Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 11

Two Publics: The Willard Library and the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Library

Donald E. Baker Director of the Willard Library Evansville

Evansville, Indiana, is one of the Long before he was truly old, Car­ very few cities in the United States to penter had been generally called "Old enjoy the services of two public li­ Willard" in tribute to his sharpness in braries separately administered and business dealings. His library, too, he funded. The older Willard Library decreed, should be called "Willard" and the larger Evansville-Vanderburgh rather than "Carpenter." To oversee County Public Library were founded the new institution, he designated six under different auspices, by different substantial Evansville citizens to par­ generations, for somewhat different ticipate with him on its Board of Trus­ purposes. The relationship between tees. They were privileged, or sen­ them today is cordial, collegial, and tenced, to serve life terms on the cooperative, with just the slight dash Board. Whenever a vacancy should of healthy competitiveness. It was occur, hopefully very infrequently, not always so. the remaining trustees were empower­ The Willard Library of Evansville, ed to choose someone to fill it. Indiana, properly so called, came into On August 23, 1876, Carpenter being in 187 6 because wealthy Evans­ sent the other six trustees a letter out­ ville resident Willard Carpenter want­ lining his purposes. As he ed (a) "to devote to some public use, acknowledged, he availed himself "of a portion of the property and means the ideas and language of the late which I have acquired by a long life of George Peabody, on a similar occa­ labor ... to benefit the community in sion," the founding of Baltimore's which my life has been mostly spent" Peabody Institute in 185 7. Carpenter and (b) to justify his life of merchan­ liberalized Peabody's plan, however, dizing, railroad building, and land by calling not only for a reference li­ speculating by leaving a memorial to brary but also for a circulating collec­ himself. Neither impulse was atypical tion: "Desiring that this scheme of the motives of other nineteenth may redound to the greatest benefit century-or indeed twentieth cen­ of the greatest number, and believing tury-philanthropists.1 that, in so small a city, the privilege of 12 /Baker Indiana Libraries

The Willard Library of Evansville, within a decade or two after it opened in 1885. Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 13 withdrawing books can be efficiently The building may have been brand guarded from abuse, I direct that such new, but there were some old familiar portion of the books as the Trustees books on the shelves and some old may designate may be withdrawn for familiar faces behind the charge desk. perusal at home by any person, under The city was apparently more than proper rules and restriction."2 happy to get out of the library bus­ It was not as though Evansville did iness when a non-tax supported li­ not already have library service. In brary was in view. The public library 1855 a subscription library association closed up shop and its bookstock-the had been formed, and although it was nucleus of original subscription library constantly beset with managerial and collection had by now grown to about financial problems, it endured for al­ 9 ,600 volumes-was hauled over to most two decades. In 187 4 the Willard. association gave its collection of 4,400 In a kind of bibliothecal serfdom, the books to the city, which then began two library assistants from the public operating a tax-supported "Public Li­ library went along with their books. brary of Evansville" under school It was, in fact, the second change of board control. institution and address for one of But Carpenter apparently felt that them, Miss Otilda Goslee, because she Evansville, and he himself, deserved had also been the last librarian of the more than a small library operating old subscription library. That organ­ out of a converted church building. ization, unable to pay any sort of To set his more grandiose plan in mo­ reasonable stipend, had suffered tion he and, after some persuasion, his through a succession of unsatisfied wife executed a deed transferring to and unsatisfactory male librarians be­ the seven trustees twenty-one parcels fore, in its last year, resorting to hir- of real estate valued at almost $267, ing a female. Even so, she had de­ 000. The property was to be sold and manded some concessions, in both from the proceeds the trustees were to senses of the word, to supplement her establish a permanent endowment $25 a month salary. She was allowed fund and "to erect a suitable building, to act as an agent for a coal company, to improve, ornament and adorn [its] taking orders for it in the library. She Park, and to purchase books, maps, also brought her sewing machine to and works of art for the use of the work and picked up some extra people of all classes, races and sexes, money as a part-time seamstress. free of charge forever. " 3 Accompanying her books to the Construction of the library was de­ public library, Miss Goslee found her­ layed by a national financial panic, self with a male boss and an associate, which slowed land sales, and by a Miss Lou Scantlin. The male librarian change of architects. Finally, on did not accompany the ladies to Wil­ March 28, 1885, Willard Library open­ lard, however, and there the two ed with considerable ceremony in women were granted co-equal status what is now the oldest public library while the Willard board discussed off building in Indiana. Costing $64,000 and on for several years taking "steps to build and $16,000 to furnish, Wil­ to secure the services of a competent 5 lard is a brick and stone masterpiece man, for the position of Librarian." of the Italianate Gothic style, its in­ Their salaries were initially set at $45 terior extravagantly embellished with a month, soon raised to $50 but quarter-sawn golden oak.4 dropped to $35 during a period of hard times in 1888. }-1. ~ -tJj ~ (t) "i

