THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Following an unsuccessful effort in 1844 by Mexican residents and one in
the mid-1850s by the Mechanic's Institute, another attempt to provide Los
Angeles with a reading room took place in 1859 when several prominent citizens
organized a subscription library. Housed in Abel Stearns' newly-built Arcadia
Block at the corner of Los Angeles and Arcadia Streets, it provided books and
Eastern newspapers for the members. Despite a modest membership fee of five
dollars and monthly dues of only a dollar, the venture failed for lack of
public support and the irregular delivery of the newspapers.
The next effort, in 1872, succeeded. Again the town's prominent citizens,
including a former and a future governor, took the lead in establishing the
facility. Located in rooms provided by John G. Downey in the block that bore
his name, the library relied not only on membership fees {a life membership for
$50 or an annual fee of $5} but also received property tax funds after the
state legislature in 1874 authorized a library for Los Angeles. It existed as
an independent agency, under the direction of librarian John Littlefield, until
the municipal charter of 1878 recognized it as an official city function. At
that time the annual fee was reduced to $4.
Patrick Connolly was librarian {1879-1880} as the 'eighties opened,
overseeing about 150 paying subscribers and 2100 volumes. He was followed by
Mary Foy {1880-1884}, Jessie Gavitt {1884-1889} and, briefly in early 1889,
Lydia Prescott. The new city charter of 1889 placed control of the library in
a board of regents, appointed by the mayor. That year, under librarian Tessa
Kelso {1889-1895}, the facility moved from the Downey Block to the new city
hall on Broadway, where it remained until 1896.
At the time Kelso became librarian the holdings had increased to 6000
books but the membership had declined. Much to the consternation of more
conservative library patrons, Kelso began to stock the shelves with French
novels. She was also noted for smoking cigarettes in public. But the library
thrived and during her tenure, in 1891, the membership fee was abolished and it
became a free library. The institution would make several more moves and have
several other head librarians, including former Times city editor Charles
Lummis, before reaching its present site in the 1920s.
Letters to the Times about the library in the 1880s were largely complaints
about the hours it was open, the size and condition of its holdings,
inconsiderate patrons and the librarian. While "Philotay" took a circuitous
course to get to the point, this 1885 letter, which reads as though it might
have been penned by future librarian Lummis, then on the staff of the Times,
attempted to shame Angelenos into vastly improving the existing library.
{Times, Oct. 29, 1885, p. 2}
Licks at the Library.
To the Editor of the Times--Sir: A few days ago an
Eastern man of considerable business capacity said in regard
to Southern California, having especially Los Angeles in his
mind: "This country will never be a Wisconsin or a
Pennsylvania; the business man cannot spread or throw himself
with sufficient certainty of profit into the arms of nature.
This land can never become a source of great wealth, although
it will prove to be of great value. It will in the coming
few years rapidly develop its real qualities, which are, in
summa, to absorb money, giving in return comfort and beauty
to those who spend their surplus savings here. It will, in a
great measure, depend on the East for its existence.
Southern California will become 'the Italy of America.'"
Let the above independent opinion of the nature and
future of Southern California or Los Angeles be taken for all
it is worth. Such a definition of our case is well worthy to
receive attention. A rebuke or rejection is often more
valuable than high praise. But to the point. We thought of
those words, Mr. Editor, when we first entered the library of
the city of Los Angeles.
Pray, beware of the thought, that this institution
reminded us of the Vatican! It rather struck us as if we had
run into the editorial rooms of a second-class newspaper.
The same insignificance as to comfort and pleasantness, the
same disregard of order, of cleanliness and of propriety
prevails here as there. Even the scissors, the first
assistant of a great editor, seem to have permission to
perform their duty here. Of newspapers you have the very
best and a great number, but they are in bad shape. The
periodicals are ill-treated, even shamelessly handled and
only fit for the rag basket. And the books--Lord have mercy
with us!--strike the beholder with horror. Oh! that such a
thing as these rooms with their contents was ever called a
"library!"
But why did we think of the words of our Eastern
friend?--of the Italy of America!--here in that library?
Whoever visits your home, Mr. Editor, must, of right,
say that it is beautiful. Your guests, who learned to write
and are not blind, must send handsome letters, dictated by
enthusiasm and love, to their friends at home. Their letters
must be full of news, full of interesting portraits, full of
sensitive, animating pictures, and to outline the features of
their object truly, they must describe the rare views of the
mountains. Those thus addressed desire to see your home
and--come! "The Italy of America" receives them gladly. Its
"metropolis, Los Angeles," claims the largest number of those
tourists. It is the center of that Italy. And this center,
where we notice business blocks as fine as at Chicago and
residences as lovely as on Grand Avenue at Milwaukee, where
they have electric lights, street cars and cable cars, where
they have a number of fine churches, of good public schools,
a State Normal School, and academies of arts and science;
this center, which desires to maintain its position against
other rising cities, not far from it; this center, which is
anxious to uphold and better its reputation, and which is the
home of many wealthy, loyal-hearted people; this "metropolis"
has the courage to say: "A public library? What do you
mean?" No! We have no such an institution!
