IDA JANE DACUS, LIBRARIAN

by Louise Pettus

Winthrop University’s first library was nothing more than a study hall with a few books donated and some bought with a $50 gift from Robert C. Winthrop who chaired the Peabody Fund that provided Winthrop’s first financial assistance.

The need for books was keenly felt by the young president, D. B. Johnson, who was destined to serve Winthrop as its head for the next 42 years. Johnson siezed every opportunity to acquire books. Since 1896 the Winthrop library has been a depository of government documents.

Ida Jane Dacus enrolled as a student in 1896, one year after Winthrop moved to Rock Hill. There was provision for three service scholarships for students to keep the study hall-library. Ida Jane was given one of the scholarships. At the end of her junior year, Dr. Johnson asked her to take over the library full time. The library had only about 200 books.

Three years later, following a competitive examinantion, Miss Dacus had won a scholarship to Drexel Institute in Philadelphia to study library science. Only 20 applicants from across the nation were accepted by Drexel.

When Miss Dacus received her certificate from Drexel she became the first professionally trained librarian in South Carolina. She returned to a library holding of 5,184 books and 5,000 volumes of government publications.

Three years later, in 1905, Carnegie Library (now Rutledge Building) was completed. The building was enlarged in 1928, greatly expanding its book capacity.

As time passed, Miss Dacus’ tall, regal figure became well-known to generations of Winthrop students. Students recognized her as mistress of two distinct domains. In the library, she governed by raising her fingers to her lips and with two “sh-h-hes” all would be quiet.

Behind the library, when her day’s work was done, she was likely to be seen wearing an apron and carrying pruning snips. The beautiful garden with flowers of every hue became “Miss Dacus’ garden.” A student heard exclaiming over the beauty was likely to have Miss Dacus ask, “Do you have a vase or glass in your room?” Miss Dacus would then swoop down and cut a rosebud or peony, or whatever was in bloom, for the lucky girl.

Miss Dacus retired in 1945 after 45 years of service to Winthrop College. She returned to Williamston, S. C. where she managed a farm she had inherited. The library holdings were then 62,500 volumes and 15,000 pamphlets and documents, or roughly 33 books per student.

By the late 1960s the Carnegie Library no longer had enough space for the books, documents, bound newspapers, etc. along with reading room space for students. A new library was built across the street in front of the Winthrop Training School.

The books were transported across Oakland Avenue from the old library to the new by Winthrop workers and students in the fashion of a “bucket brigade.”

On October 18, 1969 the Dacus Library was dedicated. As for the name, there could have been no other choice. (The name is correctly pronounced “Day-cus,” and not “Dack-us” as current students often mispronounce it.)

Miss Dacus will be honored at a special ceremony at Dacus Library, 3:00 p.m., October 18, 1996. Her grand-niece and namesake, Mrs. Jane Fender of Beaufort, S.C., will speak. Some of the earliest books will be on display. Book lovers are invited.