~ s·~ ~ ~ t"--i ~z "! "Little Brother," the Evansville Public Library's first bookmobile. (\:;• The two-seater Ford went into service in 1923, replacing a borrowed laundry truck. ~ Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 15 16/Baker Indiana Libraries On March 24, 1894, the Willard edge. The patrons were physically board unanimously voted "that the separated from the books by a charge services of Miss Lou Scantlin as one of desk remini~cent of a Victorian teller's the librarians be dispensed with." No cage, and they were further hedged reason for Miss Scantlin 's firing is about by a complex web of regula­ given in the board minutes. The pre­ tions. The librarians' duty to protect vious year she had been "granted a the books from the patrons, and their vacation of one month ... , she to strict accountability to the board, provide a substitute when needed."6 were spelled out in rules promulgated Never before had a librarian asked for, by the trustees in the 1890s: let alone received; time off, and the 1. The Librarians ... shall see that trustees may have felt that a woman the building and books are kept with the effrontery to request a vaca­ in good condition, neat and clean, and tion had the potential for making even shall enforce the Rules and Regula­ more trouble in the future. It seems tions made by the Trustees, and shall more likely that the board was finally report all violations of same to the ready to concede that no suitable man Trustees at their monthly meet- was likely to be found to run the li­ ing .... brary and to terminate the nine-year­ 5. The Librarians will carefully ex­ old two-headed, or two non-headed, amine each book when returned, and librarian anangement. note any injury to same, and will After Miss Scantlin left, Miss Goslee charge the same to the taker, in a was clearly in charge. She retained book to be kept for that purpose .... the title of librarian, and a specifically 6. No book shall be reserved for or designated "assistant" librarian was promised by the Librarians to any per­ hired at a lower salary. Affectionate­ son in any case. When returned the ly known as "Aunt Tillie," Miss Gos­ books will be placed on the shelves lee was a petite woman who dressed and will be delivered to the first per­ habitually in black. When she died in son applying, other than the person or harness as Willard's head librarian in family by whom they have been re­ 1919, at age 76, her obituary in the turned. No book will be exchanged Evansville Courier, headlined "Life's on the day when issued .... Volume Closed," mourned the loss of 9. No person shall be allowed by the "intimate touch" which had char­ the Librarians behind the counter, ex­ acterized her work at Willard. She cept upon the written order of one of embodied, the reporter wrote, all "the the Trustees, and the doors admitting finer qualities of womanhood," and to the shelves shall at all times be kept the library patrons would greatly miss locked. "her kindly greeting to visitors and 12. The Librarians will keep a record her intuitive knowledge of the books of all books given out in such a man­ that had been her life-long compan­ ner as to enable the Examining Com­ ions. " 7 mittee of the Trustees, to trace every book in the Library in the shortest The librarians' intimate knowledge possible time. " 8 of their collection was essential at Willard. Not only was the catalog­ Despite Willard Carpenter's liberal ing somewhat amateurish but the li­ intentions, the board also insured that brarians performed a sort of priestly books would not be given to "just intermediary function between the anyone." The month after the library humble petitioning public and the opened, they provided that "every gods of printed wisdom and knowl- person desiring to take books from Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 17 the Library be requested to file with concentrated on enlarging his mon­ the Librarian a certificate signed by ument, not adulterated by spreading it some responsible man or unmarried all over town. The library building, he woman over 21 years of age, certify­ wrote in his letter to the first trustees, ing that the person named ... is a fit "should be so constructed as to admit person to enjoy the privilege of the of harmonious additions" so that it Library and agreeing to make good could "be developed into a magnif­ any loss occasioned by the person re­ icent edifice as the city grows and commended and becoming responsible prospers. " 10 In the Deed of Trust he for the observation of the rules of the went further, requiring that "all such Library by such person."9 In other buildings as shall be necessary for the words, one required a co-signer to es­ use of the Library" must be built on tablish "credit" for the loan of a book Willard Park.11 just as he might for the loan of money In 1909 a committee of business­ from one of the Evansville banks. men from the city's west side met Throughout the quarter of a cen­ with the Willard Board and among tury that Willard was Evansville's only them they devised a scheme to get a­ public library, sales of its endowment round Carpenter's restrictions. The property never proceeded fast enough West Side Business Men's Association to build up a fund that would ad­ would furnish a storefront room and equately support the institution, let salary for an attendant, Willard would alone expand services to meet the provide the books. The board au­ needs of a rapidly growning city. thorized the westsiders to spend up to Finally the board decided that anoth­ $300 for new books and promised to er source of income was essential. send over such volumes as Willard They prepared a bill to be introduced could spare, all provided that the in the General Assembly-one of those books would be returned in as good a acts written in general terms that condition as they were lent. The West applies only to one case-and in early Side book station opened on Dec­ 1905 it passed. The new law permit­ ember 6, 19091.. with a collection of ted the City of Evansville to levy, on 500 volumes.1 ~ Willard's behalf, a property tax of not This arrangement was meant to be less than 5 mills nor more than 10 temporary, because the westsiders mills per $100 assessed evaluation. were also writing to Andrew Carnegie The small income realized was to be to see if Evansville could get on the spent only for the purchase of books. long list of communities to which he The city fathers, naturally, were in­ had given libraries. Since Willard was clined to set Willard's tax rate at the serving the near downtown area, and minimum rather than the maximum since it was the neighborhoods that figure, and the library's revenues re­ wished new libraries, the Evansvillians mained woefully insufficient. But did not ask Carnegie to provide a cen­ even had Willard been wealthier it tral library building but they did ask could not have satisfied the desire of for four branches. Carnegie was not the residents of Evansville's new far­ willing to be quite so generous, but on flung neighborhoods for libraries February 20, 1911, the Evansville closer to home. Willard Carpenter had City Council formally accepted his assumed that if the community of the offer of $50 ,000 for two branches and future demanded increased services his condition that the city provide the they would also provide increased sup­ land and annual support of at least port, and he wished that support to be $5,000 a year. On October 31, 1911, f-l 00 -t::d ~ (t) '"'l

~ R.e· ~ t"--i 0.:a .....""1 . Central Libray of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Public Library System, shortly after it opened in 1932. ('\) l'.n Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 19

Gray Davis Williams, Willard Library's first academically trained librarian, who served as Head Librarian from 1941to1956.

