| David Watkinson frequently updated his will with codicils—sixteen in all—that "reflected an affectionate concern not only for his family and friends but also for the welfare of the community where he had lived all of his adult life." ((Clarke, p. 7)) In Codicil No. 11, Watkinson directed that there be “a library of Reference, to be accessible at all reasonable hours and times to all citizens and other residents and visitors in the State of Connecticut.” ((Clarke, pp. 12-13)) To establish this library, Watkinson willed $100,000 to nine trustees (or those remaining alive at his decease) for general endowment of the library. Of this, an amount totaling $78,000 was set aside as principal for a Library Fund, from which only income could be disbursed. The remainder was to be utilized by a board of trustees to house books, preferably in a “convenient connexion” with the Connecticut Historical Society and to hire a librarian who would select, maintain, and make available books, maps, and other library resources for non-circulating use by the general public. | David Watkinson frequently updated his will with codicils—sixteen in all—that "reflected an affectionate concern not only for his family and friends but also for the welfare of the community where he had lived all of his adult life." ((Clarke, p. 7)) In Codicil No. 11, Watkinson directed that there be “a library of Reference, to be accessible at all reasonable hours and times to all citizens and other residents and visitors in the State of Connecticut.” ((Clarke, pp. 12-13)) To establish this library, Watkinson willed $100,000 to nine trustees (or those remaining alive at his decease) for general endowment of the library. Of this, an amount totaling $78,000 was set aside as principal for a Library Fund, from which only income could be disbursed. The remainder was to be utilized by a board of trustees to house books, preferably in a “convenient connexion” with the Connecticut Historical Society and to hire a librarian who would select, maintain, and make available books, maps, and other library resources for non-circulating use by the general public. |
| David Watkinson was also an incorporator and charter [[trustees|trustee]] of [[washington_college|Washington College]] (now Trinity); the Watkinson Library has been a presence in the lives of the students and faculty of Trinity College from the beginning. At the opening of its doors to patrons in August 1866, the Watkinson Library was pronounced as “the pride and honor and ornament of our city” of Hartford. ((Clarke, p. 25)) Between 1949 and 1951, Trinity College offered to permanently house the Watkinson Library on its campus in a new library building to be constructed, and in 1952, the Watkinson became a part of the Trinity College library system. A unique feature of this union is that by charter, the Watkinson Library maintains a distinct identity as a separate, non-circulating collection available to the needs of all researchers, not just those in the Trinity College community. | David Watkinson was also an incorporator and charter [[trustees|trustee]] of [[washington_college|Washington College]] (now Trinity); the Watkinson Library has been a presence in the lives of the students and faculty of Trinity College from the beginning. At the opening of its doors to patrons in August 1866, the Watkinson Library was pronounced as “the pride and honor and ornament of our city” of Hartford. ((Clarke, p. 25)) Between 1949 and 1951, Trinity College offered to permanently house the Watkinson Library on its campus in a new library building to be constructed, and in 1952, the Watkinson became a part of the Trinity College library system. A unique feature of this union is that by charter, the Watkinson Library maintains a distinct identity as a separate, non-circulating collection available to the needs of all researchers, not just those in the Trinity College community. |
