Frank Avery Hutchins (March 8, 1851 – January 25, 1914) was an American educator and librarian. He was one of the founders of the

Wisconsin Library Association The Wisconsin Library Association (WLA), is a Wisconsin, United States non-profit, professional membership organization which has existed since 1891. WLA represents nearly 2000 members statewide --- primarily librarians and library staff from scho ...

and the Wisconsin Free Library Commission.

Early life

Hutchins was born on March 8, 1851, in

Norwalk, Ohio Norwalk is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Huron County. The population was 17,012 at the 2010 census. The city is the center of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Cleveland-Akron-Canton Combined ...

, to Allen Sabin Hutchins, a school principal and classics teacher, and Henrietta Curry. When he was one, the family moved to Wisconsin, where his father took over the administration of Wayland University in

Beaver Dam A beaver dam or beaver impoundment is a dam built by beavers to create a pond which protects against predators such as coyotes, wolves and bears, and holds their food during winter. These structures modify the natural environment in such a way t ...

. The family moved between Beaver Dam, Beloit and

Baraboo Baraboo is a city in the Midwest and the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The largest city in the county, Baraboo is the principal city of the Baraboo Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its 2020 population was 12,556. It is situ ...

due to his father's illness and difficulties at the University. He studied at

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Founded in 1846, when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and h ...

in 1871–73 before moving back to Beaver Dam due to an illness before he could graduate.

Career

In 1874, Hutchins taught school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where his uncle, Charles A. Hutchins, was city superintendent and in charge of the city's high schools. He also traveled for a book company which was followed by a period of illness. In 1884, he became the editor of the ''Beaver Dam Argus'' (a Democratic weekly published by Benjamin Sherman), a position he held until 1891. He also worked as the city clerk during this time, and observing the community's need, he helped establish the Beaver Dam Free Library Association on August 30, 1884. Hutchins was appointed as the library clerk by the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin in 1891. He instituted the traveling libraries throughout Wisconsin which were instrumental in bringing library services to rural areas, and promoted and organized public school libraries. He was one of the founders of the

in 1891, became its first secretary, and was its President from 1894 to 1897. He met Lutie Stearns at the first meeting of the WLA. The two, along with Senator James Huff Stout of Wisconsin, were instrumental in founding the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, based on similar state library commissions in

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and

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

. Hutchins drafted the bill that Senator Stout helped pass into law in 1895, which formed the Commission. Hutchins and Stearns were appointed as the Commission's first professional officers, though unpaid, by Governor Upham. When it was reorganized in 1897, Hutchins was appointed as salaried secretary and chief executive officer, a position he held until 1904 when he resigned due to poor health. As secretary of the Commission, he drafted library laws, established the

traveling library A traveling library is a collection of books lent for stated periods by a central library to a branch library, club, or other organization or, in some instances, to an individual. The chief characteristics from which it derives its name are its temp ...

system, organized a summer school for training small town librarians and planned for the establishment of public libraries in small towns. He designed the concept of the ''Legislative Reference Library'', a feature of the

Wisconsin Idea The Wisconsin Idea is a public philosophy that has influenced policy and ideals in the U.S. state of Wisconsin's education system and politics. In education, emphasis is often placed on how the Idea articulates education's role for Wisconsin ...

, which was guided into legislation by

Cornelia Marvin Cornelia Marvin Pierce (December 26, 1873 – February 12, 1957) was an American librarian, originally from Iowa. She moved to Oregon in 1905 to become the first director of the Oregon Library Commission and, later, the first Oregon State Librar ...

after Hutchins fell ill. It became the life work of the progressive politician, Charles McCarthy, who credited Hutchins as its originator, being called "the father of Wisconsin public libraries". In 1907, he was appointed as the secretary of the University Extension division and head of debating and public discussion at the

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...

. Hutchins was an active member of the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association. He helped the organization raise funds through the

Christmas seal Christmas seals are labels placed on mail during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for charitable programs. They have become particularly associated with lung diseases such as tuberculosis, and with child welfare. Christmas seals ...

campaign in 1908. He was also active in the state park and conservation movement.

Death and legacy

Hutchins died on January 25, 1914, of cerebral thrombosis caused by an accident. He was buried in Baraboo. A memorial service to honor him and his work was held on May 20, 1914, at the University Music Hall. Speakers included Lutie Stearns, Charles R. Van Hise, Francis E. McGovern and

Jane Addams Laura Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 May 21, 1935) was an American settlement activist, reformer, social worker, sociologist, public administrator, and author. She was an important leader in the history of social work and women's suffrage ...

. He has been credited as a promoter of the

due to his work in university extension. McCarthy called him a "great seer and warm-hearted idealist" for establishing Wisconsin's traveling libraries and the public libraries they grew into, as well as the library school. His annotated ''Books for Small Libraries'' and ''Buying List of Recent Books'' were taken over by the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

, to become the

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame on November 6, 2008.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hutchins, Frank Avery 1851 births 1914 deaths American librarians American Library Association people Beloit College alumni Educators from Wisconsin People from Norwalk, Ohio 19th-century American educators 20th-century American educators