Levi Parson's Library
South Main Street above Merchant's Bank

Prof. Adolf Peck, first librarian at the Gloversville Free Library, leans against the counter at the far right in the photo from the library's archives which shows the first library reading room on South Main Street

Levi Parsons attended the Kingsboro Academy in his youth and intended to enter Union College, but for some reason he abandoned the plan, and in 1844 began to study law in the office of Judge George Yost in Johnstown. Levi was admitted to the bar in 1847 and practiced his profession for a short time in Little Falls. After the discovery of gold in California, he moved there in 1849. He entered San Francisco with $8.50 in his pocket and started digging for gold. His career as a miner was brief. Returning to the city, he joined a group of men who founded the Whig party. He practiced law and in 1850 was appointed the first judge of the Supreme Court in San Francisco. Through various business ventures he accumulated a large fortune and invested the money in railroad projects. Parsons was the principle promoter and first president of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, the first railroad in Texas. The railroad center in Parsons, Kansas was named for him when it was founded in 1871.

While visiting his native Kingsboro, Mr. Parsons remarked to Dr. Eugene Beach that he would give $5,000 for a public library, providing the citizens would subscribe an equal amount. The total amount donated by the judge was $6,800 in addition to $1,000 worth of valuable books, engravings and manuscripts. More than $8,000 was subscribed by local citizens. In addition to being the library's inital financier, Judge Parsons donated $50,00 for the support of students from Fulton and Montgomery counties who attended Union College.

Professor Adolph Peck, the library's first professional librarian, was born in Vienna, Austria in 1847 as the son of a linen manufacturer. He studied law at the Unviersity of Vienna, and then made his way to New York City in 1869. After six months there he met Mr. Frank Pauley who persuaded him to move to Gloversville and work in his glove factory. Mr. Peck did not adapt well to the business life and soon began to give private lessons in German and the Classics. Eventually he left the factory and devoted all of his time to teaching in Gloversville, Johnstown and Broadalbin.

In 1874 he was appointed to a position as teacher of language, math and science at the Gloversville public school, and held the position for 14 years. In 1876, he married Clara Sperling. When the Levi Parsons Library was founded in 1880, Professor Peck was appointed librarian and began his duties on August 1, 1880. The granting of building funds by Andrew Carnegie in 1904 was due largely to Professor Peck's personal acquaintance with him.