This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Branigan Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/4915/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: A pioneer family's gift to the city By Jeff Barnet jbarnet@lcsun-news.com Posted: 11/06/2010 LAS CRUCES - Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is named for one the city's most famous pioneers. Branigan, who was born in 1847, fought for the Union in the Civil War, joining the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the age of 14. Known as Capt. Branigan, he settled in Las Cruces, where he would hold the offices of postmaster, assessor and many other "positions of trust and honor" in the community, according to his 1925 obituary. When his wife, Alice M. Branigan, a schoolteacher who was a native of Cook County, Ill., died in 1932, she bequeathed to the city a gift that has never stopped giving: A donation of $35,000 that funded the building of a city library. The original Branigan Library - a Pueblo-style building at the corner of Main Street and Hadley Street - was dedicated to the city of Las Cruces on Oct. 31, 1935. That building is now the Branigan Cultural Center. Alice Branigan also left $30,000 for books, and today the interest on that principal continues to buy books for the Branigan Library - in fact, it generates approximately $40,000 a year for new books, according to Lynette Schurdevin, library administrator. In today's dollars, the combined $65,000 would be the equivalent of $1,029,000, based on an average annual inflation rate of 3.78 percent. The library officially opened and began circulating books 75 years ago, on Nov. 7, 1935. Branigan Library will celebrate its 75th anniversary this Sunday. "We're very excited to celebrate our 75th anniversary," Schurdevin said. "And we look forward to another 75 years." Branigan Library was actually Las Cruces' second public library. In 1927, the Woman's Improvement Association established a circulating library in the WIA Club House that still stands on Reymond Street across from Pioneer Women's Park. WIA members, including Alice Branigan, took turns serving as librarians. The WIA donated its 1,000 books to the new public library in 1935. Mayor J. Benson Newell chaired the library committee that hired Mrs. Effie Carmichael of Dallas as librarian for the new public library. According to a report in the Las Cruces Daily News, Carmichael had 15 years of library experience and had been "trained in leading Western libraries." Carmichael held the post until 1942, when she was succeeded by Mrs. W. Grover Murphy. Mrs. Maud Sullivan, director of El Paso's public library, gave the keynote address at the 1935 dedication ceremony, pointing out that being a librarian "is anything but a genteel profession." Mrs. O. H. Brown, chairman of the program committee, was praised by the Daily News for arranging "a delightful program." The Santa Fe-style building, designed by architect Percy McGhee, won recognition and admiration for its appearance. Above the circulation desk was a mural by well-known artist Tom Lea: It depicted the 16th century arrival of Franciscan friars in what is now southern New Mexico. The foreman of the construction job was Henry James, author of "Curse of the San Andres." In 1938, the library received national recognition as one of the 24 most beautiful small public library buildings in the United States. "Architecturally, the building is a fine example of early New Mexico design," the Daily News stated. In 1967, it was deemed a building of historic significance by the Do a Ana County Historical Society. The original library had shelf space for 6,000 volumes and stack space for an additional 25,000 volumes. The reading rooms could comfortably seat 65 patrons. The library began children's summertime story hours in 1937 in conjunction with the State College Story League. The library featured a community auditorium that was used for many civic functions such as children's programs, dance programs, plays and meetings. The building was renovated and remodeled in 1961. In the 1960s and '70s, the library had its own cat, who went by the moniker "Mr. Nero." There was also a parakeet. (There is no written record of how the cat and the parakeet got along.) In her will, Alice Branigan stipulated that "said building shall be held in perpetuity for library purposes ... said building shall be known as the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, and shall be so inscribed upon its portals." The newspapers felt it was an excellent tribute to the Capt. Branigan, the man with the bushy moustache and captain's hat whom the Daily News called "a New Mexico pioneer." The current library building at Picacho Avenue and Main Street, once the site of the Lucero Elementary School, was dedicated on Nov. 21, 1979. Sources: Newspaper and scrapbook archives compiled by the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, and the documents "Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: A History," written by Margaret Neill in 2008, and "Thomas Branigan Memorial Library: A History, " compiled in 1977. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.