Contents

1. History
2. Photos
3. Notes

History

The Radnor Memorial Library was founded in 1892, and was originally a memorial to George W. Childs, who donated land to the town for the first library on Lancaster Avenue. Childs, publisher of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, at that time owned a great amount of land in Wayne and developed much of it. The small stone building was constructed by J.D. Lengel next to the Central Baptist Church in 1897. The original design was of Tudor style, with a half-timber facade with stone entryway and stained glass windows. Very shortly after construction the entire facade was enclosed in stone. Later improvements included a 1940s enlargement which included the addition of the Winsor Room (a name still used for today's library meeting room). The old library building still stands, and is used as offices for such businesses as cable channel Radnor Studio 21.

Throughout the 1970s, there was large public support for Wayne to get a new, larger library building. That dream came true with votors' approval of the library referendum in 1977. Dedication of the new buidling on West Wayne Avenue happened on April 12, 1980. Unlike the memorial intent of the first library on Lancaster Avenue, the new building was dedicated as a memorial to Radnor residents of World War II, which corresponded nicely with the relocation of the Radnor War Memorial nearby on South Wayne Avenue.

The library on West Wayne Avenue continues to be one of Radnor's most popular destinations and community meeting places.

Photos

Radnor Historical Society Photos
The cover of the Radnor Library catalogue from 1815. It now resides at the Radnor Historical Society.		A page from the 1815 Radnor Library catalogue shows "Robinson Caruso" among other books.		Title page of the Radnor Library Bye Laws, 1822.
The library building in 1903.		Another early library catalogue shows several books in the Library's collection.		Donors to the fund to build a new library were given cards such as this.
Longtime Radnor Library worker Anna Hudson Markley.		Mrs. William Henry Sayen, who also contributed greatly to the Library's prosperity.

Wayne History Online Photos
The original contract which signed J. D. Lengel to build the original Radnor Memorial Library (then the George W. Childs Memorial Library) in 1897 for only $2900.		An architect's rendering of the new Radnor Memorial Library from 1979.		Invitation to the dedication of the new Radnor Memorial Library, April 12, 1980.
Invitation to the Library's Centennial celebration, April 5, 1992.

Notes

All of the photos not from the Radnor Historical Society are here courtesy of the Radnor Memorial Library. Special thanks to Anne Minicozzi for her help with compiling these items.