire caused its postponement. At first, deliveries were made by a local service sorority, Delta Theta Tau. Homebound Service has been expanded to include nursing homes and retirement communities, and materials today are delivered by library personnel. |
 From a Morrisson-Reeves brochure |
| For the week of November 12-18, during Children's Book Week, Morrisson-Reeves Library sponsored an event called "Turn off TV - Bring on the Books." The project was ogranized by MRL Children's Librarian Sue Weller, and both children and adults were encouraged to participate. The library held special programs and story hours each night of the that week. 2,438 people signed "Cold Turkey" pledge cards, and 1,158 succeeded in keeping the TV off for the full 7 days. The Associated Press picked up the story, and newspapers from all over the country read about Richmond and its effort to find alternatives to television. |  |
1994