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Gratia Alta Countryman (pronounced gray-sha) (November 26, 1866 – July 26, 1953) was a nationally-known librarian who led the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936. She was the daughter of immigrant farmers Alta and Levi Countryman. [ 1 ] She pioneered many ways to make the library more accessible and user-friendly to all of the city's residents, regardless of age or economic position. [ 2 ] Gratia Alta Countryman was called the "first lady of Minneapolis" and the "Jane Addams of the libraries." [ 3 ] Due to her philosophy of outreach, collections and reading rooms were established in such places as Minneapolis fire halls, factories, hospitals, and an open-air reading area in Gateway Park. [ 4 ] Gratia Countryman was a capable leader who, over her 32 years as head librarian, helped increase the library’s scope and reach exponentially. She oversaw the building of 12 branches and a mobile library truck, she and her staff added over 500,000 volumes to the already substantial catalog, the programs she developed encouraged children to read, adolescents and young adults to continue their education, and helped adults find and hold jobs during times of war, recession and depression. Throughout her career Countryman not only belonged to various civil and social organizations but she was also the president and founder of some as well. Gratia never married but in May 1917 she took in a homeless boy named Wellington Wilson, and later was awarded guardianship of him. This was a bold move for an unmarried woman of the times. Wellington Wilson was so happy that he later changed his name to Wellington Countryman. He eventually married and had a daughter whom he named Alta Countryman after his adoptive mother. The Countrymans lived in Chicago, Illinois, and Wellington died in 1997. Gratia Countryman's eulogy summed up her life perfectly, "In her youth a library was a sacred precinct for guarding the treasures of thought, to be entered only by the scholar and the student. Her crusading zeal carried the book to every part of her city and county, to the little child, the factory worker, the farmer, the businessman, the hospital patient, the blind and the old." [ 5 ] Biography. Countryman graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1889 and started work at the Minneapolis Public Library under James Kendall Hosmer. [ 6 ] She was the nation's first female head librarian at the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936. When she accepted this job she knew that she would be making one third less than her predecessor, $2000.00 dollars per year. [ 7 ] In May 1917, Countryman took in a homeless boy, Wellington Wilson, who later changed his name to Wellington Countryman after she was awarded custody of the child. [ 8 ] She established The Minnesota Library Commission and remained recording secretary of that group until 1918. [ 9 ] From 1912 to 1914 Countryman organized and was president of the Foreign Policy Association Women's Foundation International League for Peace and Freedom. She also served on the National Liberty and War Service Committee and the Woman's Warfare League. [ 10 ] In 1931, she was awarded the Civic Service Honor Medal by the Inter-Racial Service Council of Minneapolis for Outstanding Civic Service for work with immigrants. [ 10 ] In 1932, she was awarded an honorary MA degree from The University of Minnesota for Distinguished Public Service. [ 11 ] It should be noted as well that this was the most significant award she received as it was "only the fourth honorary degree conferred by the university and the first received by a woman." [ 3 ] In 1934, Countryman served as President of the American Library Association. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] She was forced into retirement at age 70 in 1936. [ 3 ] Further reading. Pejsa, Jane, Gratia Countryman: Her life, her loves, and her library. (Nodin Press, 1995) ISBN 1-931714-66-5 Stuhler, Barbara, Krueter, Gretchen, Women of Minnesota selected biographical essays (Minnesota historical Press Society 1998) ISBN 0-87351-367-3 Peterson, Penny A, Gratia Countryman, more than an ordinary woman. (Minneapolis Minnesota :Hess, Roise and Co. 2006 Kendall, James Hosmer, Countryman, Gratia, Our Frontispiece [ 14 ] Countryman, Gratia, Library Work as a Profession. (Published by Woman's Occupational Bureau 1930) Countryman, Gratia, Shaw, Robert Macgregor, Shaw, Virginia Buffington, Gratia Countryman's letters to the family twenty three letters written by Gratia Countryman describing a European Bicycle trip in the summer of 1896 Countryman, Gratia, Culture and Reform: The Women and the Work of the Women's Club of Minnesota 1907–1914 Countryman, Gratia, The Privilege for Which We Struggled; Leaders of the Woman's Suffrage Movement in Minnesota Countryman, Gratia, Traveling Libraries and a First Step in Developing Libraries , (Boston 1905) Countryman, Gratia, Vocations Open to College Women, (The University of Minnesota 1913) References. ^ Gratia A. Countryman: an inventory of the Gratia A. Countryman and family papers at the Minnesota Historical Society ^ Benidt, Bruce Weir. The Library Book: Centennial History of the Minneapolis Public Library . Minneapolis: Minneapolis Public Library, 1984. (ISBN 0-9613716-0- 9) ^ a b c Stuhler, Barbara & Krueter, Gretchen. Women of Minnesota: selected biographical essays . Rev ed. