Culver - Union Township Public Library 1916 - 1990

In New Carnegie Building

On Jan. 5, 1916, the first meeting took place in the new library. The Piano Committee decided on a Hobart M. Cable Piano from Welcome Miller for $225. Mr. Miller agreed to keep the piano in tune for three years without charge. The Culver City Club donated the electric light fixtures. Mr. Speyer loaned a clock to the library until they were financially able to buy one. Three large portraits of General Foch, General Haig and General Pershing were given by the Robinson Sisters, who also gave money. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Mueller of Indianapolis gave a set of the Encyclopedia Americana.

Elizabeth Marmon was one of the biggest benefactors of the local library She donated many rare volumes, as well as popular books for adult and juvenile reading; music books and a twenty-volume set of the Book of Knowledge. She also paid for magazine subscriptions to the library for many years and and then finally donated $2000, interest from this money was to be used to continue these subscriptions.

The first library card was issued to Edna Stahl on Jan. 26, 1915; she was an original member of the board and also one of the trustees, appointed by Judge Bernetha.

1916 - fEB 3 - Library Has A Good Year

Librarian Zola Moss presents the following report oft the condition and work of the Culver-Union Township library's first year:

• Volumes in library...........,,,.1281
• Added by purchase ..............62
• Added by gift.....................561
• Volumes withdrawn..............15
• Juvenile books....................316
• Periodicals ...........................24
• Total circulation ................4885
  (adult, classed, 152; Fiction,: 2112;
  Juvenile, classed 575 ; fiction, 2046
  (adult, classed, 152; fiction,: 2112. Juvenile, classed 575 ; fiction, 2046.)
• Total No. borrowers............433 (rural borrowers, 117.)

1916 Feb 17 Gifts To The Library

Three Notable Donations of Books by Miss Robinson, Mrs. Marmon and Willard Zechiel

The public libray has been gen-erouply and helpfully remembered during the past week by its friends.

On Monday came 11 volumes of juvenile literature (just what the library most needs at this time) from Mary Y. Robinson of Indianapolis, accompanied by the friendly message:
"A valentine for the children." These books are the best kind of a valentine and Miss obinson may feel assured that the children and the library board appreciate her thoughtfulness.
The titles and authors are as follows:
• Puss in Boots.
• King of the Golden River, John Ruskin.
• The Story of Days, Annie Fellows Johnston.
• The Little Colonel, same author.
• The Boy's Browning, Robert Browning.
• The Story of Red Feather, Edw. S. Ellis.
• Pocahontas, a Princess of the Woods. same author.
• Rab and His Friends, John Brown.
• A Christmas Carol, Dickens.
• Black Beauty, Adna Sewell
• Treasure Island, Stevenson.


The library is again indebted to Mrs. Elizabeth Marmon for an important acquisition, this time a large collection of bound music and the standard five-volume set of Grove's Musical Dictionary. The music, except for ten or twelve volumes of popular but well-chosen violin, voice and piano pieces, is in the well-known superior Schirmer 'green cloth and gold' edition. Of these there are twelve volumes of piano classics, twelve vocal, including an Anothology of Sacred Solos for every voice, fifteen complete operatic scores (piano and voice), four volumes for violin and piano, and four-hand arrangements of most of the Symphonies of Beethoven Brahms, Tschaikowski, Haydn, Schumann and Mozart. This collection of music is most extraordinary for any general library, and it is hoped that the community will show its appreciation of the gift by much reference to the works. The tangible presence of so much that is best in the literature of music is an advantage to the student and lover of the arts which it would be difficult to over-esteem.

Through Willard Zechiel's good offices comes a valuable set of the Year Books of the Department of Agriculture from 1908 to 1914 inclusive. These volumes contain the reports of the investigations of government agents, commissions and special investigators in every field of agriculture and farm, orchard and ranch management.

Considering the fact that the li brary has been in its new building only a month, and in existence only a year, the foregoing report is very encouraging!

The number of books taken out during January was three times greater than in any of the preceding months. The interest shown by the people of the township is gratifying, and it Is expect-ed that the 117 patrons will be at least doublehat number during the coming year.

The juvenile shelves with over 800 volumes indi-cate that the library board appreciates the fact that the inculcation of a taste for reading among the children is an important work.

The percentage of solid reading taken out by the children (23 as against 7 taken out by adults) shows that the young people are supplementing their school work with useful literature. The number of volumes in the juvenile department should be increased to 500 as soon as possible.

