170:, the founder of Jamestown, unexpectedly died in Buffalo, NY, while being treated for an illness. He had begun to write a will, but it was not complete when he died. While arranging James' business affairs, his business partner, Eleazer Green, discovered a memorandum that James wished the income from his business interests, the Prendergast block, be used to establish a free library in Jamestown. On January 1, 1880, eleven days after his death, It was announced that James' parents, Alexander and Mary Prendergast, had already taken steps to ensure that their son's wishes would "be carried out to the every letter."
29:
248:
all circulation materials. The existing art gallery would remain unchanged, as well as the south side of the building in order to maintain the traditional atmosphere of the library. Ground initially broke in 1961, focusing on a basement level addition and renovation for the newly formed
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. The work continued again in 1968, expanding the library to its current size. All told, 16,500 square feet were added to the library at a cost of $ 562,000.
240:
257:
185:
208:, “There were no free libraries in the 1870s, as the movement for free circulating books did not even begin until 1876, was barely underway in 1893, and did not gain much head-way until 1900. For this reason, the memorandum found in James Prendergast’s desk, perhaps written as early as 1876 when he built the Prendergast block, proves him to have been a man ahead of his time.”
268:
Since the opening of the library in 1891, an art gallery has been maintained. In her will, Mary
Prendergast directed her executors to purchase paintings, for which she left $ 25,000, after her death in 1889. Much of the current collection consist of the original paintings with additions bequeathed to
247:
In 1960, a planned $ 250,000 expansion to the original building was announced. It was determined that the existing library space, which was handling an annual circulation of 200,000, was less than one-third adequate for operation. The addition was to contain a new main entrance, circulation desk, and
153:
The mission of the James
Prendergast Library is to provide access to information resources, staff, facilities and services that respond to the pursuit of knowledge, education, lifelong learning opportunities and cultural enrichment by the people of the City of Jamestown and Chautauqua and Cattaraugus
272:
The first pieces of art consisted of 32 oil paintings, most purchased from the J.J. Gillespie
Company Fine Art Galleries in Pittsburgh, PA, and most by European artists (Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and French). The next pieces of art to be added to the collection were also from the
273:
Prendergasts: paintings from their personal collection consisting of landscapes of their property and family portraits. In 1960 the collection expanded by nine paintings via a donation by
Elizabeth Gillmer Packard of Lakewood, NY. All of these pieces were by American painters.
200:
design with rounded arches, Medina sandstone exterior, and turret on the southeast corner. Mary
Prendergast specifically dictated that the steps entering the building on the south side be cut from a single stone and that the library be surrounded by a rock wall on three sides.
223:
On June 19, 1941, through the efforts of E. Snell Hall, the chairman of the library board, and a dedicated number of friends of the library, a new children's room was dedicated. Located in the basement where the old stack space had been, it held up to 18 children at one time.
150:. On the day it opened its doors to the public, December 1, 1891, The Evening Journal noted, "The opening of the Prendergast Library marks an important epoch in our local history. Few communities can boast so magnificent a public gift."
219:
From the opening in 1891 until 1905, the stacks were closed to the public. The board decided to hold a five-week experiment and announced that as of
November 1905 the stacks would be open for public browsing.
157:
In 2019, the library contained 134,733 individual physical works and received 143,586 visitors. The current executive director is Anne Greene, who was appointed by the board of trustees in
February 2020.
216:
The libraries first children's room was opened in 1897. Located in the octagonal tower on the southeast corner of the building, the opening celebration was attended by more than 1,000 children.
177:. The library first opened on December 1, 1891, at a cost of $ 60,000 for the building and $ 45,000 for a furnished art gallery. The initial collection comprised 7,555 works under the care of
173:
On
January 29, 1880, the James Prendergast Library Association of Jamestown, New York, was established by special act of the New York State Legislature. The act was signed into law by
874:
864:
45:
869:
204:
James
Prendergast’s desire to have a free library was an idea ahead of its time. As was noted by the Association’s second librarian,
460:
405:
723:
595:
565:
228:
276:
Other pieces have been donated by community members and organizations throughout the course of the library’s history.
167:
775:
383:
306:
753:"Library to Build $ 250,000 Wing". Vol. XIX, no. 178. Jamestown Post-Journal. 27 April 1960. p. 17.
197:
712:
Anderson, Manly (23 January 1960). "Value of Library Surpasses Visions of Property Doner". The Post-Journal.
188:
A painting of James Prendergast (d. 1891) which hangs inside the James Prendergast Library in Jamestown, NY.
657:
Hazeltine, Mary Emogene (30 November 1940). "The Prendergast Library - Gift to Jamestown". Jamestown Post.
630:
193:
28:
239:
147:
80:
205:
174:
293:
Laws of the State of New York Passed at the One-Hundred and Third Session of the Legislature
227:
In 1960, the library joined and became the major central library of the two-county regional
256:
184:
679:
Warner, Cindy (2 February 1980). "Prendergast Library is 100 Years Old". The Post-Journal.