the new Public Library Board of Trus­ State Library School, had been librar­ tees, a group totally unrelated to and ian at Elwood, Indiana, and Superior, separate from the Willard Board met Wisconsin, and had taught at the Uni­ for the first time.13 ' versity of Wisconsin Library School. In physical stature she was apparently The public library board set about even tinier than Willard's Miss Goslee. constructing the new East and West Standing, Miss McCollough could branches and hiring a librarian. There speak eye-to-eye with seated staff was no dithering search for a "suitable members. In a picture of the 1922 li­ man." Instead, they followed the ad­ brary staff on the steps of the Evans­ vice of the secretary of the state pub­ ville Coliseum, where the library of­ lic library commission, which was, as fices then were, Miss McCollough is between "an excellent woman or a strategically placed one step higher fairly good man, by all means take than the other four ladies on the front the excellent woman." The excellent row. But such was the towering force woman they found was of her personality that, in the words Ethel Farquhar McCollough, who was of one who worked for her, "nobody destined to remain at Evansville Pub­ ever felt taller than she was." lic Library for 35 years, to become, in the words of one of her successors Throughout her long tenure, the ' "the single most important person Evansville Public Library marched, iii ever connected with it," and to be re­ lockstep, to the compelling beat of membered as one of the great "char­ Miss McCollough 's drum. The board acters" of Indiana librarianship.1 4 was in awe of her intellect and the staff was in tenor of her sharp tongue Miss McCollough was 36 years old and her unannounced agency inspec­ when she arrived in Evansville. She had been born in Franklin Indiana tion visits. Her prejudices were issued had graduated from the New' York ' as policy. No cola drinks or coffee 20 /Baker Indiana Libraries were allowed in the library; tea was Tell Miss Espenlaub that if she the acceptable staffroom drink. Staff is to remain a member of this members were not allowed to wear staff it will be necessary that she such frivolous garments as nylon give her undivided loyalty and stockings or silk underwear. She ad­ support to the library, not as she vised her "dollinks" to wear their would have it but as it is ... "snuggies" in winter lest they catch Now as for your part in this cold, and warned that if they did not episode .... Assistants should be follow her advice, and if they did given a certain amount of liberty catch cold as a result, they could not in action and expression but there take the time off as paid sick leave. comes a point where the first be­ Small wonder that one staff member comes bad administration and the referred to her as "hell on wheels." second impudence .... Pull your­ Miss McCollough is said to have self up on this, and let us have no "mellowed" by the 1940s, but a letter more pussy-footing with those of hers to a branch librarian shows the whose work you are employed to direct. importance that the Chief Librarian still placed on small infractions, and I am sorry it has been necessary also demonstrates the quality of her to write so plainly, but I have scathing criticism. The concept of always considered a surgical opera­ participatory management was totally tion preferable to permitting any alien to her: one who works under me to fall over the precipice. May 11,1944

Dear Miss Lockhart: Yours, 1 This is to say that I was much Ethel F. McCollough 6 surprised by your including [your assistant] Miss Espenlaub's "Adult If Miss McCollough 's maternal auto­ Report" in your April report to me. cracy inspired fear, it also promoted This is the first time in long years the unswerving loyalty she sought and of experience that an assistant ... molded her workers into a single-pur­ has presumed to write an "Adult posed force that could accomplish Report." Why you should have substantial achievements. When she sent it to me is beyond my com­ came to Evansville, the public library prehension. consisted of two small Carnegie build­ ings still under construction. There It seems curious that one who were no books, no staff, not even a has managed her own "Certifica­ place for her to work. Only nine tion" business so badly should con­ years later, in 1921, the library could sider herself qualified to attempt to boast of its seven branches and, as the interfere in the Management of the 1920s went on, of its 26 book stations library. in schools, 90 classroom collections, Tell Miss Espenlaub our Sunday and Holiday procedure was estab­ and six stations in factories. (One of lished along before we ever heard of those seven branches, erected on Miss McCollough's recommendation and her .... with a supplementary gift from Car­ As for criticism of our bookselec­ negie, was Cherry Branch, the only tion, that ... is not open to dis­ branch public library exclusively for cussion with any assistants of Miss Blacks, north of the Ohio River. The Espenlaub's experience. Certain Willard librarians went out of their titles are not acc.eptable in his li­ way on state library report forms to brary .... Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 21 note that Willard was open to all Because Willard's organization and races.) governance are specifically and min­ Early in Miss McCollough 's tenure utely spelled out in the Carpenter the public library also extended book Deed of Trust, the Willard Trustees no service to five hospitals and to nursing doubt felt quite literally that they homes. For four years immediately would not consider arrangements that after Evansville College (now the Uni­ might violate that trust. There is also, versity of Evansville) was established however, an unmistakeable sense of in 1919, the public library operated betrayal in their response to the pub­ the college library under contract, as lic library's overtures. The city's they also did the county law library setting up a second public library for several years. Bookmobile service was certainly not what Willard Car­ to residents in the outlying townships penter or the succeeding generation began in 1923. of trustees had ever contemplated. Possibly in an effort to rally public In 1925 a central library was finally opionion against any move to force a established in a converted business merger, the trustees had a pamphlet block just off Main Street. Seven printed to familiarize