1916 May 8 - The Public Library

The public library is not a place primarily for amusement purposes. A plentitude of light reading is to be had, of course, but the proportion of LaPorteans who depend on the library for amusement is relatively small compared with the throng that hies to the moving picture and other emporiums.

The public library is a place for mental recreation, for study, and gives splendid opportunity to tap the well of knowledge that everyone in a republic should seek to find.

Comparatively few of our boys and girls go above the grammar grades in school. The only place where they have the opportunity to continue an acquaintance with the learning of the world-outside of the equipment possessed in homes and the columns of the press-is by getting the public library habit.

Here everyone is on equal terms. Even the school boy or girl who supplements book knowledge with library knowledge will have a distinct advantage over those who don't, just like the man who doesn't forget that the library exists will be a better informed man than the fellow who is afraid of a bit of mental exertion.

The library is a repository of information. It is kept up to date and efficient for your benefit. Don't let opportunity rap in vain.- La-Porte Herald.

1916 Aug 24 New Library Books

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Marmon has made the following contribution of books to the public library:
• liDark Forest, by Hugh Walpole. A story of the Red Cross in Russia.
The Profit Family, by Benjamin Vallotton. A story of Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Tippecanoe, by Samuel McCoy. A true chronicle of certain passages between David Larrence and Antoinette O'Bannon of the battle of Tippecanoe, in the Indiana wilderness, and of what befell thereafter in Old Corydon and now first set forth.
• Bellamy, and The Family, by Elinor Mordaunt. Two good English stories.
• Mrs. Thompson, by W. B. Maxwell, A novel.
• Blackfeet Tales of Glacier National Park, by James Willard Shultz.
• A Diplomat's Wife in Mexico, by Edith O'Shaughnessy. Letters from the Americars embassy at Mexico City, covering the dramatic period between October 8, 1913, and the breaking off of diplomatic relations April 28, 1914, together with an account of the occupation of Vera Cruz.

1917 - May 27 - Library Hours The public library is open from 2 to 5:30 and 7 to 9. Saturday 1 to 5.

1917 - Oct 3 - Library Fund is Exceeded The women members of the library board and the librarian, Miss Moss, have made a success of their campaign for raising Culver's apportionment of $50 for the war library fund and have exceeded the amount nearly 60 per cent, raising $84.35. This means that 84 new books will be sent to the soldier boys in camp and trenches of France, and as these 84 books are expected to last a year and will go through the hands of a greater number the contributors will take satisfaction in the thought that they have done their bit to help cheer the lonely hours of our lads so far away from home.

1917 - Nov 14 New Books For Library

The following volumes comprise Mrs. Marmon's donations during the past summer:
• Light in the Clearing, Bacheller.
• Green Mantle, Buchan.
• Way of All Flesh, Butler.
• Shadow. Line, Conrad.
• Carry On, Dawson.
• Life of the Grasshopper, Fabre,
• Hunting Wasps, Fabre. '
• A Son of the Middle Border.
• Tales of the Labrador, Grenfell.
• Scally, Ian Hay.
• French Revolution and Napoleon.
• Recollections of a Happy Life.
• Buying a Horse, Howells.
• Years of my Youth, Howells.
• My Home in the Field of Honor.
• Green Mansions,
• Shepherd's Life and Idle Days in Patagonia, Hudson.
• Portrait of a Lady, Henry James. Roderick Hudson, Henry James.
• Wayside Flowers of Summer.
• Women of Belgium.
• His Own Country, Kester.
• Casuals of the Sea.
• Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf.
• Nationalism and Internationalism
• The Lovers, Pennel.
• The Worn Doorstep.
• The Sailor. Sea Plunder.
• My Mother and I.
• Greek and Roman Mythology.
• El Supremo.


The following are Mrs. Marmon's contributions during the past week or two:
• My War Diary, Waddington.
T
• he Old World Through Old Eyes. Soul of a Bishop,
• Wells. Rings, Kuns.
• Black Sheep, Mackenzie.
• Fishing With a Worm.
• Military and Colonial History of the United States, Elihu Root.
• The Gold Cache.
• On the Edge of the War Zone.
• These Lynnekers.
• Within the Tides, Conrad.
• An Essay on the Civilization of India, China and Japan, Dickins'n. Brazil, L. E. Elliott.

About 1918 The a succeeding librarian after Zola Moss was Mrs. Mabel A. White Jordan who had started out as an assistant-librarian and then in 1918 and serving for 24 years until 1944.

1918 - Sep 8 - The library again received another donation of books from Elizabeth Morman, east side cottager

1919 Jan 15 Library Notes

Three fine large portraits, present ed by Miss Mary Robinson to the public library, have been framed and hung in the reading room. These portraits are of Gen. Pershing, Gen. Foch and Gen. Haig.

D. H. Smith, now a member of the library board by virtue of his being township trustee, met with the board for the first time at the regular meeting last week.

1920 - Jan 28 Library Notes

The circulation for December was 1,059.

All the Scribners, World's Works, Atlantics and Geographic Magazines have been nicely bound into 16 volumes.

The work of cataloguing the library is progressing. Cards are used which will be accessible to the patrons.

1920 May 5 New Library Books

These new 3-cents-a-day books have been added to the library:
• Lamp in Desert, by author of Great-heart Dell.
• Man of the Forest, Zane Grey.
• The Great Impersonation, Oppen-heim.

1920 - Oct 13

The following books have been received and placed on the pay shelf:
• The Prairie Mother- Stringer.
• Homespun Tales- Wiggin.
• Top of the World-Dell.
• Valley of Silent Men- Curwood.
• Harriet and the Piper- Norris.
• Exit Betty- Hill.
• Affinities- R hinehart.
• This Side of Paradise- Fitzgerald.
• The River's End- Curwood.


Forty-three traveling library books are also being received

1920 Nov 10 - New Books For Library

An additional Donation of books by Mrs. Marmon to the public library includes the following:

Now it Can be Told - Gibbs.

Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice - Leacock.

Degradation of the Democratic Dogma - Adams, Henry.

Secret of Battle - Herbert.

Portraits of American Women - Bradford.

Life of Gen. Willia Booth- Bigbee.

Vacation of the Relwyns - Howells.

Miss Lulu Betts Gale, Zona.

Voyage Out - Woolfe.

Pierre E. Joseph - Bazin.

Colas Breuguon - Rolland.

Great Desire - Black.

Landscape Painter - James, Henry.

Outland-Austin, Mary.

Basil Everman - Singmaster, Elsie.

Stranger - Bullard Arthur.

1922 = Aug 9 Public Library News

At the August meeting of the library board a letter from Mrs. E. C. Marmon was read, accompanied by a check for $75, for renewal of the current literature for the library.

Also a communication from Mr. S. E. Boys placing our library on the free mailing list of the Plymouth Daily Pilot.

Mrs. C. R. Smith was elected assistant librarian, and Mrs. White was granted a week's vacation.

1923 Jan 17 Public Library Board

Following are the officers, recently elected, of the Union Township Pub lic Library board: President - John Mitchell.
Vice-President - C. W. Newman.
Secretary - Edna Stahl.

The members of the board are Edna Stahl,
Mrs. C G. Mackey,
H. M. Speyer,
Chas. Newman, '
G. B. Eisenhard

John Mitchell and Glen Snapp. Mr. Snapp succeeds D. H. Smith, former Union township trustee.

1923 Mar 14 Attended Library Conference Mrs. White, public librarian, attended the district meeting of Northern Indiana librarians in Logansport Tuesday.

The Sanborn Fire maps of 1924 and 1937 shows little change in the 'library-bank' block of downtown.

1927 - OCTOBER 19 - The cement retaining wall at the side of the front yard of the library is being rebuilt. The old wall was badly cracked and gave evidence of giving away most any time

1935, Dec 4 - Library Railing Gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Marmon - A double railing is being placed on the steps leading up to the public library. The railing will be in the center of the steps and is a gift of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Marmon. They will be a welcomed improvement as the steps are quite steep and especially dangerous in the winter weather

1939 - April 20 - New doors were placed in the library entrance last week, adding considerably to the appearance of the building. The doors are from the bank building at Argos and were donated by he State Exchange Bank

The lower level of the library was designed to be a 'community auditorium' with a restroom, and storage area. The auditorium had two outside entrances:

1) was double doored entrance on the south end of the library into an alcove which had doors on the east and west and a ticket window in the middle and

2) the second entrance was from the north a single wood door that entered into the a hallway -

the stairway to access the upper level, the bathroom and storage area were to the west and the stage area to the east.

The stage was at the north end and had an entrance door on the east and a waiting room area on the northeast corner that had access doors to the stage area and the auditorium [later years this room was used to store the old issues of the Culver Citizens].

It even a projection window above which faced the the stage area for presenting movies.

Entrance to the basement could be also gained from the librarians area via a very narrow slightly curved stairway

This 'Community Auditorium' was used by many of the groups of Culver and Union township over the years many being un-accounted for some being: churches, the high school, the Red Cross Sewing Ladies during World War I, the Boy Scouts, piano recitals, rehearsals for plays. There was not to be a charge for 'worthwhile activities' by certain groups but if it was a commercial group the "Community auditorium' rent was $3.

