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                   THE 1888 o's
         _.Jibrarv I Hssociation
  1882 saw the organization of the Neenah Library Association.
This organization raised funds for the establishment of a public
library. The money so raised was turned over to the city, and the
library was housed in the City Hall, as of 1883, where it remained un-
til the present library building was constructed in 1904. Louise Lach-
mann was the first librarian.
  A predecessor, and less pretentious library, according to Mayhew
Mott, was opened two years earlier on the second floor of the Sherry
Building, corner of West Wisconsin Avenue and Church Street.
Damie Wheeler was the librarian.
Four ('ultural Organizations
  Then followed three women's cultural organizations, all of which
have persisted to this day.
  The Eclectic Reading Circle held its first meeting in January 1882
with 42 charter members, Miss Anna Proctor being one of the chief
organizers.
  In 1886 the Women's Tuesday Club was organized under the leader-
ship of Mrs. George Harlow, Mrs. John Proctor and Miss Jennie Cook.
A Chautauqua study course was followed originally, and early meetings
were held in members' homes. This club has maintained an unbroken
series of annual programs across the 71 years, finally finding a satisfac-
tory habitat in the new Boys' Brigade building on Columbian Avenue.
  The third cultural organization born during the '8os was the Y.T. &
F. Club, originally organized as the Chautauqua Ladies Study Circle,
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