Within a few years of the arrival of the first settlers, the citizens of the borough of Richmond had a desire for a library. The first known library in Richmond was started in 1823 and was a subscription library, so named because subscribers pooled their money to purchase books, then shareholders would be entitled to borrow books from the resulting “library.”
Over the years, there were several other attempts at libraries and literary societies, but none was enduring.
A change in state law allotted a small tax levy to townships throughout the state, and in 1855 Wayne Township established a Township Library. A notice in The Jeffersonian in 1855 stated that the Township Library would be “opened on Wednesday of each week, between the hours of nine and four o’clock, allowing an hour at noon for dinner. All those entitled to the use of the Library can be accommodated with books by calling at the office of the Township Trustee on that day.” There were occasional complaints that the library wasn’t accessible enough to serve many prospective readers, but not much could be done.
By the early 1860s Robert Morrisson was a wealthy man and was creating a new will. He had already contributed $500 dollars to the township library, so we know he valued education and learning. In his new will he made a provision for the construction of a library as a gift “to Wayne Township, Wayne County, Indiana for the benefit of the inhabitants of said township forever.” The provisions were included in his will, but he did not want to wait until after his death.
In August 1862 it was announced that he had purchased Lot #35 at the corner of what was then called Spring and Marion, now North A and Sixth. He engaged architect A. W. Cornell to draw up plans for his new library, and Cornell designed a Greek revival structure of two stories and a basement. The north half of the building was the library proper, a high ceilinged room with a balcony on two sides accessible by a spiral staircase. The south half was a dwelling that could and often did house the librarian. The basement housed the office of the township trustee and a meeting room and storage.
Construction began in the spring of 1863 and was completed early in 1864. It was nowhere near ready to open, because it needed books. Morrisson had asked a committee of five men to compile a list of desired books, and it wasn’t until April 1 before the books were actually ordered from a bookseller in Cincinnati.
By late May the Library Committee announced that the Library wouldn’t open as soon as it was hoped. They still had not received all the ordered books, and they believed it was important to have a printed catalog ready for the patrons. The catalog was a small book that listed all the books on the shelves ; it was the card catalog before there was a card catalog. At this point, patrons could not browse the shelves themselves. The only access to the collection was through this printed catalog, so it was imperative to have it on hand before the library opened its doors.
Finally on July 30, 1864 an item appeared in the Quaker City Telegram, stating that the “Library will be opened this day, at 9 A.M. and will continue open during the day. It will open every day hereafter (Sundays excepted) from 3 to 6 P.M until further notice.” They reiterated the regret that the library couldn’t open sooner, but they felt it imperative that the catalog be completed. The catalog also included a biography of Robert Morrrisson, and the Rules of the Library, which were repeated often in the newspapers and also included on the bookplate pasted inside every book. They stated that the rules existed to “preserve for the longest possible time, the rich legacy now inherited by every citizen of Wayne Township; which legacy, if properly preserved, will be a continued reversion to benefit and bless generations yet unborn.”
The librarian on this day was a man named Jesse Brown, but just a few weeks later, he was appointed superintendent of Richmond Schools, and he resigned as Librarian. Sarah Wrigley was hired and she began her 39-year tenure in September. Little did she or anyone else in 1864 know, that the institution opened that day would go through many changes, but would still be a benefit to the inhabitants of not only Wayne Township, but Wayne County and the eastern part of Indiana.