When Tiffany Co-Founders Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young established the legendary jewelry brand — Tiffany — in New York City back in 1837, Neiman Marcus Co-Founders Herbert Marcus and his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman hadn’t even been born yet, let alone planted their roots for the luxury retailing store in North Texas.
Those were the early days of youthful Dallas. But it wouldn’t be until six decades later, in 1899, that the idea to create a free public library in Dallas was conceived by the Dallas Federation of Women’s Clubs, led by president Mrs. Henry (May Dickson) Exall. She helped raise $11,000 in gifts from public school teachers, local businessmen and the “Dallas Morning News”‘ Alfred Horatio Belo.
Tonight the Friends of the Dallas Public Library announced plans to celebrate the Dallas Public Library’s Diamond Anniversary during a gathering at Tiffany’s sparkling brilliant new jewel box at NorthPark.
One almost needs to wear uber sunshades approaching the jewel box, with its exterior mammoth shards of crystals facing Northwest Highway.
With a turnout crowd including Susan Fisk, Jeremy Besser, Sterling Day, Susan Harris, Melissa and Art Stewart, Susan Fisk, Suchi and Gans Subramanian, Annette Corman, Sterling Day, Kate and Art Anderson, Martha Stowe, Barbara and Michael York, North Park’s Meredith Hays, Modern Luxury’s Blake Stephenson and fiancee Mark Blinn and Friends of the Dallas Public Library Executive Director Mary Wilonsky, 75th anniversary Co-Chairs Anne Besser and Nicole Paquette revealed that they were re-emerging 1908’s Library Lions emblem and, as speaker, had lassoed literary lion/award-winning scribe Ben Fountain, who, according to the “Dallas Morning News”‘ “High Profile” chronicler Sarah Hepola, had recently moved kit and kaboodle to his homeland in North Carolina.
When first approached about keynoting the big day months ago, Ben hesitated. He confessed that he was in the process of moving back to his home digs. Not to worry. Even Ben couldn’t deny the request of Ann and Nicole and the Dallas Public Library that provides far more than books.
Dallas’ library system is much more than millions of pages in books. It’s where resumes can be created, research can be undertaken and resources abound.
But Friends Board Chair Ken Benson admitted that the DPL had challenges ahead. One recent example is the Skillman library branch that had been threatened this past year with closure due to budget restraints. Thanks to Dallas City Councilmember Paula Blackmon, that location has had a stay of execution for a year. But funds were needed to keep it in place.
As Communities Foundation of Texas’ Calvert Collins-Bratton reminded guests, there are various avenues for people to provide funding and support of the DPL.
In the meantime, Ben will be returning to North Texas for the fundraising luncheon on Wednesday, April 9, at the Arts District Mansion.