Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Arts & Culture, People

Location

34 Water St, Dundee, NY 14837, USA

Lat/Long

42.52438, -76.97704

Grant Recipient

Dundee Library

The Woman’s Study Club of Dundee in Yates County, New York is believed to have been formed around 1903, when the club began to hold regular meetings in the village to discuss social and literary topics of interest to the members. By 1908, the club had established a circulating library for the community. According to the October 30, 1908 edition of the Rushville Chronicle, the library was then located in the Dundee National Bank building.

As the library grew, members of the club secured a provisional charter from the Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1912. The first nine trustees of the library included club members Della Pierce Cooper, Hattie L. Murphy, Martha Vosburgh, Myrtie A. Knapp, Edwina B. Harpending, Jennie Roberts, Marie G. Roberts, Nina B. Earnest, and Genevieve M. Dean. In June 1917, Della Pierce Cooper, library trustee and one of the founding members of the Woman’s Study Club, died and bequeathed her house and lot on Water Street in Dundee for the club to use for the library. She also donated two thousand dollars toward the construction of a new library building and her entire personal collection of books to the library.

Later that year, the Woman’s Study Club moved the library into Cooper’s former home on Water Street, while working to raise additional funding and community support for a new library building. On February 5, 1920, the Dundee Observer reported that the new library building was “finished, open, and doing business.” It went on to describe the library’s opening reception hosted by the Woman’s Study Club:

“A large number of people, probably several hundred, took occasion to step in and look over the completed building and partake of the refreshments which had been provided. On every hand were heard expressions of admiration and delight. The effect of the interior decorations, the harmony and the beauty of the building as a whole make a pleasing and lasting impression. The people are proud of the new library.”

The February 20, 1920 edition of the Rushville Chronicle and Gorham New Age, praised the work of the Woman’s Study Club in erecting the new library building:

“Much credit is due the Woman’s Study Club that Dundee has a free circulating library of several thousand carefully selected volumes, together with a handsome fire-proof building in which to care for it.”

By 1921, the library had grown to hold over three thousand volumes in its collection. The April 28, 1921 edition of the Dundee Observer praised the continuing efforts of the Woman’s Study Club:

“The members of the Study Club furnish a librarian and assistants, thus performing all of the work incident to the management and administration of the library. The Club has been fortunate in having among its members women who were willing to assume this heavy burden and direct the work of the library so as to give the greatest possible service to the community.”

“Dundee now has one of the finest libraries and library buildings to be found in a village of its size. As a community activity it is increasing in usefulness and importance every year. Dundee has reason to be grateful to the memory of Mrs. Della Pierce Cooper, whose interest and generosity have made possible this splendid achievement.”

On July 18, 1946, the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, on behalf of the State Education Department, granted an absolute charter to the library. On March 7, 2000, the charter was amended to officially change the name of the library to the Dundee Library and to update the library’s service area to align with the Dundee Central School District boundaries. As of 2022, the Dundee Library continues to serve the community from its Water Street location.