History is a weird, ever changing thing. The library archives are full of stuff from our little town that recontextualize modern things we take for granted. Take the bookmobile. After the children's librarian and I went looking for a way to get it fixed (that might be a little illegal), I decided to delve into our records about how the bookmobile came to be. The following is an accession record of the papers of MK Harker, former director of the library and my great-grandfather. He had the first modern bookmobile commissioned and while it did end in tragedy, I think his effort deserves a little looking at. We might even get a display going once we get the bookmobile rolling again. Next time you are in the library, ask the reference librarian how you can view these materials!

Collection

Papers of MK Harker

Identifying number

BL0315

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the personal and business papers, artifacts, and photographs of MK Harker, eighth librarian of the Banned Library. The materials date from 1912 to 1936 and document life in the town just before and after World War I, the Great Depression, operations of the library, and the culture of the area. The Papers of MK Harker contains mainly papers with some physical items and photographs.

They are organized by the order they were organized by MK Harker himself within his office or were found in his office and home at the time of his demise. Some items were asked to be connected by date by his wife, Claudia Moreau Harker, at the time of donation in 1938.

Dates

1912-1936, undated

Creator

MK Harker (b.1894 - d. August 24, 1936)

Biography

MK Harker was born in June or July of 1894 to FP and Maude Harker. Most records of his childhood and early adulthood were lost due to flooding from Hurricane Camille in 1969, including formal education and census documents with exception of his high school diploma stating a graduation date of 1912. Federal census documents were incomplete for the area. According to family, he did some traveling.

In 1915, MK Harker enlisted in the United States Army. He rose to the rank of lieutenant when the United States joined World War I, serving in France the majority of his enlistment. He was honorably discharged in January 1918 due to burns inflicted during combat. Medical records show he also had trouble breathing due to smoke inhalation and had a "wet cough" the rest of his life.

Returning home, he trained with his mother to take over the library. After her death in 1920, he took over operations of the library. During his tenure, he opened the library stacks for browsing, set up a modern (for the time) cataloging system, openly fought the fire department in the streets, and created the system's first bookmobile.

In 1924, he married Claudia Moreau, the nurse that cared for him in the French hospital. According to one letter by MK to a family member, "she came to visit, and I asked her to never leave." The two had three children: JM Harker (b1925), Pamela Harker Abrams (b1927), and JN Harker (b1928).

On August 24, 1936, the local fire company held a demonstration to protest the passing of a tax referendum that gave money to the library rather than other city services. Many documents show MK brawling in the streets with members of the fire department due to these referendums and levees during his time as library director. During this demonstration, MK rode the bookmobile into the center of town waving a baseball bat. A fire was started at the rear of the vehicle. According to newspaper articles, a panicked MK drove the bookmobile into the Opal River. The fire and his life were extinguished.

Size

28 cu. ft.

Abstract

MK Harker was a prominent advocate and innovator of the library collection and operation as well as a diarist during his time in war and as library director. The papers contain his personal writings, library operations, and various artifacts and photographs that chronicle not only his life, but the life of the town and the world that shaped it.

Arrangement

The collection is organized by his personal filing system and by accession from his office and home. When acceptable, items were grouped by alphanumeric order by date and subject. Several items, including artifacts and photographs, were grouped by his wife at the time of donation.

Provenance

Donated by Claudia Moreau Harker in 1938

Donated by JM Harker in 1964

Donated by Brenda Strong in 1965

BL0318 Papers of Claudia Morea Harker

BL0412 Library Basement Collection

BL0512 Strong Family Records

BL1150 Bookmobile Collection

Artifact/Photograph List

34 items (12 Artifacts/22 Photographs)

Note: I cut the list because it's mostly pictures of the library. Come see us or check out the History of Banned Library book in the reference section!

Notable contents

Box 004, Folder 2 Letter from MK Harker to Claudia Moreau asking her to visit him after the war

Box 015, Folder 5 Personal note describing a nightmare of being trapped in a watery grave while fire rages around him as well as a description of a pet, a cat named “Peaches” who hated everyone but his wife

P0009 Photograph of MK wearing a uniform with unidentified woman, French flag in her hand

P0010 Photograph of MK in hospital bed with Claudia (censored)

P0012 Photograph of rear of burning bookmobile, one arm holding flaming baseball bat out of window, on Main Street with Opal River in distance

A0002 Framed metals (Army Service Clasps - France, Campaign Stars, Victory Medal, Citation Star, unknown obsidian circle with yellow/red ribbon)

A0010 Small statue of unknown material, cold to the touch, appearing to be a cross between an octopus and a bat

A0012 Burned and waterlogged wooden sign reading "Bookmobile"

Highlight: BL0315 Papers of MK Harker