From Eames & Young to Pruitt-Igoe
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The document summarizes the history of the Crunden Branch Library in St. Louis, Missouri from its origins to present day. It began as the "Old" Crunden Branch Library in 1909 under the leadership of librarian Frederick M. Crunden. It later moved to a "New" location in 1959 before closing in 1981. The building that housed the "New" Crunden Branch Library now sits abandoned on the former site of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing projects.
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From Eames & Young to Pruitt-Igoe
- 1. 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
- 2. Overview F.M. Crunden “Old” Crunden Branch Library, ca. 1909 “New” Crunden Branch Library, ca. 1960
- 6. New York Public Library. https://dp.la/item/0c7ce1cd8ffd446181895a09bc453794 • Born in England, Sep 1, 1847 • Graduated from WashU, 1869 & 1872 • Principal of Jefferson & Benton schools, 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/36fc923d490f15542aacc58 “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.
- 7. ca 1900. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University Library. https://dp.la/item/e819921a251b78bba97fb34af772dd3a Frederick M. Crunden John Cotton Dana
- 8. 1904. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University Library. https://dp.la/item/580917811ce9eb837777c9679c3b31d5 Purd B. Wright Frederick M. Crunden
- 11. “Old” Crunden Branch Library 1909-1953; DEMOLISHED 2005
- 12. Washington University Libraries, University Archives. https://dp.la/item/ffde8fa8f720a34b44bab31e0399dc85
- 13. Washington University Libraries, University Archives. https://dp.la/item/a908db4b05f70e010bb818e161492741
- 14. Crunden Children’s Room, 1909. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 15. St. Louis Public Library Crunden 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
- 16. Legal Advisory Boards, 1917. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 21. Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 22. Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 23. Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 24. Interior, Crunden Branch Library, 1959. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 25. Project Head Start, 1966. St. Louis Public Library, Special Collections.
- 26. Heroines Mrs. Ellen Q. Claus Ms. Irene Eveland Mrs. Margaret Pinkus
- 29. Crunden Branch Library today – Church of the Living God.
- 30. 14th & Cass today
- 33. 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
Editor's Notes
- Hosted ALA @ World’s Fair Hall of Congresses, now Ridgley Hall Missouri Building caught fire 2 weeks before close of Fair
- Death First breakdown on eve of European trip Cared for by his wife Mrs. Kate Edmundson Crunden @ St. Luke’s Hospital
- Crunden played a role in planning Carnegie $1M gift in 1901 Opened Sep 11, 1909 @ 14th & Cass Designed by Eames & Young in Beaux Arts style
- Served a diverse population Eastern European & Russian Jews Lived & worked nearby at factories This branch is in that part of the city which contains probably the poorest of the population. To the north & east reside the employees of the many factories in this district, to the immediate west the old German element and tot eh immediate south immigrants mainly from Russia & Poland. Many parents will not allow their children to “start library” for fear that harm will come to the books and they’ll have to pay damages.
- Community space in basement Polish Industrial Workers, Jewish Branch of the Socialist Party, United Defense League, Equal Suffrage League of STL & Boys Scouts of America Supported War efforts In 1918 branch held a dance to support ALA’s Library War Service Program; attendees donated a book or fee to supply reading materials to soldiers oversees WWII – space for draft boards & for sugar rationing
- Encroachment of Industry in 1953 Sold to Pulaski Savings & Loan Association in 1954
- Municipal bond issue in 1955 financed construction of 4 new branches, one of which was “New” Cruden @ 20th & Cass Site selected specifically to serve Pruitt-Igoe
- Dedicated Dec 19, 1959 Had hoped to open on Sep 11, 1959, 50 years after opening of “Old” Crunden, but had delays Patron base was very large 23 elementary schools & 100,000 residents, 25,000 from P-I-V Intentionally located by P-I, trustees invested in the neighborhood by “banking on the future and making their contribution to it.”
- Very popular with children Stocked with 10,000 books As many as 850 kids would be in library in the 2 hours after school; also a refuge at lunchtime for those who couldn’t afford lunch at St. Stansilaus Materials were in heavy circulation (look at shelves), central bindery woulnt’ take materials
- Provided social services – outreach to teens & Head Start Program
- Ellen Q Claus, branch manager “If I had to run a nice, quiet, conventional library I’d be bored to tears.” Colleagues complained about libraries becoming “dating bureaus” but Mrs. Claus embraced the idea, held record-listening parties & music ensembles in the auditorium “Shocking pink bookmobile with a loudspeaker blaring rock n roll & blues” stocked with useful materials – novels & magazines, but also DIY manuals, citizenship rights Irene Eveland – Childrens’ librarian Mrs. Margaret Pinkus – Ethical Society, book sales, Mrs. Frankie Ragland
- 1972 – first PI building imploded, all gone by 1977
- SLPL had dwindling resources Lower tax base because of movement to suburbs Shortened branch hours to 9-5:30MW & 9-5F Joan Collett Cut services Wanted to change budget to put more unique materials in each branch rather than practical materials No book budget in 1980 Closed April 1981