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
A department requisition for library equipment from Library Bureau of Mission, Kansas.
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Ron Bales Inc. Invoice
Ron Bales, Inc.
An invoice from Ron Bales Inc. of Emporia, Kansas for equipment for the Forsyth Library basement.
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Department Requisition: Library Bureau
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A department requisition from Library Bureau for library equipment.
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Department Requisition: Library Shelving
Business Office, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A department requisition for shelving for Forsyth Library.
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Building Committee Minutes
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
Minutes from a meeting of the Building Committee regarding completion of the Forsyth Library basement.
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Completion of Basement of Library - Revised
Building Committee, Fort Hays Kansas State College
A document containing 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
A FAQ 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
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
A department requisition for library equipment for Forsyth Library.