Newburgh Free Academy - Graduate Yearbook (Newburgh, NY)

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rrlirlurr lrl ill lfhlilltl., The Trustees of the old Newburgh Academy are entitled to the credit of inaugurating the first public library in Newburgh by the purchase of 77 volumes for that purpose, 75 years ago. At a meeting of the Board, held March 3d, 1815, the teacher, Luther Halsey, proposedthe propriety of granting premiums to the scholars and the necessity of procuring a library of useful books for the Academy. Four dollars and fifty cents was appropriated for premiums, and Sroo for books, and Rev. John Johnston, Jonas Storey and Solomon Sleight were appointed a committee to prucure the books. At the next meeting the Rev. john Johnston reported the purchase of 77 volumes. In 1816 335 volumes were purchased, and during the next 35 years 135 more were added, making a total of 547. In 1852 but 418 of these remained, and they were transferred to the Board of Education and formed the foundation of the Newburgh Free Library. fTwo hundred and fifty- one of the books purchased for the Academy in 1815-16 are now in the Newburgh Free Library, and still in good cond.ition.j In 1816 the Newburgh Library Society was incorporated and continued in existence until 1821. There are no records to show what disposition was made of its books. In April, 183 5, the Newburgh Library Associa- tion was organized, and in September, 1847, united with the Mechanics' Library Association, which had been organized in 1838, andin 'I842 had purchased the books belonging to the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society. N In 1839 tlie first books were purchased for the High School Library and in 1843 the Glebe school Library was commenced. During the thirty years between 1814 and 1844 seven public libraries were instituted in Newburgh, and, after fulfilling their mission, passed away, and the books of six of them ultimately became the property of the Board of Education, and aided in the establishment and growth of the Newburgh Free Li- brary. At a meeting of the Board of Education held Sept. 7th, 1852, on T14-i

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be the destinies of those who have just passed for the last time, as pupils, under the portals of our Alma Mater. I speculate as to the probable number of lawyers, physicians, authors, etc., that will come forth from their ranks and carve for themselves names that shall be synonyms of fame and honor, and as I call to each class for the last time, I always try to say, ' Redeem the time, redeem the timell' QM QW are 713.-.

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motion of George W. Kerr, it was resolved that all- the school libraries be consolidated and placed together in the Academy room now in readiness. Nine hundred and twenty-four volumes from the High School, and 737 from the Glebe, were removed to the Academy, and added to the 418 al- ready there. The duplicates were thrown out, a few volumes added by purchase, and the library, with 2,001 volumes, opened to the public, Sat- urday, Nov. 6th, 1852, from 2 to 3 P. M., and at the same hour each suc- ceeding Saturday until Ianuary, 1861. In I86O the number of volumes had increased to nearly 4,o00. More room and better accommodations being needed, a neat library building was erected on the corner of Grand and Campbell Streets, adjoining the High School, and the books were moved from the Academy to this new building. From 1861 to 1865 the library was open on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 P. M. for adult males and young men not connected with the schools, on Thursdays from 1 to 5 P. M. exclusively for ladies, and on Saturdays, from 8 A. M. to I2 M. for the school children. In 1862 the Mechanics' Library Association decided to disband, and by an. arrangement with the Board of Education their books, numbering 2,801 volumes, were added to this library. An amendment to the free school law, passed March 7th, 1865, empowered the Board of Education to appropriate, for the purchase of books for the Newburgh Free Library, all moneys received for the tuition of non-resident pupils, the fines col- lected for over-detention or injury to books, or any other money that may lawfully come into their hands applicable to such purpose, and the clerk of the Board was constituted the general librarian. This act was further amended in March, 1877, the office of librarian created, and the present incumbent appointed. - The fine and com1nodious edifice, now known as the Library Building, was completed in june, 1877, at a cost of S28,276.99, including lot and furniture. The books were removed to their new quarters, arranged and catalogued, and the library opened for visitors February 6th, and for the delivery of books February 13th, 1878, with IO,42I volumes. Some valuable donations have been made to the library since its organ- ization, but the space allotted to this article will not admit an extended notice. Mr. E. M. Ruttenber has depositedin the library bound files of the the P0lz'z'z'raZ Dzzifx from 1806 to 1827, with complete files of other New- burgh papers up to 1866, making a collection of local papers of inestim- . -Isn-