In the 1950's the Culver Bible Church rented the lower level of the library for their meeting place till their building at 718 S. Main street was finished in 1958. Also meeting at the same time here was the Trinity Lutheran Church the first service was held on 30 November 1958 in the Library Auditorium till 1968, by a history written on the church.

1944 - Aug. 9 - Mrs. White Resigns As Local Librarian - ... filed her resignation with the library board the latter part of last week... effective Aug. 7. This has terminated 23 1/2 years of service as librarian by Mrs. White... At a special meeting of the library board Saturday night, Mrs. W. J. O'Callaghan was secured to fill the vacancy and she took over her new duties the first of the week..

1944-1950 - Grace Ladd O ’Callaghan (Mrs. W. J.), librarian.

1950 - Jane (Tabor) Scruggs; she had up till this time worked as a substitute and an assistant to Mrs O ’Callaghan

1950 - Feb 1 - Flagrant Misuse Leads to Closing Of Rest Rooms

Continued misuse of the public rest rooms in the basement of the Library came to a climax yesterday when the Library Board took action to place them under ‘‘lock and key” thereby closing them to the public.

“Hereafter those wishing to use the rest rooms must obtain a key from the librarian” the Library Board ruled at their meeting last evening. “The refusal of certain persons, and we have reasons to believe it is only a few, to obey the laws or elementary codes of decency has left no other alternative than to close the rest rooms to the general public.”

The desecration of property, the vulgar, obscene, and filthy defacement of walls is impossible to curb without constant and rigid surveillance, it was pointed out On several occasions in the past the Board has pleaded for community cooperation in cleaning up this situation. A year ago the closing of the rest rooms was seriously considered and a direct appeal to the public was made at that time. Unfortunately the action leaves Culver without a single public rest room.

1955 May 24 - Dedication cermonies of the World War I and Worl War II. The memorial stone to war veterans which still occupies the front lawn of the library was and Veterans Day cermonies and parades through town for some years after

1958 - June 4 – Culver - Union Township Public Library Board has purchased a Library Book Return Box as a service and convenience to patrons…

1960 views of inside and the front lawn

1964 - April 12 to April 18. - Culver Library Marks 50th Anniversary

The Culver Public Library now observing its 50th anniversary during Nation Library week, April 12 to April 18.

The following excerpt is taken from the Culver Citizen of April 2, 1914: " The first step has been taken toward securing a Carnegie Library building in Culver, A committee of seven was appointed at the Commercial Club meeting the other night to solicit the people of Culver and Union Township for donations of books as a nucleus for a library. For an indefinite period the use of three rooms above Dr. Tallman's office will be donated for a library and reading rooms by S. C. Schilling."

The effort of the leaders and the public in taking this first step bore fruit as represented in the acquiring of the Carnegie building, as well as he large selection of books which has grown through the years.

The library minutes records he following: "The Culver library board met on Sept 29, 1914, for the purpose of organization, Dr. E. E. Parker was elected as chairman and Mrs. W. O. Osborn as secretary pro-tem. The following officers were elected by ballot: President, Dr. Parker; vice president, Dr. N. S. Norris; and secretary, Mrs. Osborn.

The library was moved from temporary rooms above Doctor Tallman's office to rooms above the Culver Hardware in December 1914. Miss Zola Moss was selected by vote as librarian.

The library board held its first meeting in the new library on Jan. 5, 1916. The library was open every weekday evening from 6:30 to 9 o'clock and every afternoon, except Saturday from 2 to 5 o'clock. On Saturday the hours were from 1 to 5 p.m. and the reading room was open on Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. but no books were given out on Sunday.

The frame residence which stood on the lot now occupied by the Culver library housed the grandparents of the present head librarian Mrs. Jane Scruggs. This building was moved to vacate the land for the erection of the library building.

Recent remodeling has provided the Culver Public Library with modern gas heat, adequate new lighting fixtures, and an air conditioning unit which supplies summer comfort for library patrons. There is also a comfortable reading corner with chairs, table and lamp.

Recent additions to the library facilities now provides film circuit service which furnishes monthly up-to-date films, many in color, supplemented with sound tracks.

The summer reading program, sponsored by Tri Kappa Sorority, has proved a very popular and beneficial addition to the library services during recent years. Last year 200 area youngsters, students in the elementary grades one through six, took advantage of this summer activity.

