Category: Pre-Jefferson Ave
Library Committee Established
In 1922, the League of Women Voters was spurred to explore opening a public library in Kirkwood. The idea quickly gained community-wide interest. By 1924 the Kirkwood Library Committee was established by a group of local women lead by Mrs. Lillie O. Walker.
First Tax Supported Library
On December 10, 1926, Kirkwood Public Library became the first tax-supported library in St. Louis County, when Kirkwood citizens approved a tax levy to support the library. It is for this reason that we celebrate 1926 as the founding year of the Kirkwood Public Library. Mrs. Eugenia Becker was hired…
Library Opens
The Kirkwood Library opened on May 10, 1924, with patrons checking out 38 books that first day. This first library was considered private in that it was not supported by tax dollars. The original collection was located on the top floor of City Hall. Downstairs were City Hall offices and…






