First of all, I would like to thank everyone who helped with our Everything Chocolate Sale and everyone who bought something sweet at the sale! We raised over $1,800 for the Friends of Chanute Library group, which funds special projects and programs at the library. If you are interested in volunteering at the library, join our Friends group to be added to our list of volunteers!
We are also excited to host “The Harvey Girls: Women’s Roles in Railroads, Kansas, and US History” presented by Dr. Michaeline Chance-Reay on Sunday, March 19th at 2 pm at the library. This program is made possible by Humanities Kansas and is part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Chanute, KS.
The mythology of the Harvey Girl looms large in Kansas history and across the western United States. The Fred Harvey Company, concessionaire along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, offered young women employment opportunities as waitresses and tour guides. These women played a role in the economic and cultural history of Kansas and the American Southwest. This talk includes stories of women employed by the company as well as its founder, Fred Harvey, who lived in Leavenworth and opened his first lunchroom depot along the line in Topeka.
As many of you may know, the downstairs library is where Chanute’s own Harvey House was located. Upstairs was the girls’ dormitory. While doing some research about the Harvey House and the library, I also found out that the library’s original bylaws were adopted on March 22nd, 1906, which makes the library 117 years old!
Of course, when the library was first started, we were housed in the Carnegie library, which is now the courthouse. It’s amazing to see how much has changed and we hope everyone can attend this event and help us celebrate the 150th anniversary of Chanute!
The committee for the 150th Anniversary have loads more fun events planned for community members of all ages, so find their Facebook page at 150th Anniversary Celebration – Chanute, KS for more updates.
Finally, here are some new March releases as we head into spring!
The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery; The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz; Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steel; The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley by David Waldstreicher; I Will Find You by Harlan Coben; The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner; Storm Watch by C. J. Box; Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe by Frank Murphy; The Last Kingdom by Steve Barry.