J. D. B. News Letter

Kirstein Gives Library Building to Boston By Our Boston Correspondent

Louis E. Kirstein, vice-president of William Filene’s Sons Company, has given the sum of $150,000 to the city of Boston to erect a branch library for business men and women, according to an announcement made by Mayor Nichols. The gift was accepted by the City of Boston. The mayor will present to the city council at its next meeting an order for the immediate erection of the new building. The library is to be known as the Edward Kirstein Memorial Library in memory of Mr. Kirstein’s father.

According to officials of the Boston Public Library this will be the first library to be devoted mainly to the needs of business men and women. The donor will also give books to this branch which is to be located near the Boston City Hall.

Mr. Kirstein made his home in this city in 1894 and is one of the leading figures in the life of the community. He has been the head of the local Federated Jewish Charities and has interested himself in many communal and civic affairs. He has been a member of the board of library trustees and has taken a keen interest in the library situation.

Mayor Nichols’ letter of acceptance of the gift follows: “Permit me as mayor of the city of Boston to extend to you this acknowledgement of my my thanks for your splendid gift to the city.

“It is an occasion not only of official recognition, but also one of personal gratification and is a further evidence of your devoted interest in our great city.

“The library which you so generously offer the city of Boston to be erected on the site of former police station 2 in City Hall Avenue and Court Square will stand for all time as a tribute to your long list of public contributions.

“During our conversation regarding your gift you made reference to the affection felt by your father, the late Edward Kirstein, for the people and for the city of Boston and desired that the gift should be in honor of his memory. It seems to me, therefore, that the library should be called the Edward Kirstein Memorial Library.

“Please accept this expression of my sincere thanks and with it the assurance that the city of Boston, which has the honor to have so distinguished a citizen as yourself, is proud to receive your gift.”

The “Boston Herald,” commenting on the gift of Mr. Kirstein, said in part: “The gift of a downtown library branch by Mr. Louis E. Kirstein to Boston is the greatest benefaction but one in the history of the Public Library. That part of the late J. H. Benton’s gift which is now accumulating amounted to a million dollars, but has not yet become effective.

“No less admirable than the gift itself is the spirit which prompted it. Mr. Kirstein says simply that Boston has been very good to him and that he wishes to show his appreciation in this library, which will be a memorial to his father. Here is an example of fine citizenship: the kind which the late James J. Storrow used to urge and to illustrate, and which Mrs. Storrow still embodies. Those millions who glowed at Mr. Hoover’s remarks about the abolition of poverty will find a new theme in the erection of a memorial structure, devoted to education, on the site of a dingy, barred-window old police station.”