Pennsylvania Public Libraries and the Great Flood of 1936: Dark Clouds and Silver Linings

Bernadette A Lear

doi:10.5195/palrap.2014.70

Abstract

The Great Flood of 1936 damaged thousands of buildings, ruined millions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure and personal property, and left thousands of citizens homeless in Pennsylvania. Among affected institutions were 14 public libraries that lost books and records and/or sustained structural damage during the flood. This article recounts the experiences of the four libraries with the largest claims: the Cambria Library (Johnstown), the Annie Halenbake Ross Library (Lock Haven), Milton Public Library, and the James V. Brown Library (Williamsport). Lessons learned, unexpected opportunities to reshape collections and services, and advancement of professional knowledge about conservation of water-soaked materials are discussed. In addition, the article provides details about the Pennsylvania Library Association’s successful pursuit of state rehabilitation funds for affected libraries. Although the Great Flood of 1936 was an experience that no one would wish to repeat, it represents some silver linings in terms of public library history.

Highlights

Crocker with warnings that the Susquehanna River was flowing up Main Street
A second storm on March 16-19 dumped from one to seven additional inches of rain, which, amplified by melting snow, produced some of the largest floods ever known along the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio, Susquehanna, and other rivers near the Appalachian Divide
The libraries themselves decided upon a “pro-rata” distribution, whereby each would receive about 95% of the amount they had originally requested

Summary

Introduction

Crocker with warnings that the Susquehanna River was flowing up Main Street She grasped precious volumes of the Lock Haven Express from the basement and began to haul them upstairs. As long as electricity lasted, she baked biscuits and wrote A second storm on March 16-19 dumped from one to seven additional inches of rain, which, amplified by melting snow, produced some of the largest floods ever known along the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio, Susquehanna, and other rivers near the Appalachian Divide. As this article will show, filthy water destroyed collections that had taken decades to build. It ruined handsome furnishings and compromised building infrastructure. There were several silver linings within the storm clouds

Method

Findings

Conclusion