Late librarian continues to tell stories through new Hall of History

One former Lebanon-Laclede County librarian will continue to tell the community its stories through a series of new historical displays.
The Lebanon-Laclede County Library dedicated its new Hall of History to late librarian Virgilee Lefevre Clamme Tuesday evening. Family, library staff and Board of Trustee members, members of the county’s original historical society and others were present for the dedication.
Board President Mark Campbell opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for helping them honor the dedication. He explained that a few months ago Virgilee’s son, Jeff Clamme, had donated funds so that the library could build the Hall of History in his mother’s honor.
“Again, I do want to thank Jeff,” Campbell said. “The gift he made was significant. The library needs those gifts.”
Campbell recognized Virgilee Clamme’s decade of service to the library, noting that she always treated him kindly when he came in as a patron. Board member and Rotarian Bob Scoby later recognized her significance to the Rotary Club as a non-member.
After giving his remarks, Campbell introduced Mark Spangler, a volunteer and former library museum manager who Campbell noted spent significant time putting the new displays together. Spangler educated the audience about the journey the displays’ artifacts took to end up where they are today.
Spangler said some of the artifacts came from the original Laclede County Historical Society’s collection. Originally using the old county jail as their headquarters, the Society began assembling their collection to better preserve the community’s history.
When the group later moved to the Ploger-Moneymaker Place, Spangler said the Society took on that building’s artifact collection as well. After eight years of renovating the Place, fundraising, finances, and membership began to falter for the Society.
By that time, Spangler was working at the library and thought that it would be a good place to preserve local history.
“We didn’t want to see our Laclede County things leave, and the library was clearly the best option in town as an exit strategy,” said Spangler. He described the plan to transfer the collection as an easy sell, and thus the Society’s collection had a new home by the time the group dissolved in 2016.
The display of the collection is an evolving, important project for the library, Spangler said. Money from the Society’s divestment, which was minimal, had originally gone to library infrastructure, so Jeff Clamme’s donation provided the hoped-for opportunity to display more of the collection.
Spangler explained that there were displays on previously not-showcased library historical artifacts as well as Laclede County artifacts – including pieces of the old jail -- a rotating case currently containing notable signage, and the county’s history with magnetic water.

Some items can be rotated out, Spangler, said, but the library display will be permanent. He said these displays were just the start.
While Spangler went to remove the boards covering the displays, Assistant Library Director Erica Semsch spoke on how the displays honored Clamme’s legacy as a librarian. Semsch worked with Clamme from 2007 to 2017, saying that Clamme did not know a stranger during her service to the community.
Among Clamme’s many loves – God, family, friends, music, art, books, animals, vacations and the beach – Semsch said the former librarian loved the library and telling stories. The assistant director said the new displays held pieces of Laclede County’s stories that have led the community to where it is today.
“These displays hold my story, and your stories,” Semsch said, “and the patrons who come in daily, seeking help, a book or a sense of community, their stories are in there too.”
Clamme, she said, would continue to guide patrons through the Hall of History dedicated in her name, sharing memories and shining spotlights on stories waiting to be heard.
Semsch expressed her thanks to Jeff Clamme for his donation and trust, Library Director Tina Chaney, the Library Board, the original Historical Society members, Spangler, and those in attendance.
“To everyone here, enjoy the Lebanon and Laclede County stories told through Virgilee Clamme’s Hall of History,” Semsch said. “Please help me first welcome, though, Virgilee’s daughter and son to say a few words.”
Amy Clamme Nevad first thanked Semsch and Spangler for helping to bring her brother Jeff’s vision to life.
To speak to the value of what the dedication meant to Virgilee Clamme and her family, Clamme Nevad played on her mother’s love of poetry to read a self-authored poem. In the poem, Clamme’s daughter recited how her mother now lived on in what she had considered her second home.
Rollin Clamme had chosen some of his mother’s own poems to read and recited “Keep Me Humble,” one on friendship, and one on love.
“No matter how far or near the miles may be/ your lives are still deep and stern to me. So on this day/ my love is expressed/ I want you to know/ you have mine at its best,” he recited. “Happy day.”
After the ceremony ended, audience members visited the uncovered displays and mingled.