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horse trading and later on a noted horseman, the owner and trainer of many race horses.

During the winters of '58 and '59 Miss Lizzie Ferguson taught school upstairs in a building that Colonel McGee built in his addition at about Thirteenth street and Grand avenue.

Nathan Scarritt, in 1862, taught school on Main street near Missouri

avenue.

The first school of any prominence after the war was conducted by the Rev. X. X. Buckner in the basement of the old Baptist church. At the end of a year the professorship of this school was assumed by Lawson Dewey. In its successful days its register showed an enrollment of over 200 pupils.

In the year 1860-61 the city boasted of a Young Gentlemen's seminary, which was situated at the northeast corner of May street and Cumberland avenue, with Rev. R. S. Symington as principal, and the Kansas City Female seminary, also situated at the corner of May and Cumberland avenues, with Charles Fish as principal.

The following advertisements taken from the city directory of 1860-61 set forth the various branches taught and the prices charged by two of the private schools which existed in Kansas City at that time:

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The year is divided into two sessions of five months each. First session commences September 3d. Second session commences February 5th.

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

YOUNG GENTLEMEN'S SEMINARY.

N. E. Cor. May Street and Cumberland Avenue,
Kansas City, Missouri.

The first term of this Institution will commence in the building formerly occupied by J. H. Luther, the first Monday in September, and continue five months.

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Payment one-half in advance and the balance at the end of the term. Pupils will be charged from the date of their entrance, and no deduction will be made for absentees, except in cases of protracted illness.

The chief aim of the teachers, in all departments of the Seminary, will be to drill the learner in the elementary principles, and to teach him to think and think independently.

The facilities offered for getting a good classical and accomplished education in this Institution will be found, we hope, to be equal to any in the West.

We confidently appeal to all friends of education, and especially to all who feel an interest in building up permanent schools in our young and growing city, to co-operate with us in establishing a good Seminary of learning. R. S. SYMINGTON, Principal.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The first official action for the purpose of establishing a public library in Kansas City was taken in November, 1873, when the Board of Education, composed of the following: Henry A. White, president; James Craig, secretary; J. V. C. Karnes, treasurer; C. A. Chace, T. K. Hanna and Henry R. Seeger, made arrangements for a course of six popular lectures to raise a fund for the purchase of books. The following resolutions were offered by J. V. C. Karnes, and adopted:

"Resolved, That there be established in connection with our schools a library for the use of the officers, teachers and scholars of the public schools of this district, to be known as the Public Library of Kansas City.

"Resolved, That an annual appropriation be made, of such sums as the Board of Education may deem expedient, to be used exclusively as a library fund, and that all money received from any other source in aid of the library be added thereto, and the treasurer be required to keep a separate account with such library fund, and that all orders drawn upon such fund, designate that they were given for such library purposes.

"Resolved, That there be a standing committee on the library who shall be charged with the management and control thereof, subject to the supervision of this board."

A book case which is now (1908) used in the children's room for reference books, was bought for $8.00 from W. E. Sheffield and placed in a room in the old high school building at Eleventh and Locust streets. In this case was placed the beginning of the present public library, the result of the lectures that netted about $100. In December, 1874, the Board of Education moved its offices to Eighth and Main streets, in the Sage building. But little was accomplished until early in 1876, when a new impetus was given to the project. A Ladies' Centennial association was organized in 1875 to represent Kansas City at Philadelphia. By some means the enterprise was abandoned, and one-half of the centennial fund amounting to $490, after some discussion, was given to the public library fund. The other half was used toward a Children's Home now located at Twenty-second street and Tracy avenue. The ladies of the Centennial association were: Mrs. L. R. Moore, president; Mrs. St. Clair, treasurer; Mrs. Kersey Coates, Mrs. H. M. Holden, Mrs. Millette Anderson Mumford, Mrs. Henry N. Ess, Mrs. J. K. Cravens, Mrs. D. S. Twitchell and Mrs. R. E. Wilson.

In May, 1876, Hon. J. V. C. Karnes, then president of the Board of Education made a financial statement that was approved by the board. The report showed a balance of $129, with outstanding orders for books to cost about $100, and a subscription list of periodicals billed at $39.60. Mr. Karnes said the fund would be exhausted, but the library was on a firm basis and was ready for use. He recommended the adoption of suitable rules and regulations governing the library, and these, among others were adopted.

"The Board of Education of the city of Kansas shall constitute a board of managers who shall have general charge of the library; appoint a suitable person to act as librarian, and also an assistant librarian. The librarian shall at the annual organization of the Board of Education, make a report to the board respecting the number of volumes and their conditions.

"The librarian shall be responsible to the Board of Education for all matters connected with the library, and upon accepting the office he shall give the secretary of the board a receipt containing the number and condition of the volumes in the library, and upon surrendering his trust he shall give

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