Winona Public Library
Bibliography
Bertrang, Betsy Russell. “Voters Say No to Library.” Winona Daily News, November 6, 1985.
Butweiler, Joe. “Voters OK $1.36 Million Bond sale.” Winona Daily News, November 5, 1986.
Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. A History of Winona County, Minnesota. Chicago: H. C. Cooper Jr. and Co., 1913.
“Formal Transfer Made: Mr. W. H. Laird Presents New Library to the City.” Winona Daily Republican, January 21, 1899.
Gaut, Greg. Laird’s Legacy: A History of the Winona Public Library. Winona, MN: Friends of the Winona Public Library, 2016.
Kohlmeyer, Fred W. Timber Roots: The Laird, Norton Story, 1855‒1905. Winona: Winona County Historical Society, 1972.
Laird, Norton Company corporate records
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00331.xml
Description: Includes extensive correspondence between William Harris Laird, Frederick Bell, Edgar V. Seeler, and Warren Powers Laird on the planning, design, and construction of the Winona Public Library. See Box 17 (145.I.11.9B).
“Mr. Laird’s Offer Promptly Accepted.” Winona Daily Republican, February 9, 1897.
“Mr. Laird’s Gift to the City.” Winona Daily Republican, January 21, 1899.
“A Munificent Offer.” Winona Daily Republican, February 8, 1897.
Winona Public Library Archives
Includes the journals “Proceedings of the Young Men’s Library Association” and “Record of Proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Winona Free Public Library” as well as various annual reports, librarian examinations, and other materials. Many of these items can be viewed on Minnesota Reflections (https://reflections.mndigital.org).
Chronology
1863
The Young Men’s Library Association, later the Winona Library Association, is organized in Winona. Its members create a private, subscription-supported library in rented space.
1877
Temporarily closed for financial reasons, three women, including Charlotte Prentiss Hayes, revive the Winona Library Association.
1886
The City of Winona creates a tax-supported, public library. The Winona Library Association turns over its books and furnishings to the new Winona Free Public Library.
1888
The city council refuses to fund a new library building, but agrees to give the library board the deed to the dilapidated former school building that houses the public library.
1897
Lumberman William Harris Laird sends a letter to the library board offering to build a library for Winona on condition that the city provide a site and increase taxes to maintain the new building. The city council quickly accepts his conditions.
1899
The new library, designed by Warren Powers Laird and Edgar V. Seeler, is presented to the city of Winona in a simple ceremony.
1910
William Hayes hires Kenyon Cox to paint the “Light of Learning” mural in a lunette of the library’s dome. He dedicates it to his late wife, Charlotte Prentiss Hayes, who served the library as a librarian, board member, and volunteer.
1914
Although William Harris Laird had died, his family continues his commitment to the library by funding the expansion of the stack wing of the library.
1921
A children’s department opens in the former lecture hall of the library.
1936
Jeanette Clark retires after managing the library for fifty years.
1977
The Winona Public Library is listed on the National Register Historic Places.
1985
The city council asks voters to approve a bond referendum to build a new library. The voters overwhelmingly reject the proposal.
1986
The council puts before voters a bond referendum to remodel the library. This bond is approved.
1989
Work is completed on a new addition which includes a street level accessible entrance and an elevator.
2001
The Winona city council approves the Heritage Preservation Commission’s designation of the library as a local historic landmark.
Bibliography
Bertrang, Betsy Russell. “Voters Say No to Library.” Winona Daily News, November 6, 1985.
Butweiler, Joe. “Voters OK $1.36 Million Bond sale.” Winona Daily News, November 5, 1986.
Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. A History of Winona County, Minnesota. Chicago: H. C. Cooper Jr. and Co., 1913.
“Formal Transfer Made: Mr. W. H. Laird Presents New Library to the City.” Winona Daily Republican, January 21, 1899.
Gaut, Greg. Laird’s Legacy: A History of the Winona Public Library. Winona, MN: Friends of the Winona Public Library, 2016.
Kohlmeyer, Fred W. Timber Roots: The Laird, Norton Story, 1855‒1905. Winona: Winona County Historical Society, 1972.
Laird, Norton Company corporate records
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00331.xml
Description: Includes extensive correspondence between William Harris Laird, Frederick Bell, Edgar V. Seeler, and Warren Powers Laird on the planning, design, and construction of the Winona Public Library. See Box 17 (145.I.11.9B).
“Mr. Laird’s Offer Promptly Accepted.” Winona Daily Republican, February 9, 1897.
“Mr. Laird’s Gift to the City.” Winona Daily Republican, January 21, 1899.
“A Munificent Offer.” Winona Daily Republican, February 8, 1897.
Winona Public Library Archives
Includes the journals “Proceedings of the Young Men’s Library Association” and “Record of Proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Winona Free Public Library” as well as various annual reports, librarian examinations, and other materials. Many of these items can be viewed on Minnesota Reflections (https://reflections.mndigital.org).