Monthly Bulletin - Clpdigital.org

504 CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH
are to have a hospital for the sick; why not a library for the reading
people? At a meeting for the relief of the Scotch, there was one man,
and he (myself) went at it in earnest, and raised $37,000 for the Irish
and $8,000 for the Scotch. If one man can do so much in such a case,
how much can we do, though so few, to raise a library fund?"
At the adjourned meeting of July 29, the attendance was quite
large, Mr. Kerr's remarks having apparently produced good effect. As
the result of the discussion, "The Mercantile Library and Mechanics
Institute" of Pittsburgh was organized; articles of incorporation applied
for, and the following officers were elected with instructions to
"float" the enterprise without delay: President, Samuel M. Wickersham;
vice president, John Finley, Jr.; secretary, Robert Finley; treasurer,
W. P. Townsend. Directors, John P. Hersh, David Holmes, Jacob
Weaver, Charles H. Grant and William R. Nimick. Auditors, H.
Holmes, Jr. and James S. Cosgrave.. .
Upon the receipt of the charter, the directors rented a suite of
rooms in the second story of a building on Market between Third and
Fourth streets, furnished them plainly, erected the necessary shelving
and began the purchase of books. The following decade was marked
by varying periods of success. Although the library at this time had
nearly 4,000 volumes on the shelves, and to exceed 50 daily and weekly
newspapers, magazines and other periodicals on file in the reading
rooms, there was no appreciable increase either in public interest or
attendance. These conditions continued practically until after the
Civil War, when with the completion of the new library building and
the election of the Hon. Felix R. Brunot as president, there was a
marked change for the better. This public spirited citizen infused new
life into the organization, succeeded in arousing sentiment in the direction
of increased facilities and the adoption of more modern methods.
Shortly after his election James M. Macrum became librarian.
Mr. Macrum died while on a visit abroad, and was succeeded by
his daughter, Miss Mary Frances Macrum, who was in charge during
the last years of the life of Pittsburgh's first library worthy the name.
Miss Macrum subsequently became an attache of the Carnegie
Library of Pittsburgh, and died two years ago.
One of the most interesting reminiscences in the literary and educational
history of Pittsburgh, is the interest which, 60 years ago, centered
about the private library of Col. James Anderson of Allegheny
City. Col. Anderson was a wealthy iron manufacturer whose home
was located on the north side of Ohio Lane (now Pennsylvania avenue),
between Manhattan and Chartiers streets. Himself a student,
and the owner of a fine library, he also was a philanthropist in the
broadest sense. Discovering that there were quite a number of young
boys in the vicinity of his home who were fond of books, he threw
open the doors of his library to them, acted as librarian on Saturday
nights, when books were exchanged; suggested the proper course of
reading, and frequently discussed with the lads the subjects in which
they were interested. The library became a school of instruction, at