Paul Sawyier Public Library
Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Paul Sawyier Library. Lilian Lindsey, who lived in the Vest-Lindsey House, founded the Frankfort Public Library. It opened on Dec. 12, 1908, in the McClure Building, and was managed by the Frankfort Woman’s Club until 1965. The library moved to the Old State House, then to the Masonic Building, and in 1925, to the Woman’s Club Building. (Reverse) The Franklin County Homemakers Clubs, in cooperation with the Library Extension Division, started a countywide bookmobile in 1955. The library & bookmobile service merged in 1965 and moved to the old post office, which was named Paul Sawyier Public Library in honor of the well-known artist. The new library opened in 2006.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Frankfort's public library owes its start to Lilian Lindsey, who founded it in 1908; it opened in the McClure Building and was run by the Frankfort Woman's Club until 1965, moving through several homes including the Old State House. In 1955 the Franklin County Homemakers Clubs launched a countywide bookmobile, which merged with the library a decade later. The combined institution was named the Paul Sawyier Public Library in honor of the well-known Kentucky artist, and a new building opened in 2006.
Why it matters
The library's history shows how women's clubs and volunteer groups built the civic and educational infrastructure of American towns, bringing books and learning to whole communities.
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Related people
- · Lilian Lindsey
- · Paul Sawyier
Themes & tags
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