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SLO's First Librarian Lies in an Unmarked Grave
The Grave of SLO Library's First Librarian Needs a Headstone.
Frances Margaret Milne was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on June 30, 1846 and emigrated to Pennsylvania after a 34 day voyage, arriving on August 15, 1849. Milne became the City of San Luis Obispo's first librarian. She held that office for 11 years. She was also a nationally recognized poet, with much of her work published in San Francisco. Milne's poetry is still printed today, most notably her book titled For To-Day.
According to Milne's obituary in the SLO Daily Telegram: "Everyone in San Luis Obispo admired and respected Mrs. Milne, who was ever affable and kindly to all alike, irrespective of their stations in life, and her demise will be a loss to the entire community and one that will be felt in the literary world."
Milne took care of her library, her community, her mother who possibly suffered dementia, and her husband who died of paralysis. Milne had no children. She is buried next to her mother and husband, who both have beautiful and thoughtful grave stones, presumably coordinated by Milne. But, in spite of her service and devotion, Frances Margaret Milne lies in an unmarked grave.
As the library celebrates its Centennial and we take a long look back over the past 100 years, we find evidence of many ideas and librarians worth honoring. This is the perfect opportunity for us to honor Frances Margaret Milne and dedicate a modest stone to mark her final resting place for generations of library patrons, librarians and writers to come.
Frances Margaret Milne was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on June 30, 1846 and emigrated to Pennsylvania after a 34 day voyage, arriving on August 15, 1849. Milne became the City of San Luis Obispo's first librarian. She held that office for 11 years. She was also a nationally recognized poet, with much of her work published in San Francisco. Milne's poetry is still printed today, most notably her book titled For To-Day.
According to Milne's obituary in the SLO Daily Telegram: "Everyone in San Luis Obispo admired and respected Mrs. Milne, who was ever affable and kindly to all alike, irrespective of their stations in life, and her demise will be a loss to the entire community and one that will be felt in the literary world."
Milne took care of her library, her community, her mother who possibly suffered dementia, and her husband who died of paralysis. Milne had no children. She is buried next to her mother and husband, who both have beautiful and thoughtful grave stones, presumably coordinated by Milne. But, in spite of her service and devotion, Frances Margaret Milne lies in an unmarked grave.
As the library celebrates its Centennial and we take a long look back over the past 100 years, we find evidence of many ideas and librarians worth honoring. This is the perfect opportunity for us to honor Frances Margaret Milne and dedicate a modest stone to mark her final resting place for generations of library patrons, librarians and writers to come.
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