by: James Hill, Executive Director
Originally published in the Chillicothe Gazette on September 18, 2024.

The library is always grateful for gifts and donations. It’s especially gratifying when a story comes full circle, allowing us to make connections across generations.

In June 1985, the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library received a bequest from former Library Trustee Fred Culp in honor of his late wife, Doris T. Culp. The bequest specifically supports the Outreach Department, then called Special Services, of which Doris was an avid user. Over the past 39 years, this fund has generated thousands of dollars for library activities. To honor that ongoing gift, the library has named a new meeting room after the Culp family.

If you’ve visited the Main Library annex recently — formerly Central Elementary School — you may have noticed renovations: new paint, new flooring in some areas, new walls, and even new rooms. One of these new spaces is a staff and board conference room, now known as the Culp Trustee Room.

With a bit of research in the library’s Newspaper Archive database, I discovered that Fred and Doris had two daughters: Carol and Sally. After earning a degree in library science, Carol Hendy worked as a librarian in Lakewood, Ohio. Her sister, Sally Shore, graduated from Kent State and later moved to Long Island, NY, where she became a successful fiber artist, among other endeavors.

I recently emailed Sally to introduce myself, update her on the library’s activities, and ask if she could share any photos of her parents to display in the room. She was excited to hear about our plans and hadn’t been aware of her father’s involvement on the Board of Trustees or the family fund at the library.

“I was either in college or just not paying attention, but I am pleased that good works are being done,” she said. Sally also mentioned that, without knowing about her father’s tenure, she had served on her local library board. “Libraries obviously run deep in the family,” she added.

In May of this year, the Library Board of Trustees officially adopted a resolution honoring the Culp family and dedicating the new room as the Culp Trustee Room. Sally Shore is graciously donating two pieces of her artwork for permanent display in the room and will be in town this month for her 60th high school reunion. To celebrate the occasion, the library will host a reception on Saturday, September 21, at 10 a.m. in the library annex. Everyone is welcome to see the new space.

If you’d like to establish a bequest or make a one-time donation to the library, visit CRCPL.org/give for more information.

James Hill is the Executive Director of the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library