REQUEST FOR ARCHIVAL ASSISTANCE
REQUEST FOR ARCHIVAL ASSISTANCE:
CREW LIBRARY, SALEM, IOWA -January 10, 2010
The construction of the new Salem Crew Public library is nearing completion with dedication set for June 12, 2010!!!!!!
This has proven a truly remarkable venture with the entire $850,000 needed - “in the bank” - due to awesomely generous personal donations from throughout the country and important grants.There has been no tax increase in any form needed for the project.
I serve on the archival/history committee.The historical presentation in the new library will be two-fold:
1. The history of one of Salem’s most prominent families and their contributions to education, The Crew family, with emphasis on library benefactor, Mamie Crew, and;
2. The history of rural schools of the Salem area.
Our committee is being aided by a retired chief designer for the National Park Service who has volunteered to assist in the design of several large wall panels featuring the history of the Crew family and early schools.
HELP NEEDED!The largest panel on entry to the library is titled: “For the Love of Books – A Family Affair,” The Crew Family in Salem.”
We only have two graphics for the panel – a photo of Mamie and one of the Salem home.We are searching for photos, drawings, maps, charts, letters, etc., etc., re: Mamie, Walter, Sarah, Micajah, Mariam (all are mentioned in the panel text) the Hanover County, VA farm, pictures teaching, working, farmingetc., etc., etc.,----anything suitable for large format display as you might see in National Park displays.
Documents are best scanned and e-mailed to us but can be shipped to me for safe keeping.Our graphics contractor in Cedar Rapids can reproduce items and we will return items to you.We hope for the final “panel product completion,” by April 1st.
If you can help please contact me:
Dave Helman: [email protected],tel: (319-258-1469) Address: 1899 335th Street, Salem, Iowa 52649
Please plan to attend the dedication on June 12th !!!!(time to be set).
More at: www.salembuildingfund.com
Thanks for any help you may give us with this project. Doris
My email address: [email protected]
My connection:
John Crew married Sarah Gatley - My 7th G Grandparents
Elizabeth Crew married Thomas II Stanley
John Stanley and Ann Ballard
Elizabeth Betsy Stanley and Frances Henry Frazier
Frances Henry Frazier and Eunice Beard
Cyrus S. Frazier and Eunice Ann Mills
Ida Eunice Mills married Edward Pyron Parker
Carl Cyrus Parker married Lola Catherine Logan
Everett Eugene Parker married Vera Georgia Harter
Doris Elaine Parker married James Raymond Onorato
Crew Family Heritage, Mamie Crew and the Library
M.L (Micajah Lemuel) Crew was born at Crewsville Farm, Hanover County, Virginia, June 13, 1835 and was fourteen when his family moved to Iowa.His parents were both native Virginians.In 1849, his father, Walter Crew had sold his Virginia homestead and with his family, consisting of fourteen children, made his way to Salem.
Walter Crew was a great lover of books, an interest passed on to M.L. and his siblings.Walter was unusually well read and inculcated on his children a systematic course of daily reading, prescribing books and subjects for them to study.He inherited many books from his father and had an unusually complete library.
These books were shipped to St. Louis where he intended to send for them when settled in Iowa.Unfortunately, they reached St. Louis just before the great fire in that city in 1849, and were all consumed.The loss was great to Mr. Crew as he was never fully able to recover them.
Son, M.L. Crew taught school in winter and farmed in summer.He also served as Principal of the public school in Salem.M.L. took an active interest in politics and represented the county in the Nineteenth General assembly.Among other things he sought by bill the adoption of a uniform system of text books for the public schools that contained a provision by which pupils could obtain books at wholesale prices.
Mrs. Crew, Miriam, shared M.L’s love of books.Long winters on the farm were occupied in reading aloud, each family member taking part.Mamie (Mary J.) Crew, born September 19, 1860, was one of three children, all daughters, of M.L. and Miriam.Mamie was educated at Whittier College.
Mamie Crew, a teacher, was the last of the Micajah Lemuel Crew family in Salem when she died in 1934.She left her family farm in her will to the town of Salem.Miss Crew was carrying out the wishes of her father.The town was to sell the farm and use the money, or part of it, for a Free Public Library.Part of the money was to be put into bonds and the interest used to support the library.The library was to serve Salem and Salem community residents.
An account of the Crew family history in Salem is recorded in “Place of Peace, Memories of Salem, Iowa, 1835-1996.”