the community years later service began in the present with Williard's history of service. Central Library, a cooly elegant new They may also have contemplated building designed by the architectural changing the library's emphasis. Miss firm of Walker and Weeks, who had Goslee, in a historical blurb written in planned the Cleveland Public Library's 1918, admitted that "now when we main building. To build the new have in our City these splendid new building the library razed a lecture Libraries that will carry your books to hall originally dedicated to the cause your very door, while we expect of temperance. One of the many pro­ people to come and get them and be visos of the long-term lease of the perfectly delighted for the opportu­ ground is that the Evansville Chapter nity, it does look like we are behind of the Women's Christian Temperance the times but it is worth it all. We are Union be allowed access to an area in building for the future a graf1:d refe - the library in which to hold their 1 7 ence library and by the time we are meeting. ready, Miss McCollough, with her rare In all this swirl of library activity, pluck and executive ability will be at Willard Library was left quite alone in the front with books, prints and pic­ the middle of its park until the inev­ tures to satisfy the town. " 19 itable happened. The Trustees' min­ This idea of "a grand reference li­ ute book notes that "on this 17th day brary" seems to have died with Miss of December 1915, it is hereby or­ Goslee the next year. Ultimately dered ... that the secretary be and Willard's response to the establish­ he is hereby directed to write a letter ment of the public library was to go to Edmund L. Craig, President of the on doing what it had been doing, Public Library Board of Evansville, in pretty much as it had been doing it. the matter of the resolutions adapted Miss Goslee's successor as head librar­ by the Public Library Board sugges­ ian, Miss Katherine Imbusch, con­ ting that all the Libraries of the City tiimed Willard's tradition of provid­ be brought under one supervision, and ing caring, personal service to young to suggest in such letter that the pro­ and old. Her biographical sketch in posals made by the Public Library the 1923 history of Vanderburgh Board in that connection cannot be County commends her "courteous considered by this Board."18 and gracious treatment" of the li- 22 /Baker Indiana Libraries brary's patrons, and she is included, cases to be in bad condition and in with Miss Goslee and one of the long­ need of binding. The newspapers and time assistant librarians, Mary Olive magazines had been neglected and Flower, in a tribute that a book donor should at once be put into good con­ of the 1950s asked be placed in each dition, bound and saved for the fu­ of his volumes' "Presented in mem­ ture. The catalog had no subject ory of: Three Grand Ladies: Librar­ headings-a thing unheard of in any ians: Olive Flower, Otilda Goslee, City Library. In short the Library was Kathryn Imbush [sic]. Whose untir­ twenty years behind the times. He ing and devoted service, to the eager said that no patching or readjustment inquiring minds of the childhood of would do. A complete overhaul was the early 1900 's was always of the needed. Miss Imbusch, fine though most loving character.' '2 O she might be, he found had neither Miss Imbusch also continued the tra­ the knowledge or experience to bring dition of having learned librarianship order out of the chaos. He recom­ "on the job," rather than at a library mended a capable, experienced Librar­ school. She had, in fact, been "dis­ ian with skill and vision be employed. covered" in 1896 working in a candy Only so could the crying need of Wil­ 2 2 story. One of the Willard trustees lard Library be answered." noticed that she could heft the large, The trustees' response was to raise heavy jars of candy with the greatest Miss Imbusch's salary $10 a month. of ease and decided that such talent This action may have represented a was greatly needed at Willard, where show of Willard's independence from the books were also large and heavy state supervision. It may also indicate but where the staff was stronger men­ that a librarian's lack of proficiency in tally than physically. She was hired on the fine point of technical librarian­ the spot as an .assistant librarian. When ship was less important to them than she became head librarian, twenty­ her skill in providing the ''personal three years later, she retired from touch." And the tradition of non­ what one of her successors called "the librarian librarians continued. In strong arm stuff" and let her younger 1926 one of the trustees, Sara Chick assistants, frail though they might be, Denton, the wife of a former congress­ do it.21 man and recently widowed, was ap­ From a technical standpoint, Wil­ pointed assistant librarian. Miss Im­ lard undoubtedly suffered from in­ busch must have found it awkward, adequate monetary support and the supervising a person who was also one librarians' lack of formal training. of her employers, but the arrangement Professional librarians found the continued until her death in 1930. At situation there appalling. In 1922 the that time Mrs. Denton, still.remaining president of the board invited William a trustee, became head librarfan. J·. Hamilton, secretary of the state Finally, upon Mrs. Denton's retire­ public library commission, to visit ment as librarian (but not as trustee) Willard and offer suggestions. Mr. in 1941, the Willard board followed Hamilton's follow-up letter, in a sum­ Mr. Hamilton's nineteen-year-old re­ mary in the Willard files, "finds all to commendation and hired "a capable, condemn and nothing to praise. experienced Librarian with skill and There was a haphazard system of vision." She was Gray Davis Williams, ordering books-no use made of book a native of Noblesville, Indiana. She reviews and book lists .... The books had graduated from Indiana Univer­ on the shelves were found in many sity in 1907, and, upon being wid- Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 23 'owed, returned to school and received would be attended by their colleagues her library science degree from West­ from area institutions, including the 2 ern Reserve University in 1924. 