Background
Frederick Morgan Crunden was born on September 1, 1847 in Gravesend, England. His parents were Benjamin Robert and Mary (Morgan) Crunden, of old Saxon, Welsh, and French ancestry. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri in his early childhood.
Frederick Morgan Crunden was born on September 1, 1847 in Gravesend, England. His parents were Benjamin Robert and Mary (Morgan) Crunden, of old Saxon, Welsh, and French ancestry. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri in his early childhood.
He was educated in the public schools. He graduated from the high school in 1865, was valedictorian of his class, and won a scholarship to Washington University. By teaching during vacations, he accumulated funds for support during his college career. After receiving degrees of A. B. in 1868, and A. M. in 1872.
He was employed in the public schools as principal of the Jefferson and Benton schools, successively. After two years he was engaged by Washington University as instructor in mathematics and elocution. He became a member of the faculty and remained until 1876, when ill health took him to Colorado.
His health restored, Crunden returned to St. Louis and taught in the high school for a short time.
On January 1877 he was appointed secretary and librarian of the Public School Library.
He had developed great interest in library work and the new field was most congenial to him. The Library at this time had few books and a small membership. It was not a free library; members were charged for the use of books. The sums thus received, together with a small contribution from the public-school fund, afforded its only support. The new librarian created a sentiment in favor of a free public library, and started the campaign which separated the library from the school board. According to his plan a special tax was provided for the support of the library, and a library board was created to manage the institution and disburse its funds.
Before he died St. Louis had a great public library, with six branches and ample support.
Crunden regularly attended meetings of the American Library Association, of which he was vice-president (1887), president (1889), and councilor from 1882 almost continuously until his last illness.
He contributed to various publications, and at his death left unfinished a library text-book.
He died after an illness of five years, his funeral services were held at St. Louis, in the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), and his body was cremated.
(Excerpt from The Function of a Public Library and Its Val...)
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
Quotations: "Recorded thought is our chief heritage from the past, the most lasting legacy we can leave to the future. Books are the most enduring monument of man's achievements. Only through books can civilization become cumulative. "
Quotes from others about the person
"Mr. Crunden was the life, the soul, and the center of every great advance it made. "
In 1889 he married Kate Edmondson.
