MBLC Celebrates 125 Years

The Thomas Crane Public Library's record collection numbered over 6,000 by 1957, including about 200 wax cylinder records. These and other pre-electric discs were kept in a non-circulating historical collection, which patrons could listen to in the library. Pictured below are John Agnew and music librarian Jane Rubin cranking an early Edison machine.¹

Thomas Crane Public Library's historical record collection, 1957¹

What else happened in 1957?

• Toyota began exporting vehicles to the U.S.²
• June 27: Hurricane Audrey swept through Louisiana, killing at least 500 people.³
• September 4: Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent 9 black students from entering a Little Rock high school.⁴
• The first practical television remote control, invented by Robert Adler and called the "Space Commander," was introduced by Zenith.⁵

References:
1. Bay State Librarian (Bulletin of the Massachusetts Library Association), Winter 1957.
2. money.cnn.com [link].
3. www.nhc.noaa.gov [link].
4. www.historyorb.com [link].
5. transition.fcc.gov [link].