3 Evansville Public Library. On the Mrs. Williams turned energetically way Mrs. Williams had them stop at a to the task of answering Willard's travern, where she bought them each crying needs. She held regular train­ a drink. Later, outside the banquet ing sessions to improve the skills of room, she distributed cigarettes to her her paraprofessional staff. She de­ ladies, even to those who did not manded from the board and got a smoke. The Willard staff then parad­ thing theretofore unheard of, a formal ed into the room, ostentatiously ex­ book budget. A new children's room haling smoke and the obvious smell of was built. Books, periodicals, and booze, all for the purpose of tweaking their noses at the public library's newspapers were bound. The entire 2 4 collection was converted from Poole "iron maiden. " Classification to the Dewey Decimal Over the years the Public Library System. Books of research value were and Willard had come to exemplify culled from the circulating collection both sides of the ongoing debate and the foundations for the present among librarians about the basis upon Special Collections department were which books should be selected. Miss laid. And withal, Mrs. Williams su­ McCollough put Evansville Public pervised, and participated in up to her solidly on the side which maintained elbows, a total program of cleaning, that the taxpayer's money should be painting, straightening, rearranging, spent only on items of recognizable and reorganizing. She shoveled out quality. As she wrote in the letter the clutter, banished the dust of the quoted above, "certain titles are not decades, and imposed system on acceptable in this library." Those in­ casual practice. It was as though Mary cluded books that exhibited, to her, Poppins had come to stay, and she en­ little literary merit. The works of deared herself to patrons, staff, and best-selling author Gene Stratton board. Porter, for example, were barred from the public library's shelves as were Mrs. Williams was only nine years children's series book (Nancy Drew, younger than Miss McCollough, and the Hardy Boys, the Oz books) and both were raised in central Indiana ' the whole vast realm of light. romance. but temperamentally the two women While her successors proved less dog­ were from different worlds. Mrs. Wil­ matic than Miss McCollough, they liams was tall and fashionable. She were certainly sympathetic with her had high standards for herself-she philosophy. would never cross the street to the market without hat and gloves, for Far from "give the public what example-but she would never have they ought to read," the Willard dreamed of imposing her standards on philosophy was always "give the pub­ others. Like many sophisticated lic what they want to read." That women of her day, she smoked cig­ meant welcoming into the collection arettes and did not turn up her nose at Mrs. Stratton Porter, Nancy Drew, a cocktail. It was no secret that she and denizens of the Emerald City, and thought Miss McCollough's code of the light romances that one former behavior for the public librarian was Willard employee affectionately re­ silly. ferred to as "bosom heavers." By Miss McCollough 's standards, there­ One evening, the Willard Librarians fore, Willard had no standards at all ' were on their way to a dinner that and the saying became, "for sex and history send them to Willard." 24 /Baker Indiana Libraries Mrs. Williams was an enthusiastic would only have to buy more books partisan of the Willard tradition. In and fewer gadgets. " 2 7 1949·she delighted in reporting to the That last remark may have been Willard Board a story relayed by the Mrs. Wiiliams's way of getting in a volunteer in charge of book distribu­ "dig" at Dr. Herbert Goldhor, who by tion at Welborn Hospital: "It was a then was the public library's chief happy day for us when we found that librarian. The McCollough era had one of our books had saved a patient's ended after the public library joined life. The book was Where Two Ways the state Public Employees Retire­ Met by Grace Livingston Hill. It ment Fund in 1946. Miss Mc­ came into the hands of the patient Collough, along with four other staff when she was at low ebb and deter­ members over 70 years of age, had mined that life was not worth fight­ had to retire the next year. She was ing for. She ... was quite emphatic replaced by Arnold Rosaaen, former in saying, 'That book saved my life.' head of the Scranton, Pennsylvania, Only a librarian who buys Mrs. Hill's public library. 2 8 books in the face of the grave dis­ If Miss McCollough treated her staff approval of most librarians can as a stern mother would, Mr. Rosaaen appreciate this story. " 2 5 is fondly remembered as a kind father Willard was also more tolerant of figure.2 9 Much of what he accom­ books that in their day were consid­ plished during his four years was by ered racy. ''We are proud to serve the way of improving his employees' lot. public," Mrs. Williams wrote in her He won for them a major salary in­ annual report for 1951, "and are like­ crease and introduced a formal salary wise amazed to learn of the many schedule. Previously staff members books kept out of the Central Library were paid according to what Miss Mc­ collection. The books by William Collough thought them worth, and her Faulkner, Nobel Prize winner, are not "pets" enjoyed the fatter paychecks. on their shelves. Neither is Jones' Mr. Rosaaen also got board approval From Here to Eternity, and they say for a 40-hour week and remodeled the it never will be. . . . We have had a staff room. He also embarked on a dozen and have furnished the reading vigorous weeding program, which was of it for the town. It has been highly greatly needed since one of Miss Mc­ praised by some and criticized by Collough 's beliefs was that no book others. That is the way of all books. should be discarded if it had any pos­ If we disposed of everything that sible use. someone did not like I do not believe Dr. Goldhor became chief librarian that even the Bible would be left .... in 1952, after Mr. Rosaaen's death 'To everyone his choice,' is our motto from a heart attack. He was a once and experience has shown us that and future professor at the University there is no GOOD BOOK. Every of Illinois, who came to Evansville book is good for someone. Many very intending to get ten years' practical queer books have done wonderful experience in directing a public li­ things for various people."2 6 brary. That he did exactly. During The next year, Mrs. Williams again his tenure, services for city and coun­ claimed, "Temporarily we are first in ty residents were consolidated, service the hearts of Evansville. 