tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post6251177587520841585..comments2024-01-20T00:59:08.689+00:00Comments on Brave New World: Public Libraries: Back to the FutureMartyn Danielshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134633193540004531noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-74885220718539767642013-09-27T12:44:16.093+00:002013-09-27T12:44:16.093+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04726441199932605062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-11272715577403873242010-11-29T15:35:18.750+00:002010-11-29T15:35:18.750+00:00Wonderful article...As one of the many authors of ...Wonderful article...As one of the many authors of Samuel Tilden I know from extensive research about him the reason he left millions of his estate to build the NY Public Library. As a child he was ill much of the time and books were his salvation--He scrimped and saved every penny he could just to buy a second hand book - His Aunt Polly also gifted him with many. As an adult he invested in a rare collection of books and spared no expense to obtain them. <br /><br />While writing his will he bequeathed millions to create the "Tilden Trust" and had the building plans drawn up for the beautiful New York Public Library on 5th Ave. & 42nd St. He wanted to approve every last marble stone that went into the construction. I reprinted the building plans and published them in my Tilden book along with the list of rare books in the revision of "The Life of Samuel J. Tilden" written by his best friend John Bigelow who was one of the owners of the New York Post aka Evening Post. <br /><br />After Tilden passed away, John Bigelow kept his promise to Tilden and ran into a roadblock in court when Tilden's greedy nephews challenged the estate to take the money for themselves. They actually won in court - but Bigelow along with Tilden's beloved sister Mary Pelton and her grand-daughter joined the lawsuit to get the money back for the library. Bigelow invested the funds wisely while the estate was being argued in court and even though the nephews won the orginal millions from the Trust they were not entitled to the new money from the investments. <br /><br />It took John Bigelow, Mary Pelton and her grand-daughter from 1886 to 1905 to complete the library. It was Bigelow that also worked out the deal with the help of the Astor and Lenox private libraries combined their collections and money to complete the project. Bigelow was well into his 90's at this point, but he kept his promise to Samuel to complete Samuel's dream of a "free" public library. Tilden's will had also included 2 other libraries: one in Yonkers, where he had his farm, aka, Graystone (not Greystone) and one in New Lebanon, his hometown and burial place. <br /><br />On his statue Tilden had engraved, "I Trust the People" and on his Tombstone, "I "Still" Trust the People." The American people loved him and stood by him and nearly started a 2nd Civil War during his 1876 Presidential Campaign where he lost the Presidency by one stolen electoral college vote. Tilden was also Governor of New York and known as the Great Reformer for taking down the corrupt Tammany Hall and Canal Rings. Had he known before he died that his Will would be challenged by his nephews he would have started the library well in advance of his death to prevent them from pilfering the money that he wanted to be his gift to New Yorkers - books and a beautiful place to read and borrow them. <br /><br />I was saddened when I read the New York Public Library renamed the building in 5 places at every door with the name Steve Swartzman, a Library Board Member and Wall St. Real Estate Tycoon because he donated 100 million to help with restoration costs now in progress. Tilden should not be forsaken this way and his statue which stands hidden under the trees on 112th St along Riverside Dr. should be standing at the doorway of the New York Public Library in remembrance of him. A few years ago Rudi had the streets in front of the library renamed, "Bigleow Plaza"...which I agree was a wise choice because of his love for his good friend Samuel. <br /><br />Thank you for writing your BLOG and recognizing Samuel Tilden for his contributions for free education for the people.Nikki Oldakerhttp://www.SamuelTilden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-7303037354500405952010-11-29T15:34:34.131+00:002010-11-29T15:34:34.131+00:00Wonderful article...As one of the many authors of ...Wonderful article...As one of the many authors of Samuel Tilden I know from extensive research about him the reason he left millions of his estate to build the NY Public Library. As a child he was ill much of the time and books were his salvation--He scrimped and saved every penny he could just to buy a second hand book - His Aunt Polly also gifted him with many. As an adult he invested in a rare collection of books and spared no expense to obtain them. <br /><br />While writing his will he bequeathed millions to create the "Tilden Trust" and had the building plans drawn up for the beautiful New York Public Library on 5th Ave. & 42nd St. He wanted to approve every last marble stone that went into the construction. I reprinted the building plans and published them in my Tilden book along with the list of rare books in the revision of "The Life of Samuel J. Tilden" written by his best friend John Bigelow who was one of the owners of the New York Post aka Evening Post. <br /><br />After Tilden passed away, John Bigelow kept his promise to Tilden and ran into a roadblock in court when Tilden's greedy nephews challenged the estate to take the money for themselves. They actually won in court - but Bigelow along with Tilden's beloved sister Mary Pelton and her grand-daughter joined the lawsuit to get the money back for the library. Bigelow invested the funds wisely while the estate was being argued in court and even though the nephews won the orginal millions from the Trust they were not entitled to the new money from the investments. <br /><br />It took John Bigelow, Mary Pelton and her grand-daughter from 1886 to 1905 to complete the library. It was Bigelow that also worked out the deal with the help of the Astor and Lenox private libraries combined their collections and money to complete the project. Bigelow was well into his 90's at this point, but he kept his promise to Samuel to complete Samuel's dream of a "free" public library. Tilden's will had also included 2 other libraries: one in Yonkers, where he had his farm, aka, Graystone (not Greystone) and one in New Lebanon, his hometown and burial place. <br /><br />On his statue Tilden had engraved, "I Trust the People" and on his Tombstone, "I "Still" Trust the People." The American people loved him and stood by him and nearly started a 2nd Civil War during his 1876 Presidential Campaign where he lost the Presidency by one stolen electoral college vote. Tilden was also Governor of New York and known as the Great Reformer for taking down the corrupt Tammany Hall and Canal Rings. Had he known before he died that his Will would be challenged by his nephews he would have started the library well in advance of his death to prevent them from pilfering the money that he wanted to be his gift to New Yorkers - books and a beautiful place to read and borrow them. <br /><br />I was saddened when I read the New York Public Library renamed the building in 5 places at every door with the name Steve Swartzman, a Library Board Member and Wall St. Real Estate Tycoon because he donated 100 million to help with restoration costs now in progress. Tilden should not be forsaken this way and his statue which stands hidden under the trees on 112th St along Riverside Dr. should be standing at the doorway of the New York Public Library in remembrance of him. A few years ago Rudi had the streets in front of the library renamed, "Bigleow Plaza"...which I agree was a wise choice because of his love for his good friend Samuel. <br /><br />Thank you for writing your BLOG and recognizing Samuel Tilden for his contributions for free education for the people.Nikki Oldakerhttp://www.SamuelTilden.comnoreply@blogger.com