Credit For Carnegie's Gift

Credit for Carnegie Gift

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Belongs at Ann Arbor End to the Ladies

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THE LETTER WRITING

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Which Moved Mr. Carnegie to Promise $20,000--No Doubt of Acceptance of Gift

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For thirty-five years “The Ladies Library” has been a pleasure to many, a burden to some. Two years ago the board of directors felt its days of usefulness as it had been carried on were passed, and something should be done to revive the former interest in it. The idea of uniting with the Public Library was suggested, and a committee appointed to bring the matter before the school board. This was done, and met with hearty approval. The pros and cons were discussed in the papers much to the satisfaction of all. The matter was then dropped for the time being, but the hope still remained that some citizen of Ann Arbor would come to the rescue and give a library building which would accommodate the books from both of these. Last April, there being no prospect of such a gift, the matter was again taken up by the director of the Ladies’ Library. It was then decided to ask Mr. Carnegie to give $20,000 to the city for such a building. A letter was written for that purpose by Dean Hutchins of the law department. Knowing that Mr. Carnegie would not acknowledge any communication except an official one, Mayor Copeland was asked to sign his name first; after his Judge Kinne, Mr. Beal, Mr. Mills, Miss Bower, Mrs. Bach, Dr. Angell and Dean Hutchins. This was forwarded to Mr. Carnegie with a personal letter from Dean Hutchins. After waiting what seemed to the ladies and unusually long time for a reply it was thought that a letter to Mrs. Carnegie, asking her to influence her husband in our behalf, might be of some avail. Such a letter was written by the middle of October and signed by each member of the Ladies’ Library board. Shortly after this the first reply was received. Like all good enterprises, the idea originated with women, and their perseverance seems about to be rewarded by the pleasure of seeing erected a building which will hold up on its shelves the 12,000 books now in two libraries and also have space for many more volumes to be purchased in the future. The next step to be taken is the acceptance of Mr. Carnegie's gift by the city, and as the maintenance of the new building will cost no more than two now in use, it does not seem as though any public-spirited citizen could raise objection especially as a Free Library is an advantage and a benefit to the city. A special meeting of the Ladies’ Library association is called for Monday, Jan. 26, at three P. M., at the library on Huron street.