'Willard has to and in schools was revamped, and the Books' is the phrase most fre­ Cherry Branch was at last disposed of. quently heard. Of course, this fame He did install a few gadgets, most no­ could easily be taken from us. Central tably a state-of-the-art transaction Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 25 card charging system, and he con­ lard staff plunged in. The cataloger, ducted time-and-motion studies that Anna Louise Thrall, former Evansville streamlined many staff procedures. College librarian, was assigned to Dr. Goldhor's forceful personality spend two days a week on Willard's and intellectual approach to librarian­ previously closed second floor arrang­ ship did not impress Mrs. Williams ing and inventorying the Iglehart col­ lection. She also acted as "hostess" to at Willard. At the end of 1955 she 3 2 wrote, "The quarterly conferences researchers and sightseers. which Mr. Goldhor of E.P .L. and In 1962 Dr. Goldhor returned to Mrs. [Thomas] Harding of the College the University and his book, Practical have together are helpful only for the Administration of Public Libraries, contact it gives me with these impo - which he wrote with Joseph L. tant executives. They want to make a Wheeler, was published the same year. unit of the three libraries-though He was replaced by Edward A. How­ they do not come right out and say ard, formerly head librarian at Law­ -and I do not conform. Mr. Goldhor rence, Kansas. Meanwhile, at Willard, wants to be the big boss but up to this Mrs. Williams had retired in 1956. time has found me resistent. In only Her successor was Miss Marcia one way do I cooperate. We give him Wheeler, who had been hired by the use of the Bayard [Board] Room Willard in 1948 to reclassify the one morning a week. There he is collection and had stayed on as quiet and undisturbed and can work assistant librarian. Miss Wheeler, in on his big ideas. He says that he can turn, retired in 1972 and was replaced find no quiet spot at Central."30 by Miss Bettye Miller, "stolen" by the Willard board from the public It was Dr. Goldhor, however, who library staff. gave Willard the decisive shove in the direction of fulfilling Miss Goslee's, Despite the best efforts of Mrs. and apparently Mrs. Williams's, dream Williams and her successors, the 1950s of Willard as a "grand research li­ and 1960s were perceived by the com­ brary." In 1953 the son of John E. munity, when it took notice at all, as Iglehart, author of the 1923 history of a period of genteel decline for Willard Vanderburgh County and the leading Library. A quiescent board was con­ spirit of the Southwestern Indiana tent to accept what little tax support Historical Society, gave nine boxes the city was content to give, and was of his father's historical papers and not inclined to ask too much of the manuscripts to the public library. As five ladies "of a certain age" who Mrs. Williams later wrote, "They made up the staff. After all, they were looked them over, sorted and pond­ not being paid very much. The staff ered, and decided that they would like themselves joked that one had to be to pass them on to us. One reason able to afford to work at Willard Li­ given me-that it would take too brary. much time and money to put them in In the seventies, Willard awoke. order .... It has interested us to Several factors contributed to what know that our staff of five can and can be seen now as a renaissance. will do what a staff of 75 seemed too 31 First, in 1968 the board acquired an busy to undertake." activist trustee, Diane Foster Igle­ No doubt Dr. Goldhor had a bit heart. She was determined that the more realistic idea of what developing library should assume its rightful place a manuscript department actually in the forefront of Evansville's cul­ would involve. Nevertheless, the Wil- tural institutions, and she was able to 26/Baker Indiana Libraries convince her fellow trustees to follow board chose to hire David Ducove, her lead. In 1972 she called into be­ director of the Anderson, Indiana, ing a Friends of Willard Library or­ Public Lil?rary. The question they ganization to raise community aware­ ultimately asked him to address, al­ ness and increase support. She also though their minutes do not say so, saw that the library and park were was the question of what unique or placed on the National Register of special services Willard could provide Historic Places. She worked with to the community, given the existence sympathetic city councilmen to have of the public library system and the, Willard's historic runs of English and by now, two university libraries. German-language local newspapers After due deliberation and assess­ microfilmed and to obtain the grants ment, Mr. Bucove's answer was that, of federal revenue sharing funds that while Willard could continue to pro­ made possible needed renovations to vide general adult and children's li­ the building's antiquated lighting, brary services for the community at heating, and air conditioning systems. large and especially to Willard's imme­ Another factor of Willard's re­ diate neighborhood, it should put awakening was an awareness that greater emphasis on the areas. in which there were those who saw the library it had already carved out a niche for as an anachronism which ought to be itself. One of these was the arts. · Wil­ dismantled. In 1970 the University of lard had received significant gifts from Evansville suggested to the Willard a generous supporter over a period of trustees that Willard's valuable re­ years which built up a separate en - search materials-4,000 books and all dowment specifically for the purchase runs of historic newspapers-be of books in that field. The other area transfened to the university library. was history, particularly local history, This idea the trustees spurned, albeit which Willard had been collecting with protestations of willingness to more or less passively for almost a cooperate with the university in any hundred years. He also advocated way short of such a transfer. Then Willard's developing a genealogy col­ in 1971, while some community lection, to complement the local his­ leaders were calling for government tory interest. consolidation in Vanderburgh As often happens, the consultant's County similar to that in Marion report told the trustees little they did County, the president of the public not already suspect. The proposal was public library board issued a state­ basically "build on strength," but