Learn more about Women from NHFPL’s History!

Ives is NHFPL’s most well-known philanthropist, donating $300,000 to build the Ives Main Library building. She unfortunately did not live to see the library open, but her legacy lives on as we continue to use the building made possible by her generosity. Her husband, Hoadley B. Ives, was known for the creation of the Fair Haven and Westville Street Railroad Company. He left her with half of his estate when he passed, making her philanthropy possible. She used the funds to benefit New Haven and other communities where she could. In addition to the library, Ives made donations to a Wallingford tuberculosis Hospital, St. Raphael Hospital on Chapel Street, and several YMCAs in New Haven and Shanghai, China.

Russell came to the New Haven Public Library as an experienced librarian ready to put her mind to work. She was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, but moved around for experience in the North-Eastern area. She attended Bradford Academy, now known as Bradford College, for her training and then began working at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She stayed at Pratt for six years, then moved on to become a reference librarian in Trenton, New Jersey, where she stayed for three years. The longest of her jobs was at NHFPL, where she worked for 33 years, known as an Assistant Librarian and later the head of the Loan Department. She retired on September 15, 1939—only because of her dwindling health.  

Jerome was known for her Victorian style of dressing, and was well known and loved at NHFPL. Her father, Yan Phou Lee, was a Chinese immigrant, settling in New Haven and attending Yale. Jerome had an incredible appetite for learning, got her B.A. in Art at Mount Holyoke. After her mother refused to let Jerome start her career, she went back to school at Yale Art School for five terms, joining several clubs and the YWCA to stay busy. Eventually, she couldn’t resist and became the first woman in her family to have a career. She served at the Dixwell Branch from 1917-1922, the Stetson Branch Library now serves the Dixwell neighborhood. In 1922, She was transferred to the Ives Main branch as the art and musical librarian, where she stayed for 30 years before retiring. Much of her time at Ives involved hosting exhibitions for New Haven artists to help them get their start.

Stewart’s start at NHFPL wasn’t meant to be permanent, but she couldn’t resist staying to teach New Haven’s children. Because of financial hardship, she started her career in her home state of Nebraska at Omaha Library without a college degree. But Stewart wanted to explore, so she started traveling Europe before her plans to visit Berlin were interrupted by WWI. During the war, she joined the YWCA as a canteen helper for 20 months and received three service stripes. Stewart began working again in 1928 in New York, while also taking courses at Columbia University Library School. In 1930, she moved to New Haven and began working at the Fair Haven Branch after being recommended by Columbia University. During her time as the Children’s Librarian, she started a program to bring New Haven elementary schools to the library every year. Stewart left in 1950 after 20 years with the library system, unsure if she was ready to retire or if she was itching to find new work.

Ennis was a revered Librarian for her ability to pierce through the hardest of times with her joy. She started in the NHFPL system in 1943, working at the Grace-New Haven Community Hospital Branch. The Hospital branch operated through a cart brought from the Ives Main Library to the hospital, circulating books to patients, nurses, doctors, and other staff. The hospital formed a strong community around Ennis, where she donated her own magazines and paperbacks to the Hospital Branch’s circulation. Many regarded her presence as the real benefit of the library, the books being a bonus. 

Wexler’s continuous service to the Board of Library Directors and willingness to be involved showed her true devotion to all things New Haven. She started college at Albertus Magnus in 1926 and graduated from Smith College in 1930. Wexler was a Junior High teacher for five years before serving on the NHFPL Board of Directors as the aldermanic representative for many years. But she didn’t stop there. Wexler was also a member of the aldermanic committees on Housing and Sewers and Sanitation, was on the Citizen’s Action Committee on Housing, volunteered at the Residential Relocation Office, and the New Haven Tuberculosis and Health Association. She was was involved in many Jewish organizations, such as a member and delegate to the Bureau of Jewish Education at the Temple Mishkan Israel, chairman of Miskan Israel Sisterhood Committee on World Understanding and Community action, and delegate to Congregation Mishkan Israel Social Action Committee.