Workingmen's Library

A Different Sort of Library

Postcard of a large rectangular building with 5 stories. The bottom story has storefront windows while floors two through 4 have rectangular windows lining the building. The top floor has rounded windows.

Philanthropist William MacLure’s last will & testament had set up a Trust to establish Workingmen’s Libraries throughout the country, and one of them opened in Muncie in 1900, first in the Johnson Block and then later moving to South High Street. The librarian there was George Welkel, and the library was funded entirely by donations. Their report to their library board estimated that they received 1,200 visitors to the Workingmen’s Library monthly. The library closed by August 1902 due to lack of funds and support from the laborers. Many of the books were sold in January 1903.

The first location of the Workingmen's Library in the Johnson Block as it appeared around 1912 (Postcard collection, Carnegie Library special collections)

Sources

McKinley, Sara. Muncie Public Library: An Origin Story. (03-17-2016). Presentation. MPL Archives. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Orebaugh As Librarian." (05-11-1900). Muncie Daily Herald. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Postcard collection. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Reading Rooms Open to Public." (03-06-1900). Muncie Morning Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"The Library Is Now Established." (02-20-1902). The Evening Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"To Workingmen's Library." (12-03-1900). Muncie Daily Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Trades Council Did Very Little." (05-30-1902). The Evening Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Trades Council Has Business." (07-11-1902). The Evening Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Trades Council Has Decided to Dispose of Workingmen's Library and Provide a Free Hospital Ward." (08-08-1902). Muncie Morning Star. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Workingmen's Library." (03-05-1900). Muncie Daily Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

"Workingmen's Library." (09-25-1901). The Evening Times. Carnegie Library. Muncie Public Library.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse