Harris County Public Library Scrapbook (1941-1948)

Miss Julia Ideson, City Librarian for 42 Years, Dies Miss Julia Ideson, city librarian for Houston for 42 years, died Sun¬ day night of a heart attack while: visiting friends in New Hope, Pa. News of her death was received from her sister, Mrs. Francis Swertz of New York City, whom she had gone to visit two weeks ago. Funeral services and burial will be in Houston. Arrangements will be announced by the Settegast-Kopf company. Took Post in 1903 Miss Ideson became librarian for the Houston Public library in 1903, when it was housed in a small building at McKinney and Travis. She remained in charge after it was moved to the present $500,000 build¬ ing at 500 McKinney. The growth and development of the library were due in great meas¬ ure to her constant efforts and she played a leading role in the cul¬ tural and civic life of Houston. Native of Nebraska A native of Hastings, Neb., Miss Ideson had lived in Houston most of her life, and was a graduate of the old Central high school. She attended the University of Texas, where she specialized in library work. On a year’s leave of absence in 1913, she served as secretary of the American’s Art Students’ club in France. In 1919, she was one of: .; 25 librarians to go to France to serve with the American Library ' association in distributing books to American soldiers in Europe. Recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding librarians, she was the • woman to be named in Who s Who. She had been pres¬ ident of the Texas Library associa¬ tion. the Southwestern Library as- . sociation, and first vice president of the American Library association. Miss Ideson was active in Hous-! ton civic organizations, including' the Downtown club, the Pan- American Round Table and the Houston League of Women Voters. The sister is her only survivor. Tribute Given .uWi,Wam A- Vinson, president of the library board of trustees, paid tribute to Miss Ideson’s accomplish¬ ments and expressed sorrow on hearing of her death. “The sudden death of Miss Julia Ideson brings grief to the people! ot Houston and a deep sense ofi personal loss to those of us who' have been associated with her for more than 30 years in the adminis¬ tration of the Houston public H- ; brary,” he said. "In a real sense, she was the Houston Public library No one could think of the library without thinking of her. Its great growth and usefulness to the peo¬ ple of Houston were due primarily to her determination, her wide vision and her ceaseless efforts She was a grand person. In her pass¬ ing, we have consolation in the fact that the library system of Hous¬ ton will stand as her monument ” Mayor Expresses Regret Mayor Otis Massey and City Man¬ ager John N. Edy expressed regret and sorrow on hearing of the death of Miss Ideson. "The city has lost a very val¬ uable, capable and loyal employe, in ,j my opinion,” the mayor said. “She j will be hard to replace.” Ч-П-АЫ - THE HOUSTON POST: TUESDAY Book Review >rials Julia Ideson TT would be difficult to estimate accurately how many Hous¬ tonians first were introduced to the wonderland of books through the kindly assistance of Julia Ideson, but the number must be large in¬ deed. She was appointed public librarian in 1903, and under her leadership the library has grown from a small instittuion to the mag¬ nificent plant which for years has been one of the city’s major cultural forces and a service organization engaged in assisting business, indus¬ try and education. Thousands know her as a friend. The public library and its devel¬ opment was Miss Ideson’s career, but through the years she gave lav¬ ishly of her time and effort to a great many activities designed to make a Houston a better city. Her advice was sought on many subjects only distantly related to books, and always it was sound. While she knew the world of books as few people do, she was never bookish, in the sense of being impractical. She was an able executive and ad¬ ministrator, and the public library today is abundant evidence of her ability. She believed that the facilities of j the library should have the widest I possible use. The popularity of the i branches and the traveling unit ! have proved the wisdom of this belief. By making it easier for people everywhere in the city to enjoy books, community life has been made that much better. Miss Ideson’s long service to the people of Houston should not go unremembered. Her death prevents her from seeing construction of the new wing of the library and the other expansion she had planned. The new wing or one of the branches should be named in her honor. JL Service Set