History of the Taft Public Library

The Taft Public Library is the town library for Mendon, MA, a community of 5.839 people in Central Massachusetts. The library is situated in the historic Blackstone Valley Corridor, an important rural, then industrial component of the Industrial Revolution in Massachusetts.

"The library was established in 1881 with a gift of $1,000 from Mrs. William R. Huston in memory of her brother, Putnam W Taft. The town provided the use of a small brick building. On August 17th, 1881, a public inauguration was held at the First Parish Church with an address by Rev. Charlton Staples. A quotation for his address reads: "This library has been founded especially for the young. It is the earnest desire of the donor that they may regard it especially as their institution, and take a deep interest in its preservation and usefulness."

"The library opened for the delivery of books on August 20th, 1881, with Rev. George Clark as librarian. There were a total of 1,478 volumes in the library, and the number of borrowers for the first year was 329."

The library was housed in a small building for many years. As more space was required, the library raised funds for a new building. St. Michael's Catholic Church was purchased, and the new library was opened in June of 2016. It continues to provide an excellent program for children, encouraging them to participate in the community as was the founder's original intent.

Library Collection

The Taft Public Library collection includes information about the history of the Taft and other Mendon libraries.

Please see a complete list of items that are housed in three archival boxes located in the Genealogy Room.

Box One

  • Agricultural Library 1859
  • A.L.A. Subject Headings 1895
  • Annual Report - the first annual report of the Board of Trustees of the library
  • Bank - Mendon Bank became the Taft Public Library (1881 to 1920), then the Mendon Historical Society Museum. There is a copy of a photo of the building as well.
  • Board of Trustees - minutes of the Board of Trustees, June 10, 1981, Mary Szymczak, Secretary, 2 copies
  • Bookseller - letter, from WB. Clarke, bookseller, an original and a copy
  • Bookseller - copy of letter from WB. Clarke, bookseller to G.B. Williams, original letters, June 24, 1881
  • Brown, Zaidee - Directions for the Librarian of a Small Library by Zaidee Brown, 1911, Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts
  • Budget - library budgets account record book, 1967 to 1992; also account books 1881 to 1932, 1933 to 1966
  • Catalog - Catalog of books of the Taft Public Library of Mendon, MA, with articles of organization and Library rules, 1892 (GM Billings, printer), an original and copies
  • Catalog - catalog of books in library, August 1, 1881

Box Two

  • Catalog - supplemental catalogue of books and pamphlets in the library, including additions made between August 1, 1881, and July 1, 1883
  • Centennial - Centennial celebration of Taft Library, 1881 to 1981 (original and copy)
  • Chapman and Winn - letter to the company and the Board of Trustees regarding the work to be done on Records Building, May 16, 1881. (original)
  • Daniels, Vestella - History of the Taft Public Library, written by Vestella Daniels in 1967
  • Dewey, Melvin - Library School Rules by Melvin Dewey, Director of NY State Library, 4th edition, 1899 Boston Library Bureau. An original hardcover edition
  • Fence - a letter from the Mendon Selectmen to the library trustees regarding the building of a fence to act as a barrier around the building (original and copy)
  • Five Hundred Titles - classified by subject, with notes from Syracuse Public Library, March 1929. An Interesting compilation of titles
  • Fletcher, Austin - paper about Austin B. Fletcher and his $5,000 bequest to the Taft Mendon Library, 23. This established the Fletcher Fund.
  • Free Public Library - Ninth Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts, 1899 (pages 231 to 232,) published by Wright and Potter, Public Document Number 44
  • Gold Star - Gold Star List of American Stories, 1881 to 1929
  • History of Library - 1881 to 1981, a history of the Taft Public Library with photographs, compiled by E.J. Coleman
  • Huston, Susan E - sermon by Rev. Carlton Staples, commemorative of Mrs. Susan E Huston, founder of the Taft Public Library, delivered in Mendon, August 1884
  • Huston, Susan E - Susan Huston's agreement of conditions needed to establish a library in Mendon. Attached is Rosa Taft's deed to the town, November 7, 1919
  • Huston, Susan E - Letters from Susan E Huston to GB Williams, regarding Record Building, 1881
  • Inauguration of Library - an address by Rev. Carlton Staples and other proceedings at the inauguration of the Taft Public Library, August 17, 1881
  • Libraries - The Three Libraries in the Town of Mendon, by Terry Starrett (Taft Public Library) Pam Dee (Henry P. Clough School Library) and Lee Rogers (Nipmuc Regional School) date unknown
  • Library - pamphlet written in 1921, Library Bureau. "How to Organize a Library" by Zana K. Miller
  • Library - notebook with handwritten records of patrons, books taken out, and returned
  • Library Rules - 1883
  • Old Oaken Bucket - a copy of Samuel Woodworth's poem, the original donated to Brown University
  • Rogers, Norman - Poem about the Taft Library, 1981

Box Three

  • Social Library - 1801 to 1820. Record book stored in an archival box
  • Taft, William Putnam - invitation to Mendon Ball, September 12, 1821, with photo of William Putnam Taft, Half-brother of Susan L. Huston, who gave Taft Public Library to Mendon (original invitation and Photo)
  • Town Crier - Taft Library News, June 3, 1999