Early History Timeline
1857
Winona Lyceum
G. Tanner elected as librarian of the Winona Lyceum.
1858
Library Collection Established
Dr. I. R. Cone, librarian, reports collection of 47 volumes.
1858
1863
Young Men’s Library Club
Officers elected for the Young Men’s Library Club. Sheldon P. Carey named first president.
1867
Collection Grows
Book collection reported at nearly 1000 volumes.
1867
1875
Young Men’s Library Club Closed
Library closed due to debt issues.
1877
Library Reopens as Winona Library Association
Mrs. J. B. McGaughey, Mrs. Thomas Wilson, and Miss Charlotte Prentiss lifted the debt and reorganized the library under a new name, the Winona Library Association.
1877
1882
Librarian Hired
Miss Jeanette A. Clark is named librarian. She will serve as librarian for over a half-century until the year 1936.
1886
Winona’s First Free Library Formed
Winona Library Association turns over 3500 books to the city for use for all residents to form Winona’s first free public library located on the corner of 4th and Lafayette streets.
1886
1899
Current Library Opens
William H. Laird’s $50,000 donation builds the present-day Winona Public Library on 5th and Johnson St. and opens to the public on January 21st. The Winona Library Association donates $7000-$8000 toward furnishings.
Frederic Somers Bell elected first president of the Library Board.
Statue of Hebe donated to the library by Mrs. William H. Laird on July 8th. The statue is a copy in Carrara marble of the original work by Antonio Canova.
1910
Kenyon Cox’s "Light of Learning" Mural Donated
Kenyon Cox mural, The Light of Learning, donated to the library by William H. Hayes in memory of his wife and former library employee, Charlotte Prentiss Hayes.
1910
1913
Library Book Stacks Expanded
Library collection grows to 32,000 volumes. Additional stack space is constructed with a generous donation of $10,000 from the Laird family, providing space to hold up to 60,000 volumes.
1921
Children’s Room Opens
First Children’s Room opens on ground floor with a separate entrance on Johnson Street. This space was previously the library’s Lecture Room. Miss Mary A. Holmes is named the first children’s librarian and in charge of their 5000 books.
1921
1936
New Librarian Takes Over
Miss Ethel Binney succeeds Miss Jeanette Clark as librarian. She will serve until 1944.