668:
Warner, Cindy (2 February 1980). "Prendergast Library is 100 Years Old". The Post-Journal.
643:
328:
346:"The Free Library". Vol. XXII, no. 183. The Evening Journal. 1 December 1891.
178:
858:
830:
Descriptive Catalogue of the Art Gallery of the James Prendergast Library Association
84:
517:"A Will that was Not Contested". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 15 January 1880.
357:
828:
731:
603:
573:
166:
On December 21, 1879, James Prendergast, 31, a prominent lawyer and grandson of
261:
60:
47:
764:"100 Years of Service to the Public". The Post Journal. 30 November 1991.
554:"100 Years of Service to the Public". The Post Journal. 30 November 1991.
504:
James Prendergast Free Library Descriptive Catalogue of the Art Gallery
844:
129:
434:. Jamestown, NY: The Chautauqua History Company. 1904. p. 669.
255:
238:
183:
849:
528:"A Munificent Bequest". Jamestown Daily Journal. 1 January 1880.
815:, Boston, New York, Chicago: American Historical Society, Inc.
329:"Find Your Public Library in New York State By Community Name"
833:(Revised ed.), Jamestown, NY: Journal Printing Co., 1906
543:. Boston, MA: American Historical Society, Inc. p. 286.
492:. Boston, MA: American Historical Society, Inc. p. 285.
295:. Albany, NY: Weeds, Parsons, and Company. 1880. p. 3.
701:"Round About Town". Jamestown Post-Journal. 18 June 1958.
690:"Round About Town". Jamestown Post-Journal. 18 June 1958.
243:
The addition to the library, which was completed in 1968
730:. James Prendergast Library Association. Archived from
602:. James Prendergast Library Association. Archived from
572:. James Prendergast Library Association. Archived from
448:. Jamestown, NY: Journal Printing Co. 1880. p. 43.
625:"Richardsonian Romanesque". Fenton Historical Society.
406:"Prendergast Library Announces New Executive Director"
806:, Jamestown, NY: The Chautauqua History Company, 1904
813:
History of Chautauqua County New York and its People
541:
History of Chautauqua County New York and its People
490:
History of Chautauqua County New York and its People
124:
116:
111:
103:
98:
90:
76:
33:
South side of Prendergast Library facing 5th Street
21:
461:"Historical Sketch James Prendergast Free Library"
776:"Historic Paintings at James Prendergast Library"
8:
823:, Jamestown, NY: Journal Printing Co., 1880
804:The Centennial History of Chautauqua County
539:Downs, John; Hedley, Fenwick, eds. (1921).
506:. Jamestown, NY: Journal Printing Co. 1906.
488:Downs, John; Hedley, Fenwick, eds. (1921).
432:The Centennial History of Chautauqua County
386:. Institute of Museum and Library Services
309:. Institute of Museum and Library Services
18:
16:Association library in Jamestown, New York
875:1880 establishments in New York (state)
364:. James Prendergast Library Association
284:
61:42.09832631195173°N 79.24326845819566°W
639:
628:
850:Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
780:New York Heritage Digital Collections
728:James Prendergast Library Association
600:James Prendergast Library Association
570:James Prendergast Library Association
362:James Prendergast Library Association
229:Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
146:is an association library located in
66:42.09832631195173; -79.24326845819566
7:
865:Public libraries in New York (state)
14:
870:Organizations established in 1880
384:"Public Libraries Survey FY 2019"
307:"Public Libraries Survey FY 2019"
264:, part of the Prendergast Bequest
196:of Rochester, the building had a
27:
821:Memorials to James Prendergast
446:Memorials to James Prendergast
1:
269:the library over the years.
891:
845:James Prendergast Library
811:Downs, John, ed. (1921),
192:Constructed by architect
144:James Prendergast Library
42:
38:
26:
22:James Prendergast Library
412:. Jamestown Post Journal
198:Richardsonian Romanesque
638:Cite journal requires
410:Jamestown Post Journal
333:New York State Library
265:
244:
206:Mary Emogene Hazeltine
189:
175:Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell
259:
242:
187:
734:on 17 November 2015
606:on 17 November 2015
576:on 17 November 2015
358:"Mission Statement"
262:Jean Baptiste Robie
148:Jamestown, New York
132:.prendergastlibrary
81:Jamestown, New York
57: /
266:
245:
190:
168:James Prendergast
140:
139:
112:Other information
882:
834:
824:
816:
807:
791:
790:
788:
786:
772:
766:
765:
761:
755:
754:
750:
744:
743:
741:
739:
720:
714:
713:
709:
703:
702:
698:
692:
691:
687:
681:
680:
676:
670:
669:
665:
659:
658:
654:
648:
647:
641:
636:
634:
626:
622:
616:
615:
613:
611:
592:
586:
585:
583:
581:
562:
556:
555:
551:
545:
544:
536:
530:
529:
525:
519:
518:
514:
508:
507:
500:
494:
493:
485:
479:
478:
476:
474:
465:
459:Green, Eleazer.