hav­ ment calling for incorporation of Wil­ ing heard it from an outsider the lard into the public library system. board was willing to take the nec­ Nothing came of this, just as nothing essary steps. In October, 197 4, trus­ would come of other "Vand-Gov" tee Richard E. Meier proposed, and proposals at the time, but it gave the the board accepted, a resolution es­ Willard trustees much food for 33 tablishing within Willard an Archives thought. and Research Center "as the repos­ Finally in June, 197 4, Mrs. Igle­ itory for the receipt, care and pre­ heart, now president of the Willard scribed access and use of books; pub­ trustees, "brought up the idea of lications; documents; official and bringing a library consultant here to private letters and conespondence; help us organize our daily work and artwork; artfacts; etc. of permanent long range plans in preparation for the value and significance to the cultural, increased use of the [research collec­ economic, social and political history tions on] the second floor." The and traditions of the Tri-State area, Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 27 of which the City of Evansville is ceived major additions of historic the center. As such repository, manuscripts, photographs, and docu­ Willard Library shall solicit, accept ments. Special Collections is rec­ and undertake the proper care of ognized as a co-equal part, along with contributions of qualified materials Children's and Adult Services, of . . . . These unique and distinctive Willard's mission to the commu- purposes are established for the nity. 35 special benefit and use of scholars, With the long-promised research authors, artists, genealogists, histo­ area established, the trustees and Mr. rians, archivists, scientists, students Baker turned their attention to need­ and all citizens who delight in inquiry 34 ed capital improvements in Willard's of the past." century-old building. Calling on the What had been done passively community repeatedly for private would now be done actively, and the donations, which were combined with resolution implied that the necessary monies from a variety of government resources would be found and allocat­ and foundation sources, Willard has ed. This was a pivotal document in spent approximately $750,000 over Willard's history, the most important, the last ten years to enlarge and re­ perhaps, since Willard Carpenter's model the children's room; modernize Deed of Trust. The first step forward, ancient restrooms that gave a whole however, was a step backward. In new meaning to the phrase "gothic December, 197 4, the staff was re­ architecture"; replace the roof, the organized. Head Librarian Bettye windows, the furnace; install an eleva­ Miller was named Director of Regional tor and a handicap access ramp; install History and Genealogy, to spend full a fire alarm system and upgrade the time setting up the "Archives and Re­ burglar alarms; build a staff room; re­ search Center.'' Assistant Librarian activate abandoned light fixtures in Martha Rogers was elevated to Direc­ the park; rebuild the limestone steps; tor of Public Services. Since both re­ and do a host of other things to pre­ ported to the board, Willard was back pare the building for its second hun­ to a two-headed librarian arrangement dred yearn without violating the in­ reminiscent of 1885. · tegrity it had known throughout its This misstep was remedied after the first hundred. resignation of Miss Miller at the end of Most of this work was completed 1975. Donald E. Baker, fresh out of by March 28, 1985, when Willard and the Indiana University library school its friends reenacted the opening cer­ but with a second master's degree in emonies of a century before. Now the history and experience as assistant administration is doing the spadework editor of the Indiana Magazine of -figuratively-preparatory to renovat­ History, was subsequently hired as ing Willard Parle They have also in­ overall director of the library. Build­ augurated an ongoing endowment ing on the groundwork already laid development process that, along with by Miss Miller, Mr. Baker spent most ever increasing interest and support on of his first year getting the Archives the part of the city government, and Research Center (renamed the should keep Willard on a sound finan­ Regional and Family History Center) cial footing. 3 6 organized, furnished, and staffed. The Meanwhile, at the public library Mr. facility was opened to public in Dec­ Howard has continued to build a ember, 1976. In the decade since, it system which has an enviable record has developed the third largest geneal­ of community service, breadth of col- ogy collection in the state and has re- 28 /Baker Indiana Libraries lection, and depth of staff expertise. law reference where the public library In 1985 Evansville-V and erburgh Pub­ has the budget and the staff to beef­ lic Library operated its central library fective. _On the other hand, the pub­ and seven branches (one more is lic library leaves genealogy complete­ planned) on a budget of $3,342,457. ly to Willard and soft-pedals purchas­ They circulated a total of 1,355 ,350 ing in regional history and the arts, items.37 Willard, by contrast, may be where Willard also has demonstrated senior in age but is very much junior strengths. There is much referral of in size, smaller, in fact, than two of patrons from one library to the other. the public library's branches in terms There is still, of course, that of circulation. It had 1985 expendi­ "dash of healthy competitiveness." tures of $246,549 and circulated 179, 38 Neither library is as ideological as it 7 44 items. once seemed concerning selection The impulse to cooperate is very policy. Willard can no longer, if it strong. Both libraries are part of the ever could, buy every book a patron OCLC network and are members of asks for, and in the public library can the F'our Rivers Library Services be found, pace Miss McCollough, Authority. Willard's Tuesday through Harlequin romances. Willard does Sunday operating schedule comple­ still enjoy a reputation for making ments the public library's Monday best sellers available more quickly, but through Saturday schedule so as to this is merely a matter of size. Wil­ give Evansville public library ser- lard's one professional adult librarian vice seven days a week. The public has the authority to purchase on the library courier system is made avail­ basis of advertisements. The public able