The Warren Library Association was founded in 1873 as a free public library under the Laws of Pennsylvania and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. Through the generous contribution of Thomas Struthers in 1882, the library was able to locate in the Struthers Library Theatre building, where it provided service to the citizens of Warren for 33 years. In 1916, the library moved to its present location at 205 Market Street.
In 1962, Warren was designated as the district library center for 17 public libraries in five counties in northwestern PA and has been appointed by the County Commissioners as the county library for Warren County. A twelve person Board of Directors appointed by the County Commissioners, the City of Warren, and representatives elected from the Association governs the Warren Library Association.
May 2025. As you may know, Thomas Struthers was instrumental in ensuring that this library was established in 1873 and then given the opportunity to grow and eventually become the thriving institution that it is today.
Prior to our renovation, it became clear that we were going to need to relocate our large portrait of Thomas Struthers, which was painted by William A. Greaves in 1884. When the painting was taken down for safe storage, we discovered that it had no back protecting the canvas. It was suggested that we have the artwork restored and repaired before it was rehung.
Gabriel Dunn, owner of unDunn Art Services, brilliantly restored our portrait of Thomas Struthers. In early May, Mr. Struthers was installed in a place of prominence on the first floor above the Harold Chase Putnam Reading Room on the first floor. This was done with the help and expertise of James Pearson, of the Erie Art Museum, and volunteers from the First Lutheran Church property committee.
We’d love to extend our gratitude to Kevin Ignatius, Chase and Mary Putnam, and Susan Stout and the Board of the Thomas Struthers Trust, doing business as the Struthers Library Theatre, for their generous donations to fund the restoration. We also would like to extend our gratitude to James Pearson, Denise Pearson, Kevin Downey, Dave Campbell, Tim Bleech, Mike Wachter, and Bob Gregerson for their hard work in hanging the portrait. A heartfelt thank you to Gary Lester for photographing the installation process.
Be sure to stop and check out the portrait the next time you’re in the library. You can’t miss it!
Excerpts from library history by Chase Putnam
published in the October 2004 “Fulcrum”
An outline history of the Warren Library Association compiled in 1993 cites, in closing, the nurturing contributions of those who have sustained this remarkable institution from its founding to the present day. Firm and consistent public support is, of course, an essential ingredient, but no less important is the contribution of those who have served as library staff members; during the last quarter-century — a period of enormous and sometimes difficult change—they have served honorably and well, as events will prove.
Early in 1980 the Board had begun to discuss solutions to growing problems with space and accessibility…June 1980 brought some happy news for the planners: Joseph DeFrees offered the property next door to the south as a site for building expansion. The Windsor-Newmaker house, built in 1887, occupied the space. With the assurance of two unrestricted bequests for renovation and expansion, the Board began arrangements for a sizeable addition on the adjacent lot…More than 1700 individuals contributed to the effort…The groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 19, 1984.
A grand opening and re-dedication on November 10, 1985, presented to the public an expanded library with nearly twice the space previously available. Major features in the addition were the new children’s room, the William Allen Slater Room for multi-purpose use, new public restrooms and a new director’s office, and a new reference room with a separate temperature– and humidity-controlled space for special collections. The Wetmore Gallery was renovated, the checkout desk redesigned, and new staff offices were created in the first-floor space below the reference room.
Although it would seem as though the Board had time for little else in the mid-eighties, members were occupied with a good many other issues…Certainly the most distressing problem facing the Association as the 1990’s began was the announcement in Harrisburg of state aid cuts. As a result, in 1991 a community-wide endowment campaign was begun by the Board of Control. Cutbacks and reduction of expenses in the early ‘90s became unpleasant necessities, only to be echoed repeatedly later in that decade and the one that followed…In spite of this discouraging trend, our local library and others move on with great energy and hope for a brighter future as library patrons across the state make their wishes known.
We have already saluted those whose foresight and dedication have made the Warren Public Library what it is—one of the most respected and responsive public libraries in the Commonwealth. Their vision continues today among those who are charged with guiding us into the future. And to one who has known and loved the library lifelong—from the story-hour days of the early 1940s to my present work with the historical collections—it is a sustaining force: the world of books.
