The Friends is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for one amazing woman – Friends founder, Perrie Jones. This forward-thinking, courageous leader was the director of Saint Paul Public Library when she recognized the need for dedicated support to keep the library strong. Thus, in 1945, The Friends was born.
We’re big fans of Perrie around here, so we’re sharing a bit of her story with you and why our connection to her is still strong.
A Perrie Jones Snapshot
by Mark Taylor, Friends board member
In addition to starting the Friends in 1945, Perrie Jones had a remarkable life. Born in Wabasha, Minnesota in 1886, she attended the University of Minnesota and Smith College. Jones worked as a librarian in Wabasha for several years before she moved to New York City to further her library education. In the fall of 1917, she volunteered with the YMCA and YWCA, serving in France as a translator and nurse.
When she returned to Saint Paul, she pioneered library service to people in hospitals, and as supervisor of Minnesota’s system of institutional libraries helped the state become a model for others to follow. The capstone of her career was her 19 years as the Director of the Saint Paul Public Library, from 1937 to 1956, during which time SPPL greatly expanded its programming, and opened three new branch libraries.
In her spare time, Perrie Jones collected rare books, painted, and wrote poetry. She was also an instructor of library science at the University of Minnesota for many years. Jones’ final gift to the Saint Paul Public Library was bequeathing her estate to establish the Perrie Jones Fund, which provides generous financial support to SPPL staff to this day.
Perrie Jones was very much ahead of her time in that she saw the library not as a dusty old repository of books, but rather as a vital, vibrant part of the rich tapestry of a community. Jones believed that libraries were for everyone, and her career was focused on bringing the advantages of libraries to all.
Mark is the author of a forthcoming Perrie Jones feature
story in Ramsey County History Magazine.
Perrie’s Legacy Continues
For the 75 years since Perrie founded The Friends, we have pursued her original
mission to keep the library strong. With Perrie as our North Star, our core
beliefs still echo her legacy:
- We believe in libraries. Perrie recognized the power of libraries to change lives and create thriving communities. That’s why The Friends is here. Our mission is to be a catalyst for libraries to strengthen and inspire their communities.
- We believe in connecting. Perrie brought library services outside library walls to people in hospitals, prisons, and schools. She created public private partnerships to launch innovative programs. Today, those same type of partnerships are at the center of our fundraising + advocacy model, and we connect people all over the state with stories, libraries, and each other.
- We believe in everyone. Perrie championed people no matter the age, ethnicity, or background by highlighting authors of color and speaking out against censorship. Our work is still dedicated to breaking down barriers so that the library can truly belong to everyone in our community.
- We believe in potential. In 1968, Perrie left her estate to The Friends to provide scholarships and grants for library staff “for the improvement and strengthening of public library service.” Today, the Perrie Jones fund is strong and supports library staff at all levels in their continuing education.
- We believe in learning. Perrie believed in knowledge as a way to guard against the “tyranny of ignorance.” Our work ensures that the library can remain an essential part of our lifelong learning ecosystem.
We are grateful to Perrie and to all the partners who have supported our work along the way.
To learn more about our history, read this article about The Friends at 50 years.
To learn more about our vision for the future, click here to read our strategic plan.