Gainesville in Cooke County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Cooke County Free Library
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 19, 2023
1. Cooke County Free Library Marker
Inscription.
Cooke County Free Library. . In 1913, city librarian Lillian Gunter (1870-1926) and the XLI club (a local women's literary society) secured a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to construct a library building for Gainesville. Gunter then began her quest for state legislation to enable counties to support library services for people outside incorporated cities. With the help of state representative George W. Dayton and the Texas Library Association, the County Library Law was passed in 1917. In 1920, the Gainesville City Council voted to turn over its library to the county, creating one of the first county libraries in Texas. The library moved to new facilities in 1963.
In 1913, city librarian Lillian Gunter (1870-1926) and the XLI club (a local women's literary society) secured a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to construct a library building for Gainesville. Gunter then began her quest for state legislation to enable counties to support library services for people outside incorporated cities. With the help of state representative George W. Dayton and the Texas Library Association, the County Library Law was passed in 1917. In 1920, the Gainesville City Council voted to turn over its library to the county, creating one of the first county libraries in Texas. The library moved to new facilities in 1963.
Erected 2001 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12599.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Women. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 33° 37.402′ N, 97° 8.55′ W. Marker is in Gainesville, Texas, in Cooke County. It is at the intersection of South Denton Street and East Main Street, on the right when traveling south on South Denton Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 S Denton Street, Gainesville TX 76240, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 19, 2023
2. Cooke County Free Library Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
