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Below is a share of library stock from the late nineteenth century. Stock cost $3.00 a share and allowed the residents of Jefferson county to personally invest in their library.
This system existed from the library's conception in 1853 until 1899, when the town of Fairfield overwhelmingly voted to make the library a tax supported municipal institution: henceforth the institution was known as the Fairfield Free Public Library. This measure was the first in which the Fairfield women of legal age were allowed to vote.
Share of library stock.
This a shipping record from March 15th, 1873 for $3.35 is for books ordered from Chicago, which came on the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad line.
Samuel Jacobs wrote this letter on February 23rd,1877 to accompany a donation to the Jefferson County Library.
The library held its dedicatory exercises on November 28th, 1893, with James F.Wilson presiding.
Ward Lamson, the founder of the Fairfield Library Association, recounted the origins of the library; Hiram Heaton recited poetry; and Alice Heald spoke on the usefulness of learning.
Postcards of the period demonstrate Fairfield's pride in its newest civic improvement. The card at right shows the library just after construction.
