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Mayo Hayes O'Donnell Library
155 Van Buren Street Monterey, California 93940 MHOD is a non circulating research library providing an extensive collection of books, photographs, scrap books, and other historical artifacts pertaining to Monterey, Monterey County, and surrounding counties. Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1:30-4:00 pm, or by appointment (please request by email) |
Recent Additions
About the Library
THE BUILDING
The congregation of St. James Episcopal Church traces its origins to 1854 but it did not build this structure until 1876. Like many other churches erected by Episcopalians in 19th century California towns, it features the steep roof and pointed arches of California Gothic architecture. It originally stood at 330 Pacific Street, near the Merritt House. In 1956 St. James Church moved to a larger site on Franklin and High Streets and their old building was put to several uses. Finally in 1969 the Urban Renewal Agency sold it for $1 to the Monterey History and Art Association, which in the next year moved it to 155 Van Buren Street placing it on the Doud House property, also owned by the Association. In the process of moving and restoring the building for use as the Association's library, windows were discovered where the former rectory had been attached and that the little church had originally been painted barn red. The three arched windows in the rear of the building now provide a lovely view of the Monterey Bay.
THE LIBRARY
The Monterey History and Art Association, founded in January of 1931, is a private organization. Mrs. Mayo Hayes O'Donnell (1892-1978), a Monterey historian and newspaper columnist, gave her book collection to the Association which became the nucleus of the library that was named in her honor. The Library opened in August of 1970.
THE COLLECTIONS
Later the library received another important collection of books and papers from Mrs. Amelie Elkinton as well as the Frank La Causa memorial collection and gifts from numerous other donors. It now holds over 2,500 books and several thousand old photographs, extensive collections of documents and about a dozen historic paintings. Some of the rare china and other artifacts donated to the library are now on display at Casa Serrano. Most of the materials in the O'Donnell Library pertain to Monterey and California history. Several valued items date back to the eighteenth century. Library users have found especially useful the Elkinton collection of papers and old photos, which include memoranda on old Monterey families, homes and businesses. In recent years the personal collections of the Cano/Ardaiz family, Mayor Minnie Coyle, Judge Monte Hellam, educator Wayne Edwards, Col. Roger Fitch have been added and cataloged. Also available, thanks to Betty Work Kirby, is a leather bound set of all Noticias publications from 1957 to January of 2002, including an index. A complete set of Bancroft's history books, the Larkin papers and assorted "mug" books and a fine collection of scrapbooks have been donated over the years. One scrapbook chronicles the building of the Big Sur Highway. Others, the history of the Monterey History and Art Association, a collection of clippings of Mayo Hayes O'Donnell's newspaper columns. Peninsula Life, is also on file; and many additional artifacts are also available to the researcher at this library.
The books and documents, because of their rarity, do not circulate. The use of a photocopier is available for a nominal charge per copy.
THE CATALOG
Some of the book holdings of the O'Donnell Library are listed in the catalog of the Monterey Public Library, which also lists the holdings of the Pacific Grove Library and Colton Hall.
LIBRARY USE
The O'Donnell Library is staffed by volunteers and at present is open from 1:30 to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; also by special appointment. The public is welcome to visit this comfortable library and to use its collections with the assistance of the library staff.
The congregation of St. James Episcopal Church traces its origins to 1854 but it did not build this structure until 1876. Like many other churches erected by Episcopalians in 19th century California towns, it features the steep roof and pointed arches of California Gothic architecture. It originally stood at 330 Pacific Street, near the Merritt House. In 1956 St. James Church moved to a larger site on Franklin and High Streets and their old building was put to several uses. Finally in 1969 the Urban Renewal Agency sold it for $1 to the Monterey History and Art Association, which in the next year moved it to 155 Van Buren Street placing it on the Doud House property, also owned by the Association. In the process of moving and restoring the building for use as the Association's library, windows were discovered where the former rectory had been attached and that the little church had originally been painted barn red. The three arched windows in the rear of the building now provide a lovely view of the Monterey Bay.
THE LIBRARY
The Monterey History and Art Association, founded in January of 1931, is a private organization. Mrs. Mayo Hayes O'Donnell (1892-1978), a Monterey historian and newspaper columnist, gave her book collection to the Association which became the nucleus of the library that was named in her honor. The Library opened in August of 1970.
THE COLLECTIONS
Later the library received another important collection of books and papers from Mrs. Amelie Elkinton as well as the Frank La Causa memorial collection and gifts from numerous other donors. It now holds over 2,500 books and several thousand old photographs, extensive collections of documents and about a dozen historic paintings. Some of the rare china and other artifacts donated to the library are now on display at Casa Serrano. Most of the materials in the O'Donnell Library pertain to Monterey and California history. Several valued items date back to the eighteenth century. Library users have found especially useful the Elkinton collection of papers and old photos, which include memoranda on old Monterey families, homes and businesses. In recent years the personal collections of the Cano/Ardaiz family, Mayor Minnie Coyle, Judge Monte Hellam, educator Wayne Edwards, Col. Roger Fitch have been added and cataloged. Also available, thanks to Betty Work Kirby, is a leather bound set of all Noticias publications from 1957 to January of 2002, including an index. A complete set of Bancroft's history books, the Larkin papers and assorted "mug" books and a fine collection of scrapbooks have been donated over the years. One scrapbook chronicles the building of the Big Sur Highway. Others, the history of the Monterey History and Art Association, a collection of clippings of Mayo Hayes O'Donnell's newspaper columns. Peninsula Life, is also on file; and many additional artifacts are also available to the researcher at this library.
The books and documents, because of their rarity, do not circulate. The use of a photocopier is available for a nominal charge per copy.
THE CATALOG
Some of the book holdings of the O'Donnell Library are listed in the catalog of the Monterey Public Library, which also lists the holdings of the Pacific Grove Library and Colton Hall.
LIBRARY USE
The O'Donnell Library is staffed by volunteers and at present is open from 1:30 to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; also by special appointment. The public is welcome to visit this comfortable library and to use its collections with the assistance of the library staff.
View from the entry
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View from the altar area
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Click Above for: A Beacon Upon a Hill - PDF
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Click above for: St. James Church and It's builder - PDF |
