Forgotten Tales of Kansas City by Paul Kirkman

Author:Paul Kirkman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2012-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

GOING TO THE DOGS

Mrs. Sarah A. Richart spent many years as a schoolteacher in Kansas City, Kansas. Her commitment to education went well beyond the walls of the local schoolhouse. As first president of the Federation of Clubs, Mrs. Richart was tasked with leading the group’s efforts to develop a public library for Kansas City, Kansas.

The group had raised some funds, but its membership was too small to solely bear the cost. In a moment of inspiration, the former teacher found a way to solve the dilemma. In a meeting with Mayor R.L. Marshman, she suggested a plan: “The city is overrun with dogs that pay no license.” Mrs. Richart then suggested, “I will collect the dog tax for one-half of it, and turn the other half into the treasury.” The mayor liked the idea and asked, “What will we call you?” and she replied, “Call me the official dog enumerator.” From that point forward, the plan took hold, and not just in Kansas City.

Word got out, and a number of communities across the country followed suit and began tapping Fido for the funds to fill their library shelves. For months, Mrs. Richart tirelessly worked to expand the list of licensed canines, and with the registration of each new poodle or mutt, she raised revenue for the city while increasing the library fund.

The industrialist Andrew Carnegie also made funds available for a building in Kansas City, Kansas, as he had elsewhere, and property was set aside for the project. But stocking the shelves was a different matter. It was the leadership of Mrs. Richart that brought the community together, man and beast, to raise funds to buy thousands of books needed for the library.

In 1903, shortly after Mrs. Richart’s death, Kansas City, Kansas, opened its new library at Sixth and Minnesota, and today there are four other branch locations to serve the community. Pretty “doggone” good for one determined lady and man’s best friend.

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