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Library 90th Birthday Celebration

90th Birthday Celebration

Mark your calendars and join us for the Denison Public Library's Denison Library 90th birthday invitation 90th Birthday Celebration!

Date: Saturday, November 15th 

Location: Denison Public Library - 300 W. Gandy Street, Denison, Texas 75020

Time: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

*NOTE: The library will open at 9 a.m. and close at 12 p.m. to join in the celebration*

Local History Series: Denison Public Library 90th Birthday

Presented by: Brian HanderHistory Series: Library 90th Birthday Flyer

Date: Thursday, November 13th 

Location: Denison Public Library 300 W. Gandy Street, Denison Texas 75020

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 

History of the Denison Public Library

October 14, 1890
  • The XXI Club, a literary society, is formed. This is the same day that President Eisenhower was born in Denison. 

Old Library Building

1900: XXI Club Building at Gandy and Scullin

October 31, 1899
  • The XXI Club receives $17,000 from the Carnegie Library Fund to pay off all indebtedness on their building with the understanding that the space would be used as a library open to the public.
  • In January of 1900, the XXI Club opens the doors of its library to the public. The space is open every Wednesday afternoon from two until five.

XXI Club Rules

November 22, 1935
  • The library was formally opened by the Junior Alpha Delphians with a silver tea. Two hundred and fifty people attended the opening. The number of books at the time totaled 1,200. Furnishings were loaned to make the rooms attractive, and the Senior Club provided refreshments. Two hundred books were donated and about $67.00 in cash was received on the day of the grand opening.

Librarian

January 27, 1936
  • The first library board is formed and consists of B. McDaniel, Chairman, Eloise Munson, Mrs. Jake McCall, Mrs. Leo Short, Ford Seale, Verne Murray, J. H. Little, David Platter, Sarah Louise Greer, and Helen Kingston. The board proposed the following budget: Librarian’s Salary: $900. 00, New books: $500.00, Building expense: $100.00

B McDaniel Photo

Board Chairman, B. McDaniel

February 11, 1939
  • The library's 2,000th registrant signs up for a library card. Today (2025), there are 3,129 registrants with library cards.

First Library Card Holder

The 2,000th card registrant

December 4-6, 1940
  • The first Book Fair in North Texas is held at the library. In an effort to encourage reading and to bolster facilities of the Denison Public Library, the book fair was to cover a wide range of subjects and would feature lectures by outstanding Southwest authors who would be present to autograph their books.

Book Fair Program

Book fair program

November 11, 1948
  • The contract for construction of the new building was awarded. Contractors and architects and other contributors to the extensive program included the Asch-Abel Construction Company, Dallas; Beals Plumbing and Lighting, Inc., Fort Worth; Burton Brothers Electric Company, Ft. Worth; Remington Rand, Inc., New York; and Preston M. Geren, Architect, Fort Worth. The plans called for a floor space of 6,400 square feet, with a building width of 95 feet and a depth of around 75 feet including the porch. The building would be colonial in nature with Tuscan-style columns, a brick exterior, and a tile roof.

Library Building

Original front of Denison Public Library

May 21, 1950
  • The formal opening for the new Denison Public Library was held with the Honorable Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, as principal speaker. Rayburn was introduced by Denison Mayor Harry Glidden. Miss Eloise Munson, chairman of the Public Library board, was on hand to welcome guests and introduce the mayor. Rayburn dedicated the library to “The young people who can commune though this institution with the great persons of the present and past who wrote and wrought to help make this land great.”

Opening of Library Ad

March 23, 1965
  • 1,572 books were checked out in a single day. A new record for the library.

Kids in the Library

October 1976
  • The library hits a record of 13,222 active library members. Currently, the library welcomes over 70,000 visitors per year! 

Old Library Card

Original library card

Mayor Jerdy Gary

Mayor Jerdy Gary launching an amnesty program to return overdue library books

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