Mrs. Audrey Kariel, second from right. was congratulated for her role in the successful library building project with a spray of roses. She was the Projector Director for the drive to building the Marshall Public Library.

The Longhorn Division of Thiokol Chemical Corp. made the first of three donations to the building fund for Marshall Public Library in 1972. Herschel Q. Holly, right, present a $1000 check to Fenn Lewis, center, president of the Friends of a Public Library. Looking on at left is Max Lale, staff assistant, plant relations.

Ray and Mona Lawson, library suppporters, attended the reception for the opening of Marshall Public Library on October 20, 1973.

An unidentified man sits at a festival booth in Marshall.

Civic leader Carolyn Abney and her mother attended the formal reception for the opening of Marshall Public Library in 1973.

Audrey Kariel, Project Director for the building of Marshall Public Library, shares a joke with Truitt at a library function.

The Harrison County Medical Assistants Society was the first organization to have 100 percent participation in the Friends of Marshall Public Library's membership drive. The Friends group was formed c1967 to raise support for a new library building. Their first activity was the drive. Pictured at left is Mrs. J. C. Gullion, a member of the membership committee. Other women are unidentified.

Members of the Friends of a Public Library organization in Marshall, Texas examine a new library reference book in this publicity photo. Seated, left to right, are Fenn Lewis, Nancy Brown Conwell, and Jim Ivey. Standing, left to right, are Tony Bridge and Dick Brassell.

Library supporter Carolyn Abney, right, and an unidentified man applaud an achievement at a meeting in Marshall. Behind them is a flag and an artist's rendering of the new public library building, which was complete in 1973.

Bill Moyers, journalist, speaks at a benefit for the Marshall Public Library during the 1976 bicentennial. Moyers was raised in Marshall, Texas. He occasionally returns to speak and support various issues or events that are significant to him.

The first flag to fly over the new Marshall Public Library was flown over the Capitol before being presented to the library by the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 3969. The gift was made possible by Congressman Sam B. Hall of Harrison County. Three members of the Army National Guard are shown raising the colors at the formal presentation ceremony.

Members of the Army National Guard raise the new flag in front of the new Marshall Public Library at formal presentation ceremonies. The flag previously flew over the Capitol, and was a gift arranged by Congressman Sam B. Hall, Jr. through the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 3969.

Dr. A. F. Veau was a member of the executive board of the Friends of a Public Library in Marshall, Texas. In 1978 he was installed as the president of the Friends group. He had also been active in promoting the new library building, which opened in 1973. For many years he kept scrapbooks that detailed the history of the establishment and progress of the library as well as the Friends.

Radio station owner Tony Bridge and civic leader Carolyn Abney attended the reception for the opening of the new Marshall Public Library in 1973.

During the early 1970's, various organisations contributed toward the building of a new public library in Marshall, Texas. In this newspaper photo, Fenn Lewis, fund drive chairman, accepts a donation from Johnny Barkett.

Celebrating at the October 20, 1973 reception for the opening of the new public library building in Marshall, Texas are Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kariel (left and right) and Tony Bridge (center). Mr. Bridge was the owner of KMHT radio station and was the first person to support Mrs. Kariel when she publicly stated the need for a public library.

The room is the Mose and Etta Gold Auditorium at Marshall Public Library. The room is set up for a meeting with red, white, and blue metal chairs before a low dais. On the dais are the American flag and a grand piano. The room is available to the public and has been used for many functions since the library was built in 1973.

Bill Moyers, national journalist, was raised in Marshall. During the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations, he returned to Marshall to speak about the value of libraries.

Price T. Young students in Marshall, Texas select books on a RIF distribution day at the Marshall Public Library. The library has participated in the "Reading is Fundamental" program since the 1970's. The program provides funds under a matching grant which the library uses to purchase books to distribute to children free of charge.

The Lions Club of Marshall hosted a fish fry in April, 1972 to benefit the Marshall Public Library Building Fund. Harrison Forbes, club president, stands with Martin Spangler, who headed the fund-raising drive for the Friends of the Public Library. The two men stand in front of the Lions Club's banner; in front of them are promotional placards in the shape of fish on a string.

Many individuals and groups donated to the building fund for the new Marshall Public Library from 1969-1973. In this newspaper photo, Tommy Thomas of a local veterans group presents a check to a member (unidentified) of the Friends of a Public Library, which spearheaded the movement for the library.

An automobile is parked outside Marshall Public Library's north entrance on Fannin St.

During the nation's celebration of its Bicentennial, certain cities around the country received a designation as "All-America City." Marshall, Texas was one such city. In this newspaper photo from the Marshall News Messenger, Chamber of Commerce president Tony Bridge displays the All-America City plaque and makes the announcement through radio and television microphones shown in foreground. Unidentified dignitaries stand behind him.

"Miss Marshall" Celia Choate presents a plaque to Mrs. Thomas R. (Elderleen) Coker to commemorate the creation of the Friends of a Public Library Association in Marshall, Texas. This event inaugurated a Friends fund drive of several years duration to build a new public library building. The new Marshall Public Library opened in 1973.