BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY HISTORY OF LIBRARIANS

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Bridgeport

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BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY

History

100 Years of Librarians

Women's Club 1910 Bridgeport, Nebraska

Development of educational institutions in the early pioneer days coincided with the Public Library Movement. In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, as population and towns grew larger, middle-class institutions began to appear. Credit for establishing the new frontier's libraries generally goes to the local Women's Clubs, whose activities included setting up local reading rooms and collecting books to furnish those facilities with material to lend.

The Women's Club was initially founded in 1890. The Woman's Club movement, which initially focused on self-improvement and culture, eventually moved into the realm of community service. The federation grew and the women involved firmly believed that by providing access to quality literature and reliable information resources, they would benefit society and make America a better place to live for all.

By 1904, the Woman's Club had established 474 free public libraries and 4,655 traveling libraries. By the 1930's, numerous chapters of the Women's Club were credited with the establishment of 75% of the country's public libraries.

Over the past 100 years, they not only established libraries and scholarships, they established social reform with supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, promoting education, encouraging healthy lifestyles, stressed civic involvement, and worked toward world peace, believing that the female influence would yield a richer society for all.

Librarianship was still an emerging profession at the start of the 20^th century, and not enough money was available for librarian salaries. Volunteers of the Woman's Club were our first librarians, establishing our first libraries.

Bridgeport Public Library is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this month. The very first librarian, a member of the Woman's Club, was Fern Hackler.

	Fern Hackler, a Women's Club member, was the Bridgeport Public Library librarian up to 1922. Fern was married to Marvin Hackler who was an auto/tractor salesman. Marvin was born in Missouri in 1900, Fern was born in Wyoming, her parents originating from Wales. Fern was in her early 20s when she took the librarian position and was a member of the Woman's Club. She is probably one of these women in the photo above, but we don't know which one.
	Louise Estill was the librarian from 1922-1941. In her mid 20s, Louise was married to Arthur Estill, a dentist from England. It is unknown if she was a member of the Women's Club. Arthur came to Bridgeport to practice his dentistry. They raised two sons while in Bridgeport.
	Viola Shepherd was the librarian from 1941-1946. Viola was also the Superintendent of Schools in the 1950's and taught school for many years. She was an advocate for the disabled and was well known for the help she gave the blind in regards to reading. (A photo of her and her students in 1953, Nebraska.)
	Alice Estill was the librarian from 1946-1962. We have little information on Alice and would welcome a photo or any information anyone would have about her.
	Florence Cramer, the librarian from 1962-1970. Florence is the mother of Betty Cramer of Bridgeport, NE. Florence is seated on the far right, with the library board (photo below) in a 1969 dedication of the new Bridgeport Public Library.
	Sondra Foster, the Bridgeport Librarian from 1970-1979. She lived in Bridgeport with her husband and they had two children.
	Donna Nelson, Bridgeport librarian/director from 1979-2006. Donna was born and raised in the Bridgeport area. She attended colleges in Chadron and Scottsbluff and taught rural schools for seven years. Donna was on the library board for several years before becoming the librarian.
	Connie Arellano, Librarian/Director since 2006. Connie was born and raised in Minatare, Nebraska and has lived in the Bridgeport area since 1978. Connie had worked as a licensed nurse for 27 years, writing and publishing nonfiction for magazines and newspapers before entering a career in the library field. conniearellano@charterinternet.com

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