to Willard so that patrons can library, to impose order on the acquis­ leave either institution's books at the ition process, uses a book selection other. In Miss McCollough 's time the committee, which must wait for public library began publishing a favorable reviews; and then coordi­ union list of periodical holdings that nates purchases from all agencies to included Willard as well as the uni­ effect savings and achieve efficiencies. versities. Under Dr. Goldhor central Under those circumstances it is no library began to include Willard's and trick for David to get a book on the the University of Evansville's non­ shelf before Goliath's committee can fiction main entry cards in its catalog, read the reviews. so that there would be a point of The people of Evansville use both access to all three collections. The Willard Library and the Evansyille union list and the cooperative catalog Public Library interchangeably, will be superceded, and such resource according to their needs and, often, sharing raised to a higher level, when according to their mood. The two both public libraries, along with libraries have been likened to a large others, put their catalogs online and a small bank, one of them ef­ through the machinery of the South­ ficiently offering a full line of up-to­ west Indiana Automated Circulation date services, the other specializing in Cluster. slower-paced personalized interaction In collection qevelopment, too, in a quaint, old fashioned atmosphere. there is cooperation, in the form of an There is a public for both kinds of informal gentlemen's agreement to library. And in Evansville there is a respect one another's turf. Willard, library for both kinds of public. even if it could afford to, would not attempt to follow the public library into areas such as business, tax, and Volume 6, Number 2 (1986) Baker/ 29

Notes 1 2 Where There's a Willard, p. 178; lThe most comprehensive history Willru:d Library Board of Trustees of Willard Library is Friends of Wil­ Minutes, October 8, 22, December lard Library, Inc., Where There's a 8, 1909. Willard: The First 100 Years of Evans­ 13 Herbert Goldhor, The First Fifty ville, Indiana (Evansville: Friends of Years: The Evansville Public Library Willard Library Press, 1986), pub­ and the Vanderburgh County Public lished in honor of the library's 1985 Library ([Evansville: Evansville Pub­ centennial. Willard Carpenter's lic Library, 1962] ), pp.1-2. Unless letter to the library's first board otherwise noted, historical facts con­ of trustees, August 23, 1876, is cerning the Evansville Public Library printed on pages 155-57 of Where and biographical facts concerning its There's a Willard; the quote reprinted directors are takei1 from this source. in this paragraph may be found on Dr. Herbert Goldhor was Chief Lib­ page 155. For an account of Car­ rarian of the Evansville Public Library penter's life, see Donald E. Baker, from 1952 to 1962. "Willard Carpenter, Eccentric Phi­ lanthropist," in Where There's a 14Goldhor, First Fifty Years, pp. Willard, pp. 1-145. 1-3. 2 Where There's a Willard, p. 156- 15 Interview with Evangeline Herr, 157 . October 20, 1986. Miss Herr began 3 Where There's a Willard, p. 156. working for the Evansville Public 4 Library in March, 1945, and is now Much of the rest of this article, as Administrative Assistant to Director it pertains to Willard Library, is a Edward A. Howard. The author is condensation of material presented in indebted to Miss Herr and Mr. Howard Kenneth P. Mccutchan, "I Leave Very for the McCollough anecdotes in this Much to Your Wisdom and Judge­ and the following paragraph. The ment: A Chronicle of Willard Library picture mentioned is reproduced in and Its Board of Trustees," Where Goldhor, First Fifty Years, p. 5. There's a Willard, pp.161-216. l 6 Ethel F. McCollough Files, 5 See, for example, Willard Library Business Office, Evansville-Vander­ Board of Trustees Minutes, July 5, burgh County Public Library. 1887, and February, 1888, Willard 1 7 Library Archives. Goldhor, First Fifty Years, pp. 6 3-7; Annual Reports, Willard Library Willard Library Board of Trustees Archives. Minutes, June, 20, 1893; March 24, 1894. 18Willard Library Board of Trus­ tees Minutes, December 17, 1915. 7 Quoted in Where There's a Wil­ 9 lard, p. 181. 1 Otilda Goslee File, Willard Li­ brary Archives. 8 "Rules of Willard Library," Wil­ lard Library Archives. 20 John E. Iglehart, ed., An Ac­ 9Willard Library Board of Trustees count of Vanderburgh County from Minutes, April 10, 1885. Its Organization, v. III of Logan Esarey, History of Indiana from Its lOWhere There's a Willard, p. 156. Exploration to 1922 (Dayton: Dayton l 1 Deed of Trust, typescript copy, Historical Publishing Company), Willard Library Archives. p. 357 -58; Where There's a Willard, p. 300. 30/Baker Indiana Libraries

21 Recounted in Gray D. Williams, 35 Where There's a Willard, p. Annual Report for 1951, Willard 204. Library Archives. 3 6 Where There's a Willard, pp. 22 [Gray D. Williams], Brief Notes 204-15' 345-49. from the Old Minute Book, parenthet­ 3 7 Evansville-Vanderburgh County ical note under February 13, 1922. Annual Report 1985, in The River 2 3 Biographical note by Mrs. Wil­ City Library Times, the newsletter of liams's daughter, Jane Gray Williams the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Cameron, in "The Life and Willard Public Library, May 1986. Times of Gray Davis Williams", Gray 38 willard Library Annual Report D. Williams File, Willard Library Ar­ for 1985. chives. This typescript item is a com­ pilation of Mrs. Williams's witty and informative reports to the Viillard Library Board of Trustees and is the best source of information on her accomplishments and activities as Willard's head librarian, 1941-56. 24 Anecdote by long-time Willard Children's Librarian Margaret Maier, recounted in Where There's a Willard, p.190. 25 Williams, Annual Report for 1949. 2 6Williams, Annual Report for 1951. 2 7 Williams, Annual Report for 1952. 28The history of Miss McCollough's retirement and that of the Rosaaen and Goldhor administrations of the Evansville Public Library may be found in Goldhor, First Fifty Years, pp. 19-23. 2 9 Characterizations of Miss McCol­ lough and Mr. Rosaaen by Evangeline Herr, Interview, October 20, 1986. 3 0Williams, Annual Report for 1955. 3 l Williams, Annual Report for 1953. 3 2 Williams, Report for December 22, 1954. 33Where There's a Willard, pp. 198-200. 34 Where There's a Willard, pp. 203-2-4.