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Press, 1998. ^ Http://www.hclib.org. Hennepin County Library. 19 Mar. 2009. ^ Brandt, Steve. "FYI; A Vote for Countryman." Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN) (Nov 26, 2000): 01B. Custom Newspapers..Gale. SUNY Buffalo State College. 13 Feb. 2009. Gale Document Number: CJ67349028 ^ National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume E, 1937–1938 ^ Stuhler, Barbara, Kruter, Stephanie, Women Of Minnesota, Selected Biographical Essays, Minnesota Historical Society Page 178 ISBN 0-87351-367-3 ^ Meir, Peg. "Madame Librarian; The New Minneapolis Public Library could bear the name of Gratia Countryman, its former director. She was a strong professional leader and an unmarried woman who adopted a child – both unusual for women in the early 1920s. "Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN) (March 1, 2003): 01E. Custom Newspapers. Gale. Suny Buffalo State College . 13 Feb. 2009 Gale Document Number CJ98237168 ^ People in History Volume 1: A– M An Index to U.S. and Canadian Biographies in History Journals and Dissertations ABC Clio Press ISBN 0-87436-494-9 page 124 ^ a b American Women 1935–1940 A Composite Biographical Dictionary Volume A–L Gale Research Company 1981 page 194 ^ "Gratia Countryman." www.mnhs.org. 1994. Minneapolis Historical Society. 19 Mar. 2009 . ^ Kramer, Amanda. "Gratia Alta Countryman." Library History Timeline. 15 May 2008. 19 Mar. 2009 ^ Library Journal; October 15, 1992, Vol. 117 Issue 17, pS1, 4p, 2 illustrations ^ Countryman, Gratia A. Our Frontispiece [James Kendall Hosmer]. Bulletin of Bibliography. 13. 1929. (Worldcat OCLC 27* Roberts, Kate, Minnesota 150: The People and the Places that Shape Our State (2007) 288523) Persondata Name Countryman, Gratia Alternative names Short description Librarian Date of birth November 26, 1866 Place of birth Hastings, Minnesota Date of death July 26, 1953 Place of death Duluth, Minnesota. This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer) Mankell Family History. HULDA MANKELL MELGAARD (1866-1931) Daughter of HW and Elizabeth Mankell. HW and Elizabeth Mankell had nine children. Hulda was born in St. Cloud, MN in 1866. The family lived in St. Cloud for a few years while HW was obtaining and settling the homestead, and building a home for his growing family. Elizabeth and the children would move to the homestead between the 1866 birth of Hulda in St. Cloud and the 1868 birth of OScar at the farm. Jenny (1858-1948) m. Andrew Gordhamer Mary (1860-1887) m. Johnny Young Anna (1862-1914) m. Nels Quam Amanda (1864-1947) m. Julius Landquist Hulda (1866-1931) m. Hans Melgaard Oscar (1868-1936) m. Minnie Swenson Sophia (1871-1894) m John Quam Otto H. (1872-1939) Esther (1874-1915) m. Gustave Erixon. In the summer of 1890, a year after her father's death, Hulda sailed to Gothenburg (G�teborg) Sweden where she had many relatives including aunts, Hermina and Augusta. She also traveled to Stockholm, the home of her Uncle, Otto A. Mankell. (Here is brief summary of a much longer love story, documented by many letters.) When Hulda left on this voyage she was engaged to a businessman (Charles Reese) from Minneapolis; when she returned to the US in August 1891, still engaged, she fell in love with another man, Hans Melgaard, a Norwegian whom she met on board the steamer ship, "Bothnia". Hans wrote to Hulda in September 1891: On October 10, 1928 composer and pianist Henning Mankell (grandfather of author Henning Mankell) wrote from Stockholm to Hulda Mankell Melgaard in Minnesota, primarily about his music. Henning mentions the death "Gustaf" which probably refers to his cousin Gustaf, son of Johan August. Gustaf, a businessman, died in 1928 in Gothenburg. The "August" mentioned in the letter would have been Gustaf's brother. Henning and Hulda both were about 60 years old at the time of this letter. Henning was the son of Emil Theodore and Hulda was the granddaughter of Emil's brother, Wilhelm August. I am very obliged to you! � the letter came the other day and I am very glad of it. I am very proud of your thoughts vis-a-vis the �Vision.� I can tell you that one young pianist of ours will play another of my works composed for the piano: �Andante with Variations� and I am very curious about it. One review of �Vision� from one journal this summer was very brilliant and I can also be very glad. Our summer season was in every respect very beautiful �we lived at the seaside on our west coast, a little north of Goteborg. Also we met August in the great house. He spoke about the death of Gustaf and about his embarrassed affairs. It was rough on Gustaf, who always was ready to help everyone.