Los Angeles can do better. It is far behind in this
matter. Let its best citizens look it up, and let them fight
for a library, if necessary! The people will thank them for
their efforts, ere long. If the common citizen does not call
for any books, create in him an appetite for them. And this
can only be done by a "library" that will do credit to a
place so lovely and much visited as the City of the Angels.
Truly your friend,
PHILOTAY.
"W. H. H.," also writing in 1885, had a distinctly different view of the
library facility, finding it much more inviting than did "Philotay." Still,
"W. H. H." offered two suggestions to make it even more attractive to out-of-
town visitors and regular patrons. When the proposal regarding the schedule
went unheeded, a second letter appeared a year and a half later, its content
suggesting that it was perhaps written by the same author.
{Times, July 10, 1885, p. 2}
The Public Library.
To the Editor of the Times--Sir: As the Board of
Trustees of the Public Library are to hold a meeting next
week, there are two suggestions which I wish through your
columns respectfully to submit to their consideration.
The first refers to holidays. Some half dozen of these
occur in a year, during which the Library is closed; and I
consider that no public officer is better entitled to holiday
privileges than the Librarian who does duty seven days per
week. But why close the Library? Crowds are in town on
every public holiday, who are bent on sight-seeing and who
are debarred the enjoyment and profit of seeing this resort,
which is one of the most pleasing in our city. Cannot the
Board appoint a substitute to take the Librarian's place on
such days? For two or three dollars each holiday, some
citizen whose patriotism is of the quiet kind might be had,
and the visitors who have been wearing out the handle of the
Library door every holiday for years past would bless the
Trustees for the boon.
My second suggestion concerns the large notices hung up
in the readingroom prohibiting smoking. Are the Trustees
aware that these are unheeded?--that the notice is treated
with utter contempt?--that when ladies do come into the room,
they stay as short time as possible in the perfumed
air?--that non-smokers of the hardier sex have sometimes
offered a gentle remonstrance, but all in vain? My
suggestion is simply this: That either the notice should be
taken down altogether, or the defiers of the ordinance gently
persuaded to heed it.
W. H. H.
{Times, Dec. 29, 1886, p. 10}
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Los Angeles, Dec. 27.--[To the Editor of The Times.]
Permit me through your columns to call the attention of the
public and our Board of Regents to the necessity and
propriety of keeping open the public library on holidays.
Above all other days those are the ones during which many
strangers, as well as citizens, find time and inclination to
avail themselves of its benefits and privileges, were its
doors thrown open to them.
The writer does not mean in the slightest manner to
reflect upon the management of our very efficient and
faithful lady librarian, for she has no option in the matter,
and needs the recreations and enjoyments of such occasions as
much as other workers. But let the Regents increase her
salary $2.50 or $3 per month, and require the library kept
open on the six or eight holidays that annually occur. The
librarian can always find some poor and competent person glad
to earn $2.50 or $3 by taking charge for a single day upon
such occasions.
PRO BONO PUBLICO.
"W.H.H." was concerned that the use of tobacco in the reading room would
discourage female patrons. "Invalid," on the other hand, thought the library
gave too much consideration to women.
{Times, April 12, 1882, p. 3}
Wants to Know.
Editor Times: Please tell us why the best and sunniest
room in the Free Library is reserved for ladies only, as
there seems to be but a very small percentage of the patrons
of the Free Library that belong to the fair sex, and oblige.
INVALID.
Ignoring "Invalid's" concern, the library continued to provide women with
special quarters. But as the holdings grew to 6000 volumes without an increase
in space, the cramped rooms in the Downey Block location led to changes that
reduced the favoritism that had disturbed him, as librarian Jessie Gavitt
explained in this reply to "Resident Subscriber's" complaint that men were
invading the rooms set aside for women.
{Times, April 1, 1888, p. 3}
To a "Resident Subscriber" of the Public Library.
Los Angeles, March 31.--[To the Editor of The Times.]
About six months ago it became necessary to put book-shelves
in the room then occupied as a ladies' parlor, as the room
proper was overcrowded, and no more rooms were obtainable in
the building. The public have access to all books on the
shelves, and it was not practicable to exclude men from them
because they were in that particular room. Until the new
City Hall is built, where we are promised commodious rooms
for the library, we are helpless, unless some of our
liberal-minded citizens of wealth, who are interested in the
welfare of our city, will earn the lasting gratitude of the
people of Los Angeles by giving us a library building. If,
however, men frequenting the library would remember that
"cleanliness is next to godliness," and that women are
entitled to a little consideration, especially as they are
invaders, there would not be quite so much cause for
complaint.
THE LIBRARIAN.
Despite the city's meteoric population growth, the number of library
subscribers had fallen to 130 by 1889. "A Resident" offered an explanation why
that had occurred. "X" read "Resident's" criticism as an attack on Mrs. Lydia
Prescott, who had succeeded Gavitt as librarian in Jan., 1889, and submitted
this spirited defense of the librarian. Alas, Mrs. Prescott and the works of
Sir Henry Rider Haggard soon gave way to Tessa Kelso and those racy French
novels.
