The 1850 Greek Revival Leake-Ingham Building was constructed as law offices for attorney Col. William W. Leake. The four column portico is symmetrical. The building later housed the Camden's Federal Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, and was purchased in 1906 for the sum of $1,100 for use as Ouachita County's first library. The historic value of this building, being a Camden landmark, added to its suitability as a library. The classic architecture suggests the Parthenon of Greece when Athens was at the summit of its power. The library was named for Reverend Howard M. Ingham. In 1954 it was moved to prevent demolition. The structure was moved twice before being placed in its current location near the McCollum-Chidester House Museum in 2005.
Historic notes contributed by the late Mrs. J. G. Rinehart:
"The New Century Club was organized in 1898 and at that time it was the only civic club in Camden. In 1904 the club women decided to start a movement for a public library. On April 17, 1904 at a meeting at the home of Miss Kate Yoest, the first committee was appointed.
After getting as much public interest aroused as possible, the first organizational meeting was held in the court room of the the Court House. This meeting was held at night around a table centered with a small smoky kerosene lamp. Camden had electric lights but the court room did not. The Camden Library Association was set up and the following officers elected.
President Col. J. R. Thornton
Vice President Mrs. J. W. Meek
Place Committee
W. W. Brown, G. W. Hays, Mrs. J. T. Sifford,
Book Committee Mrs. H. M. Ingham, Mrs. H. S. Powell,
Mrs. C. T. Gordon, Mrs. M. A. Elliott
and Miss Maud Rumph
Ways and Means Committee A. Felsenthal, Miss Claudia Myar, and
Mrs.J. R. Rinehart
It was the plan and hope of the association to secure a Carnegie Library for Camden. The necessary contacts were made and the ground work laid. We would be given the sum of $25, 000 for a building with the agreement that the city council would vote permanent upkeep of the building for library purposes. The council voted this down.
This dream ended, the women went to work and every possible channel of raising money was explored. There were home talent plays, concerts, teas and parties of every sort! No source of income was left untried. Business firms were asked for donations with which to buy books. Many of the sets now in the library carry the name of the firm or person who donated the money for their purchase.
The library was started in a room over what is now Copeland's Store. The librarians were all volunteers.
At this time, Mr. H. M. Ingham was the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. He and his wife, Sarah, were the only people connected with the movement who had any library experience. Mrs. Ingham assembled a group of girls and trained them in library science. Most of our librarians were trained by Mrs. Ingham. Mr. Ingham selected all the sets of reference books and classics that were bought, and did all the cataloging and sectional arranging of the books on the shelves. They not only contributed of their knowledge and time, but contributed many volumes from their own fine library, as well as soliciting and getting valuable books from their friends in other sections of the country. In addition, they gave generously of their income to buy other books. They were most valuable and efficient workers.
The first goal of the Ways and Means Committee was the purchase of a suitable building for the library. On April 1, 1906 the Committee reported the purchase of the property on Washington and Harrison Streets from Mrs. Caleb H. Stone for the sum of $1,100.
The historic value of this building added to its suitability for a library , it being a Camden land mark. The classic architecture suggesting the Parthenon of Greece when Athens was at the summit of its power. It was built in 1850 for a law office for Col. William Leake, who began a brilliant legal career in this building. Col. Leake later moved to Dallas, Texas and the building was rented to other young lawyers.
Just after the War between the States the building was used over a period of years by the U. S. Government. When the government officials occupied the building they hung a large United States flag out in front. The Ladies of Camden immediately began to walk on the other side of the street rather than walk under this flag. The building was first used as a Freedmen's Bureau, later as a United States Land Office until the present Post Office was build and the land office moved into it. A. A. Tufts purchased the building which he used as an office. When he gave it up, it was rented for various purposes, and finally sold to Mrs. Caleb H. Stone.
When the property was purchased by the Ways & Means Committee, Mr. Ingham supervised the preparation of it for a library and the removal of the books to the new site. He gave so generously of his library know-how that when W. W. Brown was elected president in June 1906, he suggested the changing of the name to the Ingham Library.
The only funds that the association had for supporting the library was the fee of $1.00 per year, per family, the customary fines, and rentals, plus the yearly tag day when all the attractive girls would stand on street corners all day and sell tags. And, an occasional money-making event was arranged by the women. The people gave generously of their time and talent for these shows and concerts.
Miss Mary Puryear was the first paid librarian. There were three others who served through the fifty years-Miss Blanche Jackson, who was librarian for twenty-one years, Miss Hattie Rumph, and Mrs. Roy Smith.
In July 1929 the Camden Library Association was incorporated. Mr. W. W. Brown was president until October 14, 1929, then Mrs. J. S .Rinehart was elected president. The organization has had three presidents: Col. Thornton serving for two years; W. W. Brown -twenty-three years, and Mrs. J. S. Rinehart-twenty five years. Mrs. Rinehart served in some official capacity of this library ever since being on the first Ways and Means Committee.
In 1929 the income of the library was at a very low ebb. In order to help keep the library open, the Association even rented the side of the building to a local theatre for advertising purposes. During the depression years there were only four contributing members: Dr. C. S. Early, L. M. Stern, Mrs. M. E. Fahy, and Mrs. J. S. Rinehart. There were many of those lean years, and great credit is due these faithful four for keeping the library going.
Miss Vera Snooks of Little Rock was a tireless worker for library betterment. She invited the president of the Camden Library to come to Little Rock for conferences. She went and met with the group of people who were working on a bill to present to the state legislature, permitting cities of certain classes to vote a tax for library maintenance. This bill was finally introduced and passed. Little Rock was the first city to vote this tax."