�But that�s the way of the world! I had last year and I have now also one pupil who has lived in Los Angeles and knows extraordinarily well this town and Beverly Hills and the ancient cloister. We have spoken very much of all the places that you mention in the letter from there, and all that the letter contains was very true throughout. I am glad and very grateful to you for all the troubles you have had to promote my little �Vision�. I had wished to be present at the little concert, when Prof. Sc. played it. It is always interesting to hear the interpretation of another [pianist]! It was very kind to invite us to visit you out in America, but the way is long and expensive�the time now is not such that one can afford such a thing without being a millionaire. Perhaps you can imagine, however, that we wish to see the great land in the west �the �miracle.� I must thank you for the telegram that I received the end of May or at the beginning of June � and I finish this letter by enclosing a good deal of my summer photos, which show how we now look! I reached my sixty years the 3rd of June 1928 and I was much celebrated. Attendees included �Shinegl Musicalishe Akademie�, �Foreuingen Svenska Consittare�, �Pianist Forbunder�--many costly presents�50 decorations of flowers and 150 telegrams.��It was much ado about nothing� ! With much love to you all from all of us. Very sincerely Henning Mankell Georgst. 16 III Stockholm 10 Oktober 28. Argyle, Marshall County, Minnesota. An excerpt from Who's Who in America, The Book of Minnesotans : Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hans died in 1923 at their home in Minneapolis. Eight years later Hulda passed away. They are buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Hulda's granddaughter, Jane Pejsa, writes about Hulda's last years: Findagrave entry for Hulda Mankell Melgaard Findagrave entry for Hans Melgaard. Agnes (1894-1984) taught art at William and Mary College Irene (1896-1990) m. Walter Hauser Ruth (1898-1994) m. Frederick de Sill Mildred (1901-1996) m. Caradoc Rees Harold (1903-1986) m. Josepha Knutson Carmen (1912-1999) m. Leon Holman. Thomas Mankell Rees was a grandson of Hulda and Hans; he was the son of Mildred Melgaard and Caradoc Rees. Thomas was born in Los Angeles, fought in World War II in General George Patton's 3rd Army in 1944 and 1945 as they advanced across Europe. Later he served as a politician in the Democratic Party: the California State Assembly (1954-1962), the California Senate (1962-1965) and the US House of Representatives (1965-1977) where he worked on international trade, housing and banking concerns. During his years of public service he was known for advancing land-use planning, environmental issues, and civil rights causes. He was against the Vietnam War and became vocal in his opposition, so much so that President Lyndon Johnson wanted to "throw him off Air Force One" according to Thomas' son, James Rees (San Jose Mercury News obituary, December 16, 2003). Rees actively campaigned for Robert Kennedy's presidential bid in 1968 and was present at RFK's assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. If you see pictures or film clips of RFK's final speech (Part 1 ; Part 2) at the hotel on June 5, 1968, Rees (tall and in black glasses) stands behind RFK's right shoulder and behind Ethel Kennedy. The California State Archives has a 1987 oral history interview of Thomas Rees (OH 88-9) in its collection. Quoting the abstract: "Rees discusses his family background, education, World War II service, conversion from the Republican to Democratic parties in the early-1950s, agricultural implement business in Mexico, participation in national Democratic party conventions from 1956 to 1968, activities as a member of the California State Assembly, California State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives, and comments on a wide range of individuals and issues involved in California and national politics from the 1950s to 1987." For more information about Thomas Mankell Rees, please link to these two web sites: Wikipedia entry Congressional Biography. Jane (Hauser) Pejsa is the daughter of Irene (Melgaard) and Walter Hauser, and the granddaughter of Hulda (Mankell) and Hans Melgaard. Over the past 20 years Jane has written several books, historical fiction and non-fiction, many of which pertain to European history. The Molineaux Affair , published in 1985, is a novel set in New York City. Matriarch of Conspiracy: Ruth von Kleist 1867-1945 published in 1991, is a story of a family's connection in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves and Her Library , published in 1995, is a biography of a leader in Minneapolis and her work with the public library system. The Final Encounter--Rommel, Patton and Zhukov , published in 2007, tells the story of the three WWII generals meeting in heaven. Here is a review. A Remarkable Journey into the Heart of Europe , published in 2008, takes the reader with Jane Pejsa as she and her husband