R. W. Ramsey

Guthrie’s first public library began with the coalition of eight women’s clubs in 1900. Several ladies held book receptions in their homes, which resulted in the collection of approximately 100 books in 1900. Mr. Robert W. Ramsey, head of Ramsey Bros. Dry Goods Store, promised to give 25 books from his store stock for every 100 books other people gave. Mr. Ramsey was a personal acquaintance of Andrew Carnegie, since boyhood days in Dunfermline, Scotland, and was able to obtain $1,000 from Carnegie for books. Carnegie added the advice that “the only true plan is for the community to maintain a library from a tax levied for that purpose.” This was believed to be the only donation Carnegie made for books.

Later Mr. Ramsey was instrumental is obtaining $25,000 from Carnegie for a library building. That building was dedicated on May 20,1903, making it Oklahoma’s first Carnegie library. Ramsey was elected Vice President of the new public library board, and continued to be a frequent donor of gifts and services to the Guthrie library for many years.