Haish Memorial Library postcard

Haish Memorial Library postcard. Click image to enlarge. | Courtesy of Eva Johnson, "TheFamilyLibrarian"

Thanks to Eva Johnson, curator of an incredible DeKalb County postcards Flickr site, for sharing this image with us. See her collection by clicking here

Haish Memorial Library postcard

Front of Haish Memorial Library postcard | Courtesy of DeKalb County History Center Archives

This undated postcard shares an image of The Haish Memorial Library, now known as the DeKalb Public Library in DeKalb, IL. The Haish Memorial Library was designed by Chicago architects White and Weber and built in the art deco style of the 1930s with funds left to the library by Jacob Haish in his 1928 will. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Back of Haish Memorial Library postcard | Courtesy of DeKalb County History Center archives

PHOTOS: Haish Memorial Library

We are continuing to share Jacob Haish-related images from the Floyd Ritzman Collection. The Joiner History Room has generously allowed me to share these images on this website.

The below photos capture the Haish Memorial Library, which is now known as the DeKalb Public Library. Jacob Haish left $150,000 in his will to create a public library for the city. Haish died in 1926, and the library was erected in 1930. These photos capture the library, 309 Oak St., DeKalb, in its earliest years.

DeKalb Haish Library in 1937 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

DeKalb Haish Library in 1937 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

DeKalb Haish Library in 1937 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

DeKalb Haish Library in 1937 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

From the Joiner History Room website: "Over 700 photos from the Floyd Ritzman Collection which are part of the Northern Illinois University Digital Library are now available on Flickr at https://flic.kr/s/aHskqwXroS. This collection of photos, taken in and around DeKalb County, was formerly part of the Taming the Wild Prairie website. Thanks to Matthew Short at NIU for making these historical photos available."

According to the Joiner History Room's website, "Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was photography." Special thanks to the Joiner History Room for allowing me to share these images.

Jacob Haish funds college library

The Haish Library, in Altgeld Hall, as pictured in the 1900 edition of the "Norther," the school yearbook. 

In 1895, Jacob Haish donated $10,000 for construction of a library at the Northern Illinois State Normal School, now known as Northern Illinois University. The library, seen in images below, was originally in Altgeld Hall, or the "castle" of NIU.

The college library was called the "Haish Library," not to be confused with the city library, the Haish Memorial Library, which was constructed after Haish's death.

According to documentation in the Ellwood House Visitor's Center, "this money was used to acquire almost 6,000 books during the library's first year of operation. By 1952, the library outgrew its space in Altgeld Hall and was moved to Swen Parson Hall. Once again, outgrowing the space, the 314,000 square-foot Founders Memorial Library was constructed."

A Daily Chronicle article, reprinted in a 1926 edition, stated: "Mr. Haish's gift was the nucleus of a library that is on a par with the libraries in the other four state colleges of the state ... Mr. Haish was a lover of books and wished others to realize the same joy. In giving the money for a library at the college he realized that he would afford students the opportunity of using books that they might not otherwise have been able to secure."

One piece of history was lost somewhere along the way, however. The white bust of Haish, seen in these images of the library, was somehow lost in transition from building to building, according to multiple local historians. The eventual outcome of the bust is unknown.

According to the same Daily Chronicle article, "the bust is a perfect likeness of the great man and is so located in the large room that it commands the attention of all who enter."

The Haish Library, on the campus of Northern Illinois State Normal School, now known as NIU. The white bust of Jacob Haish can be seen on the back wall. | Courtesy Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University