travel in Germany and Poland, connecting the present with the past. The Minnesota Historical Society interviewed Art and Jane Pejsa in 2008. Art (the primary interviewee) describes his service in WWII as a B-29 bomber pilot in the Pacific Theater and the awards he received. He describes his work as a rocket scientist for Honeywell and his work with the Apollo and Shuttle missions. Jane, a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, inventor, author, and a Minnesota Book Award winner, talks about her work with UNIVAC during the early years of computers. There are several sections of the interview which cover WWII to 2008, but do not always run chronologically. Art's years with Honeywell are sections 1-4; Jane's life as a working mother are in sections 5-6; Art's war stories are in sections 7-9. During the interview Art and Jane make reference to donated items. They are referring to items which they donated to the Minnesota History Center and are on display in the Minnesota's Greatest Generation exhibit. Jane and Art each own US Patents. The University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point honored Art with the naming of the Arthur Pejsa Observatory. Art graduated from UW-SP with degrees in Mathematics and Physics. More information about the Observatory. Gratia Countryman: Her Life Her Loves and Her Library by Jane Pejsa. The whole building at all times should be managed with the broadest spirit of hospitality. . . . Then do away with all unnecessary restrictions, take down all the bars, and try to put face to face our friends the books and our friends the people. —Gratia Countryman, 1905. This commitment to serving the whole public, with its drive to “take down all the bars” keeping people from accessing library services, could have been written today. Instead it was written more than a century ago, by groundbreaking librarian Gratia Countryman. Countryman, who led the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 until 1936, would be proud to see contemporary libraries building on the foundation she laid for inclusive library collections and services. I believe that she would be particularly glad to see the growing emphasis on serving underserved populations in ways that go beyond traditional library service. Countryman was one of my heroes when I was in library school twenty years ago. Learning about her work at the Minneapolis Public Library, where she established youth services and outreach efforts and oversaw the creation of library branches all over the city, inspired me to become a public librarian. When I started working in libraries a few years later, I thought we were doing a pretty good job reaching out to underserved communities: collecting materials in multiple languages, building partnerships with community groups, and creating new library programs to serve babies, toddlers, and other nontraditional library users. Looking back, we were just getting started. A Long Road to “Libraries Are for Everyone” While reaching out to underserved groups is a core value for public libraries today, that was not always the case. The first lending libraries in the United States, in the 18th century, grew from private book clubs and worked on a subscription model. Books were expensive, and there was simply no expectation that they would be freely available to the public. That began to change in 1790, when the first truly public library collection was established in Massachusetts with support from Benjamin Franklin. Tax-supported public libraries began to spread widely after the Civil War. (Read more from the Digital Public Library of America.) The Minneapolis Public Library was part of that wave, opening its first central library in 1889. Even after public libraries were established, there was a widespread view that their purpose was to provide research materials and improving literature for scholarly types. As late as the 1890s, there was still a great deal of debate as to whether “common novels” should be available in public libraries. Looking at contemporary library collections, popular fiction clearly won the day. In a passionate defense of collecting popular fiction published in 1894, George Watson Cole, from the Jersey City Public Library, wrote, “The library is in existence by the grace of the public, and it is its duty to cater to all the classes that go towards making up the community in which it is established.” Around the same time, public libraries, including the Minneapolis Public Library, began to add dedicated spaces and collections for children. Libraries around the country began adding foreign language collections and reaching out to the wider public through branch libraries, schools, hospitals, and employers. Even then, public libraries in many parts of the country remained segregated until the 1960s, when they were flashpoints in the battle for civil rights. The Broadest Spirit of Hospitality. Today, public libraries of all sizes are putting services for the underserved at the heart of their practice. This takes different forms