Mary Pauline Edgerton, respected community leader, made a lasting and significant impact on the people of Summit County.
Born in Tallmadge, Ohio, and one of eight children in a leading pioneer family in Akron, Edgerton moved west with her father, Sidney, and mother, Mary Wright Edgerton. They were one of the first groups to travel out west by wagon train. While living there, her father helped organize the Republican Party, was appointed United States Judge for the Idaho Territory and later became the first governor of the Montana Territory.
Influenced by her father’s political career, Edgerton came back to the Akron area with her family and settled down around 1863. She was also influenced by her mother, who was recognized for her historic account of their life in Montana entitled A Governor’s Wife on the Mining Frontier.”
With a supportive family behind her, Edgerton became interested in promoting reading — education in general – in the citizens of Summit County. She sought out the help of City Council for funding for a public library, but was disappointed at their lack of interest. She persisted, however; and as a result, Akron had its first public library through financial contributions from Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie, a nationally recognized philanthropist, has been credited with helping to establish more than 2,500 free libraries around the country.
Never marrying, Edgerton worked as the chief administration officer for Akron’s public library for more than 30 years. She encouraged young people to read and helped them select books that were of good literary quality. She is also credited for establishing and organizing the reference and catalog departments there.
In tribute to her exemplary community service, the August 29, 1931 issue of the Beacon Journal said, “she gained the respect of the leaders and the love of her fellow workers and those she befriended, going out of her way to add the human touch to her professional work.”
Photo courtesy of the Beacon Journal.
–Penny Fox