Today For Miss Ideson Funeral services for Miss Julia: ц Ideson, veteran city librarian, whoi died Sunday at New Hope, Pa., will; be held at 4 p. m. Friday at Christ - church. Bishop Clinton S. Quin, assisted by Rev. John E. Hines, will officiate ; at the services. The city library and all branches will be closed all day Friday in, tribute to Miss Ideson. The body of Miss Ideson, accom¬ panied by her only survivor, a sis¬ ter. Mrs. Margaret Ideson Swertz of Brooklyn, N. Y., arrived in Hous¬ ton Thursday afternoon. Active pallbearers will be Herbert Kipp, Andrew Rutter, C. J. Rob¬ ertson, Claud Bell, Charles W. Ham¬ ilton, George Forristall, С. C. Crew and James L. Shepherd Jr. Honorary pallbearers will include City Manager John N. Edy, R. H. Fonville, William Ward Watkin, Walter Monteith, Mayor Otis Mas¬ sey, Dr. E. E. Oberholtzer, W. M. Standish and members of the library board, who are William A. Vinson,; W. P. Hamblen, Dr. Henry Barn- (y ston, D. Barker, John H. Freeman, Я Dee Smith and Jake R. Waters. Burial will be in Hollywood ceme-| tery. _ _ _ _ Miss Schnitzer Named Acting t «1 • 7-3/-/ 7' Librarian Miss Martha Schnitzer, assistant city librarian, was named acting li¬ brarian to fill a vacancy caused by the recent death of Miss Julia Ide¬ son by the council Monday after¬ noon on recommendation of City Manager John N. Edy. In making the recommendation, JMr. Edy said someone has to be in charge of the library -pending the selection of a permanent librarian. He said the city advisory library board will meet several times to consider all the possible applica¬ tions before making its recommen¬ dations. The library board met Monday afternoon and considered briefly several applicants but adjourned without taking action because of the absence of three board mem¬ bers. . . • William A. Vinson, board chair¬ man, said the matter will be taken up again when a full, board can be in attendance. He said ail present staff members, plus two men who ;are in service, and others who make application for the position of city librarian will be considered. The service men are John R. Redell and Harold Wigren, former staff members, who hope to be re¬ leased from service soon. He said the board had received a letter from Mrs. J. C. Callahan, 4106 Castor, asking to be considered for appoint¬ ment, A very unusual treat for the people of Humble was had Tues¬ day night at Fellowship hall, Methodist church when the American Legion Auxiliary Post 132 sponsored a book review by! Mrs. Alice Corll of Houston. Mrs. Brookie Lynn Mooring, president < f the Auxiliary in¬ troduced Miss Bernice Snell, as¬ sistant County Librarian, who in turn introduced the speaker This book“Wha Walk Alone’*- by Perry Burgess is the story of a soldier who contracted leprosy in the Philipine Islands, It is hoped that every person who reads the book will give a dona¬ tion to the Leonard Wood Foun : dation for the study and cure of 1 leprosy •Cr . . . ness, you’ll find a novel ofi terest. The corruptness in will disturb you for h< hours — and you, too, will b “What’s happening to Amt L. D. J,i/3 Г7»7МР« Wn7»jp*'*t*10ving’ the action is C0nst J OO ’ ЛИ11 t o M M I f llll if y0U don’t mind extrema To Fight Again ness- you’n find a ,lovel oi* In “Coming Home ” When Joe, the Marine, went off to the Pacific, little did he dream j he’d be coming home some day to ] put up a stiffer fight than he had known even at Guadalcanal^ — but I that’s what happened to Joe in Lester Cohen’s Coming Home, a brand new novel now at the West University branch of the Harris j County Library located in the Com- 1 munity House. Yes, Joe came home and fought again. He fought for the honor of ! his girl, Stella, whom he left after a sudden romance in a park in Pittsburgh and who bore him a child during his absence. But his fight continued and reached out like an octopus to engulf a ward I heeler, a moral-weary police offi- ! cial and finally a steel tycoon, bringing out one of the most cor¬ rupt political situations in America. Startling and down - to - earth facts are displayed by the author, mostly through the expert manipu- . lation of his typical steel-mill char- j acters. Nowhere can stronger emo¬ tions be found than in these hard- j working people who practically live within their own folk-lore, hidden | in the depths of Pittsburgh’s steel mills. , . j The plot is exceptionally fast' came as a shock to us, said the city manager. “None hla S any idea her health was ®hhough I knew that she needed a rest. Miss Ideson was bie numf °ne °f the most outstand- ng public servants in the commun- “y’ ,and everyone here was very hhlh-b-_$ittached to her.”