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130 years ago on November 29, 1892, Robbins Library was dedicated and opened for the use of the town of Arlington.
The town of Arlington had offering public library services since 1835, thanks to a gift from Dr. Ebenezer Learned to establish a Juvenile Library back when the town was called West Cambridge. The town officially accepted the gift from Learned on November 30, 1835. From there, the money was used to buy a wheelbarrow of books which Jonathan Dexter, the town’s first librarian carted to his home to establish the library. It is thanks to this establishment that Arlington holds the distinction of having the longest continuously operating free children’s library in the United States. Library services were extended to the whole community in 1837, after Town Meeting voted to appropriate $30 annually for the library and voted to open the library for all citizens. From 1835 to 1892, the library services in Arlington would be held at different buildings with their name changing from the West Cambridge Juvenile Library to the Arlington Public Library, reflecting the town’s name change in 1867.
In 1892 the current building was constructed. The building project was initiated by Maria Farmer Robbins who intended to construct a library in the memory of her husband, Eli Robbins and provided $150,000 for the construction of the building. Preparations began for the building in 1890 when the Robbins Mansion, now known as the Whittemore-Robbins House, was moved away from Massachusetts Avenue making way for the new library. Maria Robbins would not live to see her gift to the town completed, dying before the opening of the library. Winfield Robbins, nephew of Eli, supervised the remaining construction and Maria’s brother, Elbridge Farmer, provided $50,000 to ensure the new library would be completed and maintained.
As the library neared completion in September, 1892 former Governor John Quincy Adams Brackett issued a proclamation thanking Maria Robbins for the gift to the town and declared the library be named Robbins Library of Arlington. Brackett and Judge William Parmenter would go on to lead the committee to dedicate Robbins Library.
The building was dedicated on November 29, 1892. Elizabeth Newton, the librarian in Arlington since 1872 oversaw the dedication and would go on to be the librarian at Robbins Library until 1929. The Arlington Advocate noted its “elegant structure” and regarding the children and public who visited from several towns, wrote “it was evident that the beautiful building had its effect on them.” (Arlington Advocate, November 11, 1892, p. 1). The Advocate also noted the “effect of the building when lit by the numerous electric features is particularly beautiful and it can not help being a joy forever, as it is so essentially a thing of beauty” (p. 8).
Judge Parmenter led the dedication ceremonies which was highlighted by former Governor Brackett stating “This building is not for the few, but for the many….its function in exemplifying and fostering that principle of human equality which is the mainspring of the republic” (p. 4). From there, the key to the library was presented to Library Trustee chairman Richard Hodgdon and the celebration and dedication was completed at the nearby First Parish Church. So began the establishment of Robbins Library.
130 years later, the Robbins Library still stands. With two major expansions in 1930 and 1994, and the Fox Branch in East Arlington in its present location since 1950, these libraries continue to serve the town of Arlington. Today, Arlington’s libraries create opportunities for lifelong learning, meaningful connection, and discovery for all. The mission of the library in 2022 reflects the ideals of library services Governor Brackett alluded to in his dedication speech.
Sources Used
Arlington Advocate, November 11, 1892, p. 1, 8.
“A Noble Gift Publicly Dedicated in Arlington,” Arlington Advocate, December 2, 1892, p. 4.
Parmenter, James P., “Arlington and her Libraries: First Established 1807,” from Town of Arlington Past and Present: A Narrative of Larger Events and Important Changes in the Village Precinct and Town from 1637 to 1907 by Charles S. Parker.
Spengler, Margaret H., “Education and Libraries: Tradition and Change,” from Arlington Celebrates the Growing Years: 1875-1975.