456:
450:
449:
442:
436:
435:
428:
422:
421:
419:
417:
402:
396:
395:
393:
391:
380:
374:
373:
371:
369:
354:
348:
347:
343:
337:
336:
325:
319:
318:
316:
314:
303:
297:
296:
289:
136:
133:
131:
72:
71:
69:
68:
67:
62:
58:
55:
54:
53:
50:
31:
19:
890:
889:
885:
884:
883:
881:
880:
879:
855:
854:
841:
827:
819:
810:
802:
799:
794:
784:
782:
774:
773:
769:
763:
762:
758:
752:
751:
747:
737:
735:
722:
721:
717:
711:
710:
706:
700:
699:
695:
689:
688:
684:
678:
677:
673:
667:
666:
662:
656:
655:
651:
637:
627:
624:
623:
619:
609:
607:
594:
593:
589:
579:
577:
564:
563:
559:
553:
552:
548:
538:
537:
533:
527:
526:
522:
516:
515:
511:
502:
501:
497:
487:
486:
482:
472:
470:
463:
458:
457:
453:
444:
443:
439:
430:
429:
425:
415:
413:
404:
403:
399:
389:
387:
382:
381:
377:
367:
365:
356:
355:
351:
345:
344:
340:
327:
326:
322:
312:
310:
305:
304:
300:
291:
290:
286:
282:
254:
237:
214:
164:
128:
65:
63:
59:
56:
51:
48:
46:
44:
43:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
888:
886:
878:
877:
872:
867:
857:
856:
853:
852:
847:
840:
839:External links
837:
836:
835:
825:
817:
808:
798:
795:
793:
792:
767:
756:
745:
715:
704:
693:
682:
671:
660:
649:
640:|journal=
617:
587:
557:
546:
531:
520:
509:
495:
480:
468:McClurg Museum
451:
437:
423:
397:
375:
349:
338:
320:
298:
283:
281:
278:
253:
252:Art Collection
250:
236:
233:
213:
210:
179:Samuel G. Love
163:
160:
138:
137:
126:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
78:
74:
73:
40:
39:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
887:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
860:
851:
848:
846:
843:
842:
838:
832:
831:
826:
822:
818:
814:
809:
805:
801:
800:
796:
781:
777:
771:
768:
760:
757:
749:
746:
733:
729:
725:
719:
716:
708:
705:
697:
694:
686:
683:
675:
672:
664:
661:
653:
650:
645:
632:
621:
618:
605:
601:
597:
591:
588:
575:
571:
567:
561:
558:
550:
547:
542:
535:
532:
524:
521:
513:
510:
505:
499:
496:
491:
484:
481:
469:
462:
455:
452:
447:
441:
438:
433:
427:
424:
411:
407:
401:
398:
385:
379:
376:
363:
359:
353:
350:
342:
339:
334:
330:
324:
321:
308:
302:
299:
294:
288:
285:
279:
277:
274:
270:
263:
258:
251:
249:
241:
234:
232:
230:
225:
221:
217:
211:
209:
207:
202:
199:
195:
186:
182:
180:
176:
171:
169:
161:
159:
155:
151:
149:
145:
135:
127:
123:
119:
115:
110:
106:
102:
97:
93:
89:
86:
85:United States
82:
79:
75:
70:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
829:
820:
812:
803:
797:Bibliography
783:. Retrieved
779:
770:
759:
748:
736:. Retrieved
732:the original
727:
718:
707:
696:
685:
674:
663:
652:
631:cite journal
620:
608:. Retrieved
604:the original
599:
590:
578:. Retrieved
574:the original
569:
560:
549:
540:
534:
523:
512:
503:
498:
489:
483:
471:. Retrieved
467:
454:
445:
440:
431:
426:
414:. Retrieved
409:
400:
388:. Retrieved
378:
366:. Retrieved
361:
352:
341:
332:
323:
311:. Retrieved
301:
292:
287:
275:
271:
267:
246:
226:
222:
218:
215:
203:
191:
172:
165:
156:
152:
143:
141:
785:30 November
738:30 November
610:30 November
580:30 November
416:29 February
368:30 November
212:Early years
194:A.J. Warner
120:Anne Greene
91:Established
64: /
859:Categories
473:3 December
280:References
235:Renovation
154:counties.
99:Collection
52:79°14′36″W
49:42°05′54″N
724:"History"
596:"History"
566:"History"
390:30 August
313:30 August
260:Roses by
117:Director
77:Location
162:History
125:Website
107:134,733
464:(PDF)
787:2015
740:2015
644:help
612:2015
582:2015
475:2015
418:2020
392:2021
370:2015
315:2021
142:The
134:.org
104:Size
94:1880
130:www
861::
778:.
726:.
635::
633:}}
629:{{
598:.
568:.
466:.
408:.
360:.
331:.
231:.
181:.
83:,
789:.
742:.
646:)
642:(
614:.
584:.
477:.
420:.
394:.
372:.
335:.
317:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