{Times, Feb. 23, 1889, p. 2}
The Public Library.
Los Angeles, Feb. 16.--[To the Editor of The Times.] We
are glad to see that some step toward making our Public
Library of more credit to itself and to our city is being
taken.
Of the 17 public libraries on this coast that of the
city of Los Angeles has ranked among the poorest as to number
and character of books.
While the increase in the population of the city has
been enormous, and the demand for good reading has also
increased, yet the number of books in the library has been
but slightly added to, and the additions are for the greater
part not standard works.
The position of the library is most unfortunate; but if
the crowd of expectorating loungers could be kept from the
lower entrance and stairs it would be easier to have patience
with the location until the new reading-rooms in the City
Hall are ready for occupancy.
The signs on the present library are inconspicuous, and
many business and other people pass there daily without
having their attention attracted to the fact that there is
any library at all.
Some of our citizens who two years ago visited the rooms
to read or take the books for home use, have entirely dropped
their subscriptions and deserted the place, on the ground of
lack of supply of a good class of modern literature, and not
as good a supply of older and of reference books as there
should be, so the revenue to the library is much cut off--and
yet the present condition of the treasury gives no excuse for
failure to purchase those works which the reading public
require. Visitors from Eastern cities, with their well-
stocked libraries, find this one far behind the ordinary
requirements of the student of even small towns, and cannot
help wondering why an intelligent public has so long
slumbered over this neglect. More books and a better class,
that such books as "He" and "She" may grow distasteful to
all, is what the public should have; also lower rates for
fines, as probably the high rate often prevents a party from
returning a book that has been too long kept out, where as a
small daily charge for overtime might not be so much dreaded,
and the book might be replaced upon the shelves. There is a
large number of missing books that never appear at all.
These should be called in, without penalty, that the supply
may be no less than the expenditure in the past would
warrant, and with a reasonable supply of new works the
library would become more useful to a large number of people
who cannot purchase freely for their own homes.
A RESIDENT.
{Times, Mar. 7, 1889, p. 5}
About Mrs. Prescott.
Los Angeles, March 4.--[To the Editor of The Times.] As
the last article on the library that appeared in your paper
was somewhat personal in its tone, let me make a few
statements, personal also.
There is a report being sedulously circulated that the
appointment of Mrs. Prescott as librarian was a Democratic
movement. Since there are a great many people who take such
a statement for gospel truth, without any inquiry whatever,
it is for their benefit the following points are given: Mrs.
Prescott, always a Republican, belonging to a Republican
family, had three brothers, all of whom enlisted in the Union
army; all of whom were wounded, one dying in consequence of
his wounds. She was called to St. Louis to nurse one of
them. This was just after the recall of Gen. Fremont, and
Mrs. Prescott, a stanch Fremonter, because a stanch
Republican, was between two fires--the South, who could never
approve of Fremont, and the disaffected North. But through
all the many months of consequent annoyance she was true to
her convictions.
On the recovery of her brother she gave two years'
gratuitous services to sanitary commission work in St. Louis,
and at the close of the war gave another two years of unpaid
services to the Freedmen's Bureau. She was appointed
superintendent of freedmen's work for the Mississippi Valley.
With all the zeal that she had displayed in the sanitary work
she devoted herself to organizing freedmen's schools;
organizing those that have developed into "the Sumner High
School" of St. Louis, the "Lincoln Institute" of Jefferson
City, the "Garrison Institute" and "Peabody Academy." This
is not the kind of work that has the exclusive support of
Democratic leaders. Nor, you may say, does it bear upon the
fitness of a candidate to fill the position of librarian.
This I readily grant; but with the knowledge of these facts
that of still others was possessed by the Councilmen who made
the appointment. Let me give a few of these:
Mrs. Prescott taught during 14 years as principal of
high-grade schools in St. Louis; was superintendent of
kindergarten work in Oakland under the W.C.T.U., to which
organization she had belonged from its foundation; organized
and supported for many months a kindergarten in that city;
was invited by the W. C. T. U. to read a paper before the
Alameda County Convention; did "aggressive work for
temperance;" was invited to read this again before the summer
Chautauqua meeting at Pacific Grove; was appointed for her
war record Chief of Staff of the National President of the W.
C. T. U.
Besides these experiences, which help fit one for almost
any position in life, Mrs. Prescott has been a member of the
"Ancient Literature Class of Oakland and San Francisco," and
was invited to represent the class at its annual meeting, the
subject of the paper to be read by her being assigned by the
class.
She was for two years corresponding secretary of the
noted "Ebell" Society of Oakland.
John Mance Cheney, poet and librarian of San Francisco,
sent a letter of congratulation to Mrs. Prescott on her
appointment to office here, at the same time expressing his
appreciation of the benefit to the library that would result
from it.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
X.