Reuben T. Durrett

Reuben T. Durrett
Reuben T. Durrett in 1895
Born	Reuben Thomas Durrett (1824-01-22)January 22, 1824 Henry County, Kentucky
Died	September 16, 1913(1913-09-16) (aged 89)
Resting place	Louisville, Kentucky
Residence	Louisville, Kentucky
Nationality	American
Other names	Col. Reuben T. Durrett
Education	Georgetown College Brown University University of Louisville
Occupation	Lawyer
Known for	founder of the Louisville Public Library Main organizer of Filson Historical Society
Parent(s)	William Durrett Elizabeth Rawlings Durrett
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Reuben Thomas Durrett (January 22, 1824 – September 16, 1913) was a lawyer, jurist, linguist, poet, editor, journalist, history writer, and Kentucky bibliographer. He was a founder of the Louisville Free Public Library.

Durrett was born 22 January 1824 in Henry County, Kentucky. Durrett's primary schooling as a boy was in Henry County. After graduating from high school, from 1844 until 1846, he attended Georgetown College some 50 miles away in Georgetown, Kentucky. Durrett then attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He earned a Bachelor's degree in 1849.

Durrett went then to the University of Louisville and took up courses in law. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in one year (1850), which was normally a two-year course of study. Durrett received an honorary Master's degree in 1853 from Brown University. In time he received from the three colleges he attended the Doctor of law honorary degree.

Durrett then practiced law in Louisville for almost thirty years after receiving his law degree. During his law career he served one term on the Louisville City Council and in 1852 campaigned for Winfield Scott for president. In 1861 he spent a short time in prison for his views on secession. During the time he was a lawyer he obtained a half interest in The Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville and was its editor.

Durrett was an avid collector of historical material, especially pertaining to Kentucky. He had an extensive library. In 1871 several citizens of Louisville were considering creating a local library. Some citizens thought a circulating library with an annual fee was a route to go. Durrett did a study on why libraries that charged for the use of books failed eventually. He had the viewpoint that books should be made available free to use by anyone. He drew up a library charter and created "The Public Library of Kentucky". He was the library's first president. Eventually this became the Louisville Free Public Library and it inherited Durrett's historical collection of rare books and historical material as its core collection.