In February of 1915, the organization known as the "Children's Library Helpers" met, and the library needs of the city were carefully studied. It was decided that the most feasible locations would be in Elmwood and in the vicinity of Rochambeau Avenue. Rochambeau was opened on July 6th, 1915 in the Rochambeau Avenue School building with 842 books and was immediately made into a branch of the Providence Public Library. The Elmwood Public Library Association was formed in 1916, and the Knight Memorial Library came into existence as a private enterprise, thus taking care of the Elmwood section.

The opening of the library in the Rochambeau Avenue School was made possible by a gift from the Monday Morning Musical Club, in memory of Elodie Farnum, the only child of Mr. & Mrs. H. Cyrus Farnum. Elodie's father was a well-known artist and her mother, Alice Leigh Farnum, a talented pianist. At the age of 7 she began the study of the violin and quickly showed an extraordinary talent. Mrs. Henry Eichheim of Boston, her teacher for three years, predicted a brilliant career for her as a violinist, and Elodie was looked upon as one of the most remarkable girls in the city. The Monday Morning Musical Club of Providence adopted the young prodigy as their "Littlest Member" and began the Elodie Farnum Scholarship Fund to send her abroad for study. The fund as planned was incomplete, but steadily growing when, in May of 1914, Elodie passed away at the age of 12 years from tuberculosis of the brain.

It was unanimously decided that Elodie's scholarship fund ($665.27) be donated to the Public Library, to establish the Elodie Farnum Memorial Library in the Rochambeau Avenue School.

In 1924, the school that housed the library was moved to a new location on Summit Avenue and on September 5, 1924 the Elodie Farnum Memorial Library was opened to the public in quarters more than twice as large.

Then, in 1929, a new and permanent home for the Elodie Farnum Memorial Library was planned. Under the joint auspices of the Rochambeau-Summit Avenue Parent Teachers Association and the Monday Morning Musical Club, a Library Night was held on February 11, 1929 in the Auditorium of the Summit Avenue School. Members of the Monday Morning Musical Club provided a musical program and there were addresses on the branch library and the need for a new building. A site for the new branch was secured in November 1929 on land at the corner of Hope Street and Langham Road. The cost was estimated at $75,000 and designed by Howe & Church, architects. It was decided to name the building Rochambeau Branch in view of the policy that the PPL Board of Trustees had adopted to designate each new library building by a name which had special significance in that community.

Rochambeau Branch was the fourth branch in what was planned to be a city-wide system of seven branches. The other three were the South Providence, Wanskuck and Smith Hill Branches.

A grateful community turned out on November 17, 1930 to celebrate the grand opening of the new Rochambeau Branch. Mayor Dunne declared the library "one of the finest of its size anywhere in the country." Hours of service were 3-9 p.m., Monday through Friday; and on Saturday from 9-9. In 1933, Rochambeau was leading all branches in the lending of books, 129,056!

Since its inception, the Rochambeau Library has relied on a very close, symbiotic relationship with its community. A Neighborhood Advisory Committee was organized in the Spring of 1935. Then, in 1980, in preparation for the 50th anniversary of the present building, Branch Librarian, Jackie Toy-Cooper encouraged interested patrons to establish a Friends group. The Friends of Rochambeau began with a group of nine patrons and staff members in February of 1980. Since that time the Friends has grown to approximately 200 members.

Thus, 2010 also marks the 30th Anniversary of the Friends of Rochambeau - one of the most honored and respected library Friends groups in Rhode Island...Read the Full Article