in different communities, and it is exciting to see so many creative approaches in action. At the Pima County Public Library, a large library system based in Tucson, this takes the form of welcome information in 22 languages; dedicated teams reaching out to African American, Native American, and LGBTQIA communities; a summer meal program that provided more than 25,000 healthy lunches and snacks to children and teens in 2019; and a restorative justice program to help young people retain access to the library if they run into trouble with the library’s Customer Code of Conduct. The San Francisco Public Library, Library Journal ’s 2018 Library of the Year, has prioritized diversity and inclusion for decades. Since the 2016 election, the library has worked even harder to center those values, with a series of pioneering programs addressing race, equity, and justice. After offering the nation’s first Drag Queen Storytime in 2015, SFPL has expanded the program to branches outside traditionally LGBTQIA neighborhoods, and served as a model for other libraries. Smaller libraries have fewer staff and resources, but they are also stepping up to provide a growing range of services to their communities. At Durango Public Library, which serves a community of 18,000 in southwest Colorado, this takes the form of sensory storytimes designed for children on the autism spectrum and of the innovative Common Grounds Café. Established in 2014 as a partnership with the local school district, the café provides job training and experience for high school students with special needs while making the library a more welcoming destination for everyone. The Copper Queen Library, in Bisbee, Arizona, serves an even smaller community, with just 5,500 residents. Recognized as the 2019 Best Small Library in America by Library Journal , the library partnered with other agencies and local volunteers to open a satellite location in the outlying San Jose neighborhood in late 2018. The new location serves all ages but places special emphasis on early literacy and youth programs. The San Jose Annex operates in a space provided by the Bisbee Unified School District, and except for a part-time coordinator position, it is staffed entirely by a corps of dedicated volunteers. In unsettled times like these, when the social compact can feel as frayed as our safety net programs, public libraries are uniquely positioned to help. Take Down All the Bars. One growing trend across libraries of all sizes is eliminating overdue fines. Library fines have a disproportionate impact on low-income users, and often become a long-term barrier to accessing library services. As Curtis Rogers, from the Urban Libraries Council, commented in a recent article, “Overdue fines are not distinguishing between people who are responsible and who are not. They’re distinguishing between people who can and cannot use money to overcome a common oversight.” This is another big step toward a goal Countryman spelled out way back in 1905: “I only wish to make it clear, that everybody should feel as much at home in the library as if it were built for his especial use, and that the library should be the social center of the town.” Check It Out. Public libraries cannot address every social need, but they are critical partners in building healthy communities. If it has been a while since you visited your local library, stop by and see what they have to offer. They may surprise you! Amadee Ricketts received her MLS degree from the College of St. Catherine and has been a librarian since 2002. She is currently the library director at the Cochise County Library District in Arizona. When not working or writing, she enjoys taking photos of insects and other tiny things. She lives with her husband, who is a photographer, and their cat. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Share your comments, stories, and ideas below, or contact us. All comments will be approved before posting, and are subject to our comment and privacy policies. References and Resources American Library Association. “Conflict as Opportunity: Library Restorative Practices for Youth,” American Library Association , May 22, 2018. (Accessed October 20, 2019) American Library Association. “History of Preschool Storytimes,” December 1, 2014. Brady, Hillary, and Franky Abbott. A History of US Public Libraries . Digital Public Library of America, September 2015. Cole, George Watson. “Fiction in Libraries: A Plea for the Masses.” Papers and Proceedings of the Sixteenth General Meeting of the American Library Association, Held at Lake Placid, NY, September 17–22, 1894 . Countryman, Gratia. “The Library as a Social Center.” Minnesota Library Commission Library News and Notes, No. 5, December 1905. Pejsa, Jane. Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves, and Her Library . Minneapolis: Nodin Press, 1995. © 2019 by Free Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. The view expressed in this post represent the opinion of the author and not necessarily Free Spirit Publishing.