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     The library of this state had its origin in the earliest territorial days. The Kansas-Nebraska act of May 30, 1854, provided for the purchase of a territorial library to be kept at the seat of government for the use of the executive departments and the general officials of the territory under certain regulations. By legislative enactment approved November 4, 1858, it was a misdemeanor to take any books or records out of the library. In an act creating the office of territorial librarian, approved March 16, 1855, it was provided that "The said librarian, auditor and treasurer shall be elected at the first general election to be held in the year 1855, and biennially thereafter, and shall hold their offices, respectively, until the 1st day of January, 1857, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Provided, That those officers when first appointed by the governor shall hold their offices until the 1st day of January, 1857."

     The librarian, by an act approved January 26, 1856, had to give a bond in the sum of $10,000 for the faithful performance of his duty' Among these numerous duties was the keeping of a file of each of the newspapers published in the territory. This was not done, and had it not been for a few private individuals who collected and preserved the territorial newspapers the present generation would have but meager knowledge of the political and social conditions of that period.

     By an act approved January 13, 1860, the duties of the territorial librarian were further defined, and more drastic restrictions enacted concerning the taking of books from the library. At this time the salary of the librarian was fixed at $400. By an act approved January 11, 1861, the office of territorial librarian was abolished and. the duties and records of the office placed under the supervision and control of the territorial auditor.

     This was later changed by an act approved February 13, 1865, which created anew the office of territorial librarian and declared that "the governor of this territory is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint some suitable person to discharge the duties of said office until the next general election. * * * and 'at said general election a territorial librarian shall be elected, and every two years thereafter." The revised statutes of 1866 contained a provision for an elective librarian.

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     The number of volumes in the library July 1, 1926, was 87,999. The library is now chiefly a law library, means and space for development of the miscellaneous library being lacking.

     In the summer of 1925, the library moved into the new capitol. Only part of the space that will ultimately be available for the library has been completed.

     The legislature of 1901 established this commission and designated as its members the state librarian, state superintendent, chancellor and librarian of the University of Nebraska, and one person appointed by the governor.

     This commission is required to "encourage the establishment of libraries where none exist and the improvement of those already established." It circulates traveling libraries and visits libraries and advises and assists library boards and librarians. Since 1911 the legislature

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     From July 1, 1925, to June 30, 1926, the Library commission received 5,777 requests for books, in answer to which 54,649 volumes were loaned. These requests came from public libraries, schools, study clubs, other groups of taxpayers and individuals. There were 257 public library requests for traveling libraries, with 6,732 volumes loaned. In answer to 314 school applications, 19,198 books were loaned. The study club requests for the year were 900. The individuaI requests numbered 4,124.

     Since the printing of the biennial report in November, 1924, eight towns have been added to the list of those having tax-suported (sic) libraries., The present number is 134.

     The office of the commission was in the capitol until the summer of 1921, when it was transferred to quarters on the university campus.

     Biennial report.

John M. Matzen, State Superintendent Public Instruction, Lincoln.

     This board was created by an act approved June 20, 1867. The treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and five persons appointed by the governor for five-year terms, constituted the board. The legislature of 1909 passed an act creating a new board designated as the "Normal board of education." This law- was declared by the supreme court to be unconstitutional in a decision rendered November 150 1909. By a constitutional amendment effective January 1, 1921, the government of the state normal schools was vested in a board of seven, six to be appointed by the governor for six-year terms, and the superintendent of public instruction, ex officio.

     The legislature of 1921 authorized the granting of the bachelor of arts degree, and designation of the normal schools as teachers' colleges.

     This board, has control of the four state normal schools Peru, Kearney, Wayne, Chadron.

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     Biennial report and financial statement.

     The territorial legislature in 1860 granted a charter for the establishment of a school of college grade in the village 'of Peru, a little town that had been laid out in 1856. There was nothing done, however, towards the establishment of this school until in 1865 when Peru had become a village of thirty or forty families. It is said that Rev. Hiram Burch and Mr. William Dailey had the honor of leading the way to the planting of the state normal school at Peru. The first funds were solicited under the direction of Rev. Hiram Burch.

     The purpose was to erect a building forty by eighty feet and three stories high to give to the conference of the M. E. church for the purpose of a female seminary. In March, 1865, sufficient funds had been raised to; warrant the letting of a contract for the erection of the building. Seventy-two acres of ground were donated to the trustees for a campus. The land was paid for by Dr. J. F. Neal, Rev. Hiram Burch, and Mrs. C. B. McKenzie. Twelve acres were afterwards deeded to Mrs. C. B. McKenzie for her services as a teacher, thus leaving sixty acres of campus.

     Not being willing to wait for the erection of the building, school was opened in a building that was formerly used as a saloon. Dr. J. M. McKenzie was president of the school, This was opened in September, 1866. The new building was completed ready for occupancy in January, 1867. The enrollment the first term numbered 58 students. In the fall of 1867 the school was offered to the M. E. conference, but the offer was rejected. The school was therefore offered to the state of Nebraska, and the legislature of 1867 established on the 60-acre campus Nebraska's first state normal school. Dr. J. M. McKenzie was elected its first president.

     The doors and floors of the new building were made of green cottonwood lumber, as were also the door latches and catches. The campus of sixty acres is still covered with the native forest of oak, hickory, elm, linden and birch trees, and is a place of great natural beauty.

     Since the erection of the original building, there have been added a science hall, library building, dormitory, gymnasium, auditorium, training school building, and a power plant.

     Since the act of 1921, which converted the normal schools into teachers' colleges, the faculty and training school have been completely reorganized.

     The enrollment for the school year 1925-26, was 1,879, of which number 802 were enrolled in the summer school.

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     ¹ Includes 500 study center students.
     ² During the period 1900 to 1910 the enrollment includes the pupils of the training school.

     Provision for a much needed normal school for western Nebraska was made by the legislature of 1903. Kearney was selected by the state board of education. A campus of over twenty acres in addition to an acre and a half upon which Green Terrace hall was located, was given to the state by the citizens of Kearney. A farm of eleven acres has since been acquired.

     To the large building, first erected, three wings have been added, a heating plant and gymnasium completed and a manual training building is nearing completion.

     On June 19, 1905 school opened with 120 students for the summer term. In the twenty-one years of the school's history, 16,003 students have matriculated; 2,034 have graduated in the senior course.

     The school now has seven affiliated rural schools which are used as demonstration schools and laboratories for the training of teachers.

     The extension department conducts its work through correspondence and study centers. During the year 1925-6, 424 students have been enrolled in the extension department.

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     The legislature of 1909 provided for the location of a normal school in the northwestern part of the state. The state board of education selected Chadron as this location and accepted a gift of 85 acres of land on which the brick building of Chadron academy stood. About one-half of the 85 acres are covered with pine clad buttes and canyons, and the rest is used for campus, athletic field, cultivated fields, garden and pasture. In addition to the main building containing administrative offices and 47 class rooms, the first unit of a new training school building is under construction, which unit will cost $100,000. School opened for the summer term in June, 1911. Four hundred and eighteen students have graduated. The enrollment for 1924-25 was 1,266 of which number, 649 were summer term students. There are forty persons in the faculty.

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     The legislature of 1909 provided for the purchase of the Nebraska Normal college at Wayne. This was a well established private normal which went into operation as a state normal on September 19, 1910, with an attendance of nearly 200. The enrollment for 1924-25 was 1,889, including 1,688 enrolled in the summer school. There are forty-five members of the faculty.

© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller