Tomb of Tutankhamun
The discovery and opening of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun spurred a wide-spread Egyptomania that Springfieldians were not immune to. The opening of the inner chamber of King Tut’s tomb on February 16, 1923, took the mania to the public library, which was stripped of all books Egyptian.
Ghost of King Tut Inspires Readers at Public Library
Springfield Leader, February 23, 1923
"Old King Tutankhaman [sic] may not have conquered Ancient Africa, and all of Europe, as did Alexander or Napoleon, but, despite all that, his fame today is as far-reaching as that of the famous conquerors.
"The ceremonies of his exhumation are more widely broadcast than his inhumation could have been. Then his body had been mummified and buried before the uttermost part of his empire knew of his demise. Today, an army of reporters keep the world informed of the smallest motion of the men in charge of his resurrection.
"The daily news of King Tut’s movements have stimulated popular curiosity and the barometer of interest is the public library.
"Many and numerous are the inquiries that have been received at the library during the last two weeks for reference books [and] histories of the ancient Egyptians. The library is practically 'cleaned out.' All books on ancient Egypt, including the customs, theories, activities, religions and all other phases of life in the ancient country of pyramid builders are wanted by the readers who visit the library.
"The demand for works on ancient Egypt has been greater than any similar united request in the history of the library.
"'We have several reference books and works on the life of the ancient Egyptians, but practically all have been borrowed,' Miss Harriet Horine, librarian, said today. 'We are searching through the store rooms for books that are seldom sought and a majority of the books on the subject we find there are borrowed as rapidly as they are placed on the shelves.'"
The library continues to carry many titles related to King Tut and Egypt in our catalog.
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