Excerpt from The Libraries of Indiana

The study of library development in Indiana presents some interesting results as to what has been, what is, and what might have been. Indiana was ushered into existence in humble circumstances. Although when the nineteenth century opened there had been white settlers within her borders for three-quarters of a century, there had been but three or four small settlements, and the inhabitants of these had neither opportunity nor taste for the study of books. They were chiefly Canadian peasants of the more adventurous class, small farmers, hunters, Indian traders and a sprinkling of soldiers. There was not even a school among them until one was established at Vincennes in the last decade of the eighteenth century, by the Abbe Rivet, who is described as "a polite, well-educated and liberal-minded missionary, banished hither by the French revolution." There were certainly very few books of any kind within our boundaries in this first period of our history.

There was no material influx of American settlers until after General Wayne had thoroughly defeated the Indians, and, in August, 1795, secured a treaty with them, ceding the lands then most accessible and desirable for settlement. Then began the change which ultimately made the Indiana of to day, but it was a slow process. There was an abundance of good land all through the eastern half of the Mississippi Valley, and it could be had on most favorable terms in many places that afforded more conveniences and better protection from Indians than our territory could then offer. In 1800 the civilized population within the present boundaries of the State did not exceed 2, 500, and in 1816, when the State government was adopted, it had reached a total of 63, 897, scattered through thirteen counties. The Americans who came to find homes in our wilderness were more fairly educated than the old French.

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