The local library proudly displays a new United States flag and an Indiana State flag, both donations of the local American Legion Post. Incidentally, the navy blue and gold state flag is an expensive one because of the ap[lique and embroidery involved in its construction.

In comparison, statistics at the close of the first year's operation of the Culver Public library revealed that there was a total of 1,281 volumes and 4 periodicals with a total of 433 borrowers. At the close of 1962, the local library boasted a total of 9,947 volumes, 118 periodicals and 5 newspapers. During the past year there was a total of 21,830 books loaned.

The Culver Public Library observes winter hours on Monday through Fridays from 11:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays the doors are open from 12 noon to 4 p.m. During the summer weekday hours as from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

All available records fail to disclose a formal dedication date for the Culver Public Library. If anyone has authentic data on the event please contact Mrs Scruggs - April 15 1964 - Citizen

1968 - August 8 – A long range plan for modernizing the Culver Public Library using a federal grant was presented to the library board…

It was noted the often-unused basement space could be put to better use, and there was talk of adding a ground-level wing to the east, which obviously never occurred. Some changes suggested, however, certainly did.

In 1968 the library began to expand into the basement. Using the space for necrology file (started by Edna Taber), expanding books, record collection, the magazines and newspapers,

Preparing the Basement - shelving for use after the Lutheran Church no longer used it for their services:

1969 - Jan 9 - Library Expands To Ground Floor

The expansion of some adult material to the ground floor of he public library is being announced by Mrs. Norman Scruggs, the librarian.

The south door next to the bank lounge entrance will be the main thoroughfare to the library. This door will be open at 12 noon and close at 8 p.m. The second floor door, facing the east at the top of the steps, will be open at 3 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Patrons may use the second floor before 3 p.m. by using the nside stairs.

All adult fiction, phone-records, films and slides, current magazines and new books will eventually be available on the ground floor. The record player with ear-phones may be enjoyed and collection of pictures are being filed.

The materials retained on the second floor include all reference materials, including books and magazines, children and teenage fiction and non-ficticn, and all adult non-fiction.

Tables for students are provided on both floors and there will be no distinction of ages between the sections of floors.

A second circulation desk was added downstairs - as stayed for the next three decades.

Bound back issues of the Culver Citizen were stored n a small room in the northeast corner off the stage area - a table and chairs were within so researching them could be done comfortably

In the late 1970's as a gift and memorial to their deceased daughter's and sister's Lela Anne Donnelly Hildebrandt (d. 1975) the Alfred. J. and Barbara (Thornburg) Donnelly family had the front grounds of the library re-landscaped.



Under Jane's direction, the library cooperated with the Indiana State Library. Culver participated in the film circuit and interlibrary loan. The library circulated paintings/prints long before other libraries. She installed a public use copier. All of these services are routine for libraries now, but not then.

She also had an interest in genealogy and started to build a genealogy section for the library.

She took training from the state library and from library school extension the Academy. She raised funds, selected and recommended library materials, and was an active readeclasses. She read constantly about improvements in library services. She cooperated with the library atates' advisor.

She served as librarian into the 1980's

She was born Rosemary Jane Taber on Aug. 14, 1919 Culver Marshall County Indiana to Frank Harrison Taber and Ethel Huldah Wiseman; married Aug. 29, 1938,at Culver "Mac" Norman Madison Scruggs and died on Jul. 21, 1994 .

BARBARA OGDEN, assistant librarian, replaces books on new shelving units. installed last week at the Culver City Library. The new all Metal units supersede original shelves installed in 1915. Not only do the new shelves increase space for the teenage fiction section of the library, they create better access to the first floor from the main floor. Purchase of the units was made possible through the library's "furniture fund."

In 1986 the building is still being used on its original site but the staff has increased to five people, the book collection is over 25,000 volumes, including records, tapes and films. A computer is also used. There are also 75 art reproductions available to loan out.

In 1986 the library board consisted of: William Harris, Cheryl Adams, Gwen Hoesel, Paul Pare, Nancy Kobelt, Scott Joyner and Janet Baker.

The library staff of 1986 was: Mary Jane Guise, librarian; assistants: Donna Ringer, Roseanne Van Horn, Edna Taber and Phyllis Helber.

In 1986 as part of the Sesquicentennial project of Marshall county, Mary Jane Guise wrote a short article on the history of the library for the History of Marshall County Indiana Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986.

Also in this history under the brief history of the town of Culver Bea (Rassner) Bigley states that Culver had the only remaining Carnegie Library in the county at that time.

1914-1915 ~~~ 1916-1900 ~~~ 1990-Present