Mrs. Audrey D. Kariel, Project Coordinator, and Martin Spangler, Chairman, celebrate the new Marshall Public Library at the formal reception on October 20, 1973. Mrs. Kariel relates "Martin was an inspirational leader. Every agenda carried a quote with motivation. My favorite was 'Your ship cannot come in unless you send some out.' We had to send out many ships to build the new MPL."

A slide with part of a newspaper article about an exhibit on Native Americans at the Marshall Public Library during the Bicentennial. Included is a printed picture of library director Dorothy Morrison and the exhibit.

Bill Moyers, national journalist and Marshall favorite son, visits with a fan after his speech. He returned to Marshall, Texas, during the nation's Bicentennial celebration in 1976 to speak on the value of libraries in a community.

The new bookmobile at Marshall Public Library, c. 1978, is readied for use by two helpers (unidentified).

Library Director Dorothy Morrison shown discussing the Bookmobile project with Mike Wood, left, Friends of a Public Library president, and Fenn Lewis, Friends fund drive chairman. Behind them is the Winnebago used for the project.

Audry D. Kariel, Library Building Project Coordinator, with friend Janice Levy and Rabbi Richard Zionst at the dedication of the new Marshall Public Library building on October 21, 1973. Rabbi Zionst gave the invocation at the dedication ceremony, a choice which reflected the amount of financial support and hard work invested by the Marshall Jewish community in the new building.

Mr. George Olincy, Chairman of the Andrew Norman Foundation, and Mrs. Bernice Gold Kranson were benefactors of the new Marshall Public Library building in 1973.

Two young women, both library supporters, attended the reception celebrating the opening of Marshall's new library building in October, 1973.

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.

When the Marshall Public Library was founded, it had its first home at the corner of West Austin and Franklin streets (now the Chamber of Commerce building). Books from a lending library belonging to Marshall Women's Clubs became the core of the new collection. Approximately 25 children helped to move this core collection from its old home at 112 East Austin St.

Children's storytime at Marshall Public Library usually includes a story with crafts or music. In 1978 the story was occasionally presented by slides, filmstrip, or 16mm film, if licensing permitted.

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

A career education class meets in the Gold Auditorium at Marshall Public Library. The auditorium was equipped with the latest audio-visual technology when the library was built in 1973. This class, meeting in 1978, made use of that technology shown in the picture. The auditorium has been in demand almost continuously for many purposes since the library was built.

Dorothy Vance Montgomery, musician and educator in Marshall, Texas. Born and reared in Marshall, she received several undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wiley College and the University of Southern California. She taught music in the Marshall Public Schools, 1930-1976. She also taught piano for 44 years at her private studio; was minister of music for 17 years at New Bethel Baptist Church; and was adjunct teacher for 2 years at Wiley College. The image shows her receiving one of several local awards for her long contribution to education.

As the sign attests, N. Wellington Street runs one way to the south in Marshall. The street intersects with Houston (right foreground) after crossing W. Austin Street one block to the north. Businesses located along the section of N. Wellington shown in the picture would have included the Marshall National Bank motor branch, Birmingham Shopping Mart, Paxtons Appliances, Blairs TV Service, River's Seed Bin, McKay's Furniture Co., City Finance So., and Denney Cleaners. Along W. Austin Street right to left, were Marshall Barber Shop, Mays Studio, the Blalock Building, Joe Woods Radio & TV Service, Stacy Shoe Repair, Blue Bonnet Beauty Shop, Desota Imports-Exports, Austin Furniture Co., McGibbon Watch Repairing, Barkett Shoe Repairing, Parish Taxi Stand, and finally Marshall Public Library at the extreme left side of the picture. The picture likely dates from 1978 or later. The blue Oldsmobile vehicle on the left is a 1978 model.

In 1979 the summer reading program at the Marshall Public Library ended with a picnic and outdoor games. Here the children line up for one of the activities.

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.

Marshall, Texas, Mayor William Huffman (center) accepts the keys to the new bookmobile from Dr. A. F. Veau, (right), president of the Friends of a Public Library as City Manager Ray Jackson (left) looks on. In the background, W.C. Wallace, bookmobile driver, supervises a tour of the vehicle. Caption and photo from the Marshall News Messenger newspaper, Wednesday, April 12, 1978.

Lou Gaw, left, and Audrey Kariel, right, inspect the Marshall Public Library's new bookmobile. The Friends of a Public Library group acquired a motor home for the purpose. It was refurbished and re-constructed inside for library books. It was ready for use by April, 1978. According to the caption, Hallsville was the first stop on the schedule.

In September, 1971, a challenge grant from the Andrew Norman Foundation was offered to the Friends of a Public Library in Marshall, Texas for the purpose of building a new library. The $150,000 offer was to be matched by funds raised in Marshall and Harrison County. Following a successful fund drive, the photo shows George Fenn Lewis, president of the Friends, endorsing a balance payment check for $110,000 before presenting it to Dick Brassell, secretary-treasurer of the Friends.

In 1972, the local chapter of the Jaycee Jaynes held a game night to benefit the building funds for the Marshall Public Library and Marshall Memorial Hospital. Seated left to right, Mrs. Tom Wynn, Mrs. John Carrington, and Mrs. Kenneth White confer about door prizes.

Library benefactors Virginia Gold Olinsky, second from left, and Bernice Gold Kranson, right, are shown with other library supporters at a reception during the opening weekend of the Marshall Public Library, October, 1973.

Library benefactors greet other library supporters at the reception for the new Marshall Public Library on October 20, 1973. Third from left is Mrs. George Gold Olincy, then her sister Mrs. Bernice Gold Kranson, fourth from left, and then Mr. George Olincy, right. The Mose and Etta Gold auditorium at the library was named for the Gold's parents.

Two library staff members, unidentified, discuss business at Marshall Public Library's circulation desk in 1978.