Located in the Joplin Public Library
300 Main
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Click on the pictures for larger images
Welcome to The Post Library, an independently endowed private foundation, located in the southwest corner of the Joplin Public Library, 300 Main Street, Joplin, Missouri. Visitors to the bright and modern public library are often startled when they cross the threshold guarded by the stone lion and dog. They feel that they have been transported to another time and place.
The
Post Library honors the late Winfred and Elizabeth
Post,
generous philanthropists who actively promoted history and the arts in
Joplin. The Posts had an incredible zest for life and loved to dress up
in period costumes when entertaining their friends. They traveled
extensively,
collecting European antique furniture and art works.
They
designed a stunning English Tudor-style house at 2630 E. 15th Street,
which
incorporated elements from historic buildings they had visited in
England.
Towards the end of their lives, Dr. and Mrs. Post considered how they
could
continue to enrich Joplin's cultural life. They had planned to leave
their
house and its contents as a museum for all to enjoy. Although this
dream
was not realized, their wishes were carried out in other ways.
In 1981, the Post Memorial Art Reference library, administered and funded by the Post Foundation, opened to the public. The library was designed to evoke the ambience of the Posts' home. It features a fireplace, oak plank floors, Gothic-style arches, and a vaulted ceiling ornamented with corbels formerly in their home. Visitors are welcome to study at an Elizabethan table or enjoy the many fine paintings, sculptures, and furnishings.
The Post Library houses a non-circulating reference collection. Although this restriction may be an inconvenience to some patrons, the books are always available to anyone who wishes to do research. Library materials may be photocopied. A small portion of the collection comprises rare books owned by Dr. & Mrs. Post. The other books have been purchased since the library opened. In addition, the library subscribes to about thirty art-related periodicals.
The Post collection concentrates on the history of art rather than on techniques for creating art. It covers all the visual media, such as painting, drawing, stained glass, print-making, and sculpture. It also encompasses related fields--gardening, calligraphy, antiques and archaeology. The photography section is especially popular with the library's patrons.
Other areas of
special
interest
are architecture, historic preservation, and Joplin's historic
buildings.
Library director Leslie Simpson has written several articles, books,
and
documentaries on Joplin's history and its buildings. One of
these, Lincoln
Logs to Lego Blocks: How Joplin Was Built, is an architectural
survey of Joplin published by the Post Foundation and available at the
library for $2.00. Two other books on Joplin's history, Joplin
Keepsake Album and Joplin Souvenir Album, published by
Bradley
Publishing (http://gbradleypublishing.com/joplin.html)
may be purchased at First State Bank.
Patrons are free to browse the open shelves of the Post Library. However, due to a shortage of shelf space, many books have been placed in storage. Upon request, library staff will gladly retrieve stored materials. The Post collection is indexed in a card catalog located in the Post Library as well as in the Joplin Public Library's online computer catalog.
Although books cannot be checked
out, by
special
arrangement the audiovisual materials may be borrowed . The library
possesses
a few art-related videos as well as a large collection of mounted art
reproductions.
NEWS
The Post Library recognizes area artists by providing a small display area featuring monthly exhibits of works by different artists.
MONTHLY EXHIBITS
July 2004: The exotic art of Ken Southwick, Carthage, Missouri.
June 2004: Local artist Bill Meeker’s abstract works stippled in permanent and watercolor markers, inspired by the seven chakras of tantric yoga.
May 2004: The Post Library celebrates National Historic Preservation Week by kicking off a month-long exhibit featuring one of Joplin’s oldest businesses, the Osborn Paper Company.
April 2004: Paintings by Randy King.
March 2004: Oil Paintings and Etchings by Kyle McKenzie, Missouri Southern State University student.
February 2004: Skip Smith Graphic Art. In celebration of Black History Month, this month's exhibit features the exquisitely-detailed pastel and graphite work of Skip Smith of Parsons, Kansas.
September 2003: Paintings by Jacqueline Golden, Associate Professor of Art at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
August 2003: The Works of Skip Smith, artist, Parsons, Kansas, featuring drawings, prints, and paintings.
July 2003: Chad Stangl Sculptures, Missouri Southern State University graduate who is continuing his art education at the University of Illinois-Urbana.
June 2003: Denver
Gargoyles Photographs, by Samantha Warhol.
May 2003: Pottery
by Jo Mueller, Joplin artist Jo Mueller's
stoneware and porcelain work.
April 2003: Gerald
Johnson. Joplin native Gerald Johnson's pieces include a
corrugated cardboard construction, enamel on plexiglass works, and
paintings
on canvas.
March 2003: Kim Kissel Pottery. Joplin artist Kim Kissel's stoneware and porcelain pottery.
February 2003: Jane Kleindl Tribute to the Poems of Langston Hughes. Joplin artist Jane Kleindl's exhibit features artwork inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes.
January 2003: Scott Ogle Exhibit: Hand-Forged Iron Art. Scott Ogle of Carthage is an artist who works in an unusual medium--iron. Using a hammer and anvil, he creates unique pieces of metal art inspired by the beauty of nature. The display features decorative items (delicate cattails in a vase, a crucifix) as well as functional objects (curtain tie-backs, towel holder, fence panel, vase, light fixture, door hardware).
December
2002: "Dolly
Has an Old-Fashioned Christmas." Come see Dawn Brady's collection
of
antique German bisque dolls as they prepare to celebrate
Christmas.
In addition to the dolls, the exhibit also includes Ms. Brady's
hand-made
scherenschnitte works. (Scherenschnitte is a traditional German
folk
art involving intricately-cut paper designs.)
The Post Library will be decorated with the antique
Christmas ornaments that the Post family once used to decorate
their
home.
November 2002: Jim Mueller Retrospective, featuring nature photography by the late Joplin environmentalist, activist, and photographer.
October 2002: Collaborative works by Sam Lewis (potter) and Jaff Seijas (painter). Traditional as well as unconventional pottery shapes, with brightly-colored applied decorations in low-fire glazes.
September 2002: "Back to the Beginning Exhibit": David Winward's recent abstract paintings on burlap hearken back to his youth, when he painted using found materials--coal, lime, tar, berries, walnut hull juice to paint on scraps of burlap.
August 2002: Art Exhibit: African-American themes flavor the paintings of Parsons, Kansas artist Skip Smith.
July 2002: Art Exhibit: Paintings and mixed-media by Joplin artist Jane Kleindl.
June 2002: Folk Art Exhibit: Joyce Turner creates unique sculpture using found objects--wooden spindles and architectural fragments, wire and metal pieces, old lamp parts, jewelry, etc. The whimsical creations take such human shapes as angels, snow men, even Santas.
300 Main Street
Joplin, MO 64801
417-782-7678
Leslie
Simpson, Director
Email: lsimpson@postlibrary.org
Hours Open
Monday & Thursday 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Closed Sundays and Holidays