On this Date in WPL History: October 26, 1994: Greendale Branch renamed Frances Perkins Branch Library

Photo Credit: Worcester Telegram & Gazette, October 27, 1994

October 26, 1994 was a significant date in WPL history: after three days of events, we officially rededicated our Greendale Branch as the Frances Perkins Branch Library! 

Let's backtrack: what's the history of this branch and why was it renamed?

As you may be aware, Worcester Public Library came into existence with funds from Dr. John Green in 1859, with its first new Main Library building in 1861. We did have several "delivery stations" in the 1890s in which books and readers' cards would be sent back and forth between the stations and the Main Library. However, we did not have official permanent branches until Andrew Carnegie came along.

Andrew Carnegie, steel tycoon and philanthropist, delighted in giving money to cities to fund library buildings for the "improvement of mankind." In 1910, Worcester Mayor James Logan wrote to Carnegie requesting assistance in the creation of branch libraries (he actually hand-delivered the letter to Carnegie's representative on a trip to Scotland!). In 1913, Carnegie donated $75,000 for the building of three branches in Worcester. The city would be responsible for guaranteeing certain funds for maintenance and for providing the sites for the libraries. On March 26, 1913, Carnegie and his wife, Louise, visited Worcester to lay the cornerstones for the three Carnegie-funded libraries: South Worcester, Quinsigamond, and Greendale Branch. 

Image credit: http://www.necarnegies.com/acinworcester3.htm

The Greendale Branch would be located at 470 West Boylston Street, on property donated by several area manufacturers: the Norton Company, Morgan Spring Company, the Osgood Bradley Car Company, the Heald Machine Company, the Worcester Pressed Steel Company, the Allen-Higgins Wall Paper Company, the Walker Grinder Company, Young Brothers, and the Norton Grinding Company. The Greendale Branch, designed by architect Lucius Briggs and constructed by Central Building Company, opened in 1914. 

Photo credit: Sunday Telegram, April 16, 1961

Photo credit: Sunday Telegram, April 16, 1961

Massive budget cuts forced the closure of all of the Worcester Public Library branches in May 1990 (Great Brook Valley Branch reopened a few months later due to funding from Worcester Housing Authority). Greendale Branch finally reopened in September 14, 1992, with the help from many community volunteers who worked to get the library ready after two years of being closed. It was the only Carnegie library to reopen.

"Greendale branch open," Article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, September 18, 1992

Fast forward to 1994, the 80th anniversary of the Greendale Branch. In honor of this significant milestone, the Celebrate 80! Committee decided to rededicate the Greendale Branch as the Frances Perkins Branch Library at Greendale. As per Tim Murray, chairman of the committee, in the Celebrate 80! commemorative booklet, "The Worcester Public Library Board of Directors voted to recognize the lifelong contributions and achievements made by a daughter of Worcester, Frances Perkins..."

So who was Frances Perkins? Frances Perkins, born Fannie Coralie Perkins in 1882, was raised in Worcester and graduated from Classical High School. She is most notable for being Secretary of Labor under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the first woman appointed to a U.S. cabinet position. One of our librarians wrote a blog post about Frances Perkins earlier this year: https://wplreferenceblog.blogspot.com/2020/04/frances-perkins-of-worcester.html

The library paid tribute to Frances Perkins prior to the rededication by holding 3 programs from October 24-26. These programs included a panel discussion with women politicians on "Our Political Careers: The Real Story," a talk by Dr. Ruth Backes of Five Colleges on "Frances Perkins: The Worcester Connection," and a children's program by Penny Coleman, author of A Woman Unafraid, on "Frances Perkins: Especially for Children." The rededication ceremony took place at 2 P.M. on Wednesday, October 26. The official commemorative booklet featured a history of the Greendale Branch, a biography of Frances Perkins, information about the reasoning for the name change, and many memories by library patrons about the Greendale Branch. We especially love the "10 Best Things about Greendale Library" from sixth grade students from Greendale School!

Commemorative booklet featuring information about Frances Perkins and the branch

The Greendale Branch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980. Our renamed Frances Perkins Branch Library celebrated its 100th birthday in 2014 and continues to serve its Greendale community. We look forward to the day when we can safely welcome you back inside! 

Additional Reading:

Department of the Interior. National Park Service. "Massachusetts MPS Greendale Branch Library." https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63792967

Green, Frances. (1961, April 16). "The Reason Andrew Carnegie Came to Town." Sunday Telegram.

Nilson, Roy (1992, September 18). "Greendale branch open." Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Nutt, Charles. (1919). History of Worcester and Its People, Volume 2. Lewis Historical Publishing Company.

Smith, Corinne H. "Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie Visit Worcester, Massachusetts March 26, 1913" http://www.necarnegies.com/acinworcester.htm

Wiley, Winston, W. (1994, October 27). "Greendale Library Dedicated to Perkins." Worcester Telegram & Gazette. B1.

Worcester Public Library (1994). Celebrate 80! Frances Perkins Branch Library at Greendale. Rededication Events October 24-26, 1994.