Introducing A New Addition to the Piqua Public Library Family
We’d like to introduce you to a new member of the Piqua Public Library family! This lovely wooden horse will be on display with our holiday decorations, “Christmas Creatures from Around the World.”
Piqua Postcard Puzzles
Every Thursday we’re sharing a historical postcard from Piqua’s past. Using Jigsaw Explorer, we’ve created digital puzzles out of these postcards. Check them out and enjoy them for your Throwback Thursday!
Book Life: Cookbooks I Wish Someone Would Write (Based On TV Shows)
Guest Blog Post by Courtney Denning
I love a well-written, well-photographed cookbook. If it is a little quirky and based on a beloved television show or character, all the better.
Piqua Public Library Holiday Display 2020 "The Nutcracker"
A Time to Pause, Reflect, and Process
From Pincushions to Piqua: The Story of The Wilson Family Steiff Collection
Mrs. Jean Wilson Reed passed away on January 2, 2021, at the age of 92. She was a dedicated volunteer in our community. This story is in memory of her and begins by donating her collection of Steiff toys to the Piqua Public Library. The tale includes the history of the Steiff toy company and a little bit of Piqua’s history.
The Randolph Freedpeople
In the late spring of 1833, 400 people were freed from slavery, but only in writing. The former slaves of John Randolph would have to wait thirteen years for their freedom. Randolph, of the Roanoke Plantation in Virginia, freed his slaves in his will. His family contested his will and fought for over a decade to keep the former slaves as their property.
Podcasts for Black History Month
We have a collection of podcasts for you that explore Black history, Black leaders, the Civil Rights movement, and much more. Learning about our past can help us to understand the present better.
Early Black Communities in Southwest Ohio
There were many Black communities in Southwest Ohio in the 1800s. Some are where the Randolph Freedpeople settled after their land in Mercer County was stolen. Others were communities of free Black Americans. Unfortunately, few of these villages survive today. Some became part of larger towns. Most disappeared as their residents moved away.
Phenomenal Piqua Ladies
Many of Piqua's early social services and reform movements were started by women. Women established Piqua's first community organization, the Piqua Female Bible Society. Local reform movements, such as the Temperance movement, adult education, and community-wide welfare, all began because of women who demanded a better life for their neighbors and community.
