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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Department Requisition: Library Bureau
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This color four page document features a department requisition from Library Bureau for library shelving.
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Department Requisition: Library Shelving
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This color three page document features a department requisition for shelving for Forsyth Library.
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Building Committee Minutes
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This black and white one page document features the minutes from a meeting of the Building Committee regarding completion of the Forsyth Library basement.
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Completion of Basement of Library
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This color fifty one page document contains a full explanation of the library basement completion project.
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Completion of Basement of Library - Revised
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This color fifty three page document contains a revised explanation of the library basement completion project.
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FAQ - Forsyth Library Basement Completion
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This black and white one page document features a "frequently asked questions" document regarding the completion of the Forsyth Library basement.
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Memorandum Regarding Creation of a Building Committee for the Forsyth Library Basement Project
John W. Gustad
This black and white one page document features a memorandum written by Dr. John W. Gustad, President of Fort Hays Kansas State College, regarding the creation of a building committee for the completion of the basement of Forsyth Library.
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Department Requisition: Library Equipment
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
This black and white one page document features a department requisition for library equipment for Forsyth Library.
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Memorandum Regarding Shelving for Forsyth Library
Marc T. Campbell
This color one page document features a memorandum written by Marc T. Campbell, director of Forsyth Library, to W.E. Keating regarding new shelving for Forsyth Library.
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Request for Quotation: Library Shelving
Purchasing Division, State of Kansas Department of Administration
This black and white two page document features a request for quotation for new shelving for Forsyth Library.