From Eames & Young to Pruitt-Igoe A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRUNDEN BRANCH LIBRARY Chris Freeland Associate University Librarian Washington University Libraries Missouri Conference on History Springfield, Missouri March 24, 2017
From Eames & Youngto Pruitt-Igoe
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRUNDEN BRANCH LIBRARY
Chris FreelandAssociate University Librarian
Washington University Libraries
Missouri Conference on History
Springfield, MissouriMarch 24, 2017
Overview
F.M. Crunden “Old” Crunden Branch Library,ca. 1909
“New” Crunden Branch Library, ca. 1960
Pruitt-IgoeSite
“New”Crunden
“Old”Crunden
About FM Crunden
New York Public Library. https://dp.la/item/0c7ce1cd8ffd446181895a09bc453794
• Born in England, Sep 1, 1847
• Graduated from WashU, 1869 & 1872
• Principal of Jefferson & Bentonschools, 1869-1872
• WashU Faculty, 1872-1876
• Named librarian of STL Public School Library, 1876
• First librarian of STL Public Library, established 1893-94
• First ALA President, 1889
• Hosted ALA @ World’s Fair, 1904
• Series of illnesses, 1905-1911
• Died in St. Louis, Oct 28, 1911
https://dp.la/item/36fc923d490f15542aacc583fe6175c7
“To attempt to keep pace with rival cities without a free library is like doing business without the aid of telegraph, telephone and typewriter.” 1893, p21.
ca 1900. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University Library. https://dp.la/item/e819921a251b78bba97fb34af772dd3a
Frederick M. Crunden John Cotton Dana
1904. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University Library. https://dp.la/item/580917811ce9eb837777c9679c3b31d5
Purd B. Wright Frederick M. Crunden
Crunden’s decline
“paralysis”
“stroke”
“breakdown”“great illness”
“malady”
“fell ill”
“Old” Crunden Branch Library1909-1953; DEMOLISHED 2005
Washington University Libraries, University Archives. https://dp.la/item/ffde8fa8f720a34b44bab31e0399dc85
Washington University Libraries, University Archives. https://dp.la/item/a908db4b05f70e010bb818e161492741
Crunden Children’s Room, 1909. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
St. Louis Public LibraryCrunden Branch
14th St. and Cass Ave.
DO YOU KNOW … that there is a free library?
DO YOU KNOW ... that it has a rich collection of Yiddish and Hebrew books?
DO YOU KNOW … that it has books that will help you learn English?
DO YOU KNOW … that it has books that will help you become a citizen?
DO YOU KNOW … that it has many Yiddish newspapers?
Use this library, and if not—why not?
Ask for a list of Yiddish books
*Translation from Yiddish courtesy Michael Getty
Legal Advisory Boards, 1917. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
Old Crunden decline
“Old”Crunden
“New” Crunden Branch Library1959-1981
Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
Project Head Start, 1966. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
HeroinesMrs. Ellen Q. Claus Ms. Irene Eveland Mrs. Margaret Pinkus
Crunden Branch Library today – Church of the Living God.
14th & Cass today
From Eames & Youngto Pruitt-Igoe
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRUNDEN BRANCH LIBRARY
Chris FreelandAssociate University Librarian
Washington University Libraries
Missouri Conference on History
Springfield, MissouriMarch 24, 2017