IV. 



THE CORNELL LIBRARY. 



Ithaca early started out as a literary place. As early 

 as in 1806, three hundred dollars worth of books were 

 purchased to constitute a public library. Few, if any, 

 additions were ever made to this collection, and about 

 1835 the books were divided up among the members of 

 the Minerva Society, who had acquired the title to the 

 library. The library disappeared in the way such li- 

 braries do, the various persons who had books in their 

 possession keeping those they had, and getting as many 

 more as they could. 



In 1S62, Ezra Cornell, having acquired a large for- 

 tune in building up the telegraph system of the country, 

 came to the decision that he would be his own ex- 

 ecutor in making that fortune a blessing to other men. 

 He decided to found a free public library. His first in- 

 tention was to devote $20,000 to the purchase of a lot 

 and the erection of a building, but on consultation with 

 his friends, this original purpose was greatly modified, 

 and he finally decided to start the library as it ought to 

 be started, let the cost be what it might. With clear 

 business foresight he recognized the fact that to ensure 

 the permanence and prosperity of the Library it must 

 be made self-sustaining. In accordance with this view, 

 the present library building was erected, and dedicated 

 with impressive ceremonies, on the the 20th of Decem- 

 ber, 1866, liaving cost, with the books in the library at 

 the time of dedication, $65,676.50. 



