History of Special Gifts to the Library and Community
The Friends of the Southeast Library has shown its support even before the library doors were opened in April, 1999. Sales from the personalized tile project “Pathway to Knowledge” provided approximately $25,000 for the two historic signed photographs and the Bronze Statue, The Need to Know.
Route 66, Arizona
The signed limited edition (15/250) of Route 66, Arizona 1953 by Andreas Feininger who was on assignment for LIFE Magazine, was made from the original negative under Mr. Feininger’s direct supervision and was printed at Time-LIFE photo lab in New York in 1991. Mr. Feininger donated his personal archives to the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona.
Raising of the Flag over Iwo Jima
The signed limited edition (111/300) Pulitzer Prize winner, “Raising of the Flag over lwo Jima”, by Joe Rosenthal, changed the lives of the photographer and the subjects. The last man on the left, Pfc. Ira Hamilton Hayes, Bronze star Winner, was born in 1923 on the Gila River Indian Reservation at Sacaton, Arizona. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 and volunteered for the paratroopers. Pfc. Hayes died in January 1955. His life had been irreparably damaged by the fame he neither sought nor wanted. A Veterans memorial park honoring him is in Sacaton, Arizona.
The Need to Know
The Friend’s Place has also purchased the bronze statue of The Need to Know by Hollis Williford. The statue features a boy laying down with a book, resting his head on his dog. Displayed outside the entrance to the library, it is a pleasant reminder of the enjoyment of reading.
The Vault
In 2014, Friend’s place donated $41,216 to creating a new teen area in the library. “The Vault,” as it’s been named, was dedicated on July 11th 2014 and has become a loved space in the library.
The Dig
Friends have continued to fund current updates inside the Southeast Regional Library with the complete renovation of the children’s reading room, The Shoe House. In 2009, at the cost of $9,400 this room was made into “The Dig”. The murals inside and out along the walls were done by dv8 Murals, who also has painted the murals at the Phoenix Zoo. They did this work for half of their cost because they wanted to give back to the library that their children enjoyed growing up and using this area.
