History

Marvin Memorial Library began as a reading room June 4, 1897 in a small rented room at the Sutter-Higgins block. Miss Carrie Marvin was hired as the first librarian of the 300 book collection. The librarian’s uncle, Daniel Marvin, took interest in the reading room and saw a need for better accommodations. He purchased a house on West Whitney Avenue for $6,500 and presented it to the city. The Classic Revival and Greek Revival house was originally built in 1867 by Dr. W. R. Bricker, who was a physician.

Daniel Marvin was a veteran of the Civil War. He participated in the battles of Shiloh & Stones River, and was severely wounded. His generosity to the city was greatly appreciated and memorialized in the name of the library.

At the dedication, Shelby Mayor B. F. Long said of Daniel Marvin, “As I look at the beautiful grounds, commodious buildings and see how nicely the rooms have been papered, carpeted and furnished, it is with a feeling of admiration that one single individual out of the depths of his generosity and philanthropy had made such bounties a possibility. I am not here to make a speech but I wish to voice my sentiments and the sentiments of every individual within the limits of this municipality when I say that Hon. Daniel Marvin has erected a monument to moral and intellectual progress of Shelby and unconsciously one to himself which will be more enduring than brass or marble.”

The library has made renovations and additions over the years. In 1963, an addition was added west of the original house, which included a basement work space, storage for newspapers and periodicals, and restrooms. In 1981, a large addition was added on to the house which shifted the adult collection into a new area allowing the old house to hold primarily children materials. The original fireplace was kept, along with the spiral staircase that ascended to the upstairs apartments where head librarians once lived.

In 1987, the original house portion of the library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.