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July 10, 2025
Today in Texas History
On this day in 1900, the state of Texas granted a charter to the Rosenberg Library Association of Galveston. The Rosenberg Library, successor to the Galveston Mercantile Library, which was founded in 1871, is the oldest public library in Texas in continuous operation.
With funding provided through a bequest from Henry Rosenberg, the Rosenberg Library Association was organized in 1900 as a private corporation to give free library service to all Galvestonians. In 1903, Frank C. Patten was appointed to supervise the completion of the library, which opened in June 1904.
A year later the Rosenberg absorbed the collections of the Galveston Public Library, thus formalizing its new role as the public library for the city of Galveston. Since that time the library has compiled outstanding collections of manuscripts, maps, artifacts, and printed items.
With funding provided through a bequest from Henry Rosenberg, the Rosenberg Library Association was organized in 1900 as a private corporation to give free library service to all Galvestonians. In 1903, Frank C. Patten was appointed to supervise the completion of the library, which opened in June 1904.
A year later the Rosenberg absorbed the collections of the Galveston Public Library, thus formalizing its new role as the public library for the city of Galveston. Since that time the library has compiled outstanding collections of manuscripts, maps, artifacts, and printed items.