Draft talk:Wilmington Public Library
Notes
[edit]
Why does it say 1788-1922 above the entry? FloridaArmy (talk) 15:26, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
Not to be confused with the Wilmington Carnegie Library in Wilmington, Ohio (File:Wilmington Carnegie Library.JPG) or libraries in Wilmington, North Carolina (UNC) FloridaArmy (talk) 15:17, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
The library was involved in an employment lawsuit in the 1970s documented here. FloridaArmy (talk) 15:17, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
from Smallbones
[edit]@FloridaArmy: Mostly a few informed guesses and maybe places to look. The 1788 date is way too early for what we'd call a public library today, which started maybe in the 1880s. But in the 1730s subscription librarys became active near Philadelphia, starting with Ben Franklin in Philly, there is one still active in Darby which borders Philly Darby Free Library (which only became a true public library about 1890) there was another off-and-on subscription library in Chester, PA, maybe another 10 miles south of Philly, Wilmington is another 10-15 miles south of Chester. I see a pattern here. The 1922 date likely is the date the building was constructed. There is a wonderful "children's library mural" by either Howard Pyle or N.C. Wyeth (both local, very sucessful illustrators). I'll add more in a bit. Smallbones(smalltalk) 15:50, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
- List of public libraries in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- J. Lewis Crozer Library - in Chester
- Library Company of Philadelphia. Smallbones(smalltalk) 16:09, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
- Rodney Square - the historic district the library is in, right in front of the library
- Clifford Brown Jazz Festival don't miss it! in Rodney Square (in July?)
- https://wilmington.lib.de.us/finding-information/local-historical-research/ gives 1788 date
Smallbones(smalltalk) 16:30, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
- found 1922 and the murals https://townsquaredelaware.com/wilmington-library-called-one-of-americas-most-beautiful/ by N.C. Wyeth. They had 14 panels (from Robinson Caruso) and have sold off 10 of them.
- go down to 5th of 7 pages
That's all I can find or remember. Smallbones(smalltalk) 16:51, 11 April 2025 (UTC)