In 1926 a new building was built specifically for the library and it was named “Forsyth” after Brevet Brigadier General George Alexander Forsyth. General Forsyth had been stationed at Fort Hays in the 1880s. When the library was dedicated on July 10, 1928, Forsyth Library contained 14,000 volumes. This collection sustained major damage when the flood of May 1951 flooded the first floor of the library with 16 inches of water. When the library moved to its present location the original building was renamed and still stands as McCartney Hall.
The present building was completed in 1967 at a cost of $1,192,321, with one-third of the funds supplied by the Federal Government. It encompassed 105,414 square feet with an unfinished basement, two floors, and a structural capacity for a future third floor. The basement level of the building was finished at a cost of $384,000 in 1974.
In 2017 Forsyth Library housed 506,746 volumes in the physical collection as well as 279,866 electronic books available online.
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Purchase Requisition: Library Construction
Purchasing Division, State of Kansas Department of Administration
A purchase requisition for equipment related to construction of the new library building at Forsyth Library.
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Simplex Time Recorder work order
Simplex Time Recorder Company
A work order from Simplex Time Recorder Company of Wichita, Kansas regarding repair of a wall clock at Forsyth Library.
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Wallach & Associates, Inc. invoice
Wallach & Associates, Inc.
An invoice from Wallach & Associates, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio for library equipment.
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Books Start Trip to New Library
Wichita Eagle
A clipping from the Wichita Eagle of an article about moving Forsyth Library from its old building to the new building.
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Forsyth Library flyer
Woods & Starr Associates
A flyer from Woods & Starr Associates with an illustration of the proposed Forsyth Library building along with basic details regarding size and cost of the construction.
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Letter from Rich Young to Marc T. Campbell
Richard Young
A letter from Rich Young of Hoover Brothers, Inc. to Marc T. Campbell, director of Forsyth Library regarding design of a desk.
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Purchase Voucher: Central Kansas Power Company
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A purchase voucher for electrical work at Forsyth Library done by The Central Kansas Power Company of Hays, Kansas.
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Forsyth Library Equipment List
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A document containing an equipment list for Forsyth Library.
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Hand drawn floor plan - Forsyth Library
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A hand drawn floor plan for the card catalog and index area of Forsyth Library.
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Library Feature News
Forsyth Library, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A copy of the Library Feature News discussing the new building for Forsyth Library.