Reuben T. Durrett

Reuben Thomas Durrett (January 22, 1824 – September 16, 1913) was a lawyer, jurist, linguist, poet, editor, journalist, history writer, and Kentucky bibliographer. In 1871, Durrett founded the failed The Public Library of Kentucky.

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. Also included was an important and large collection of rare books and periodicals. The collection is organized and divided into a dozen groups from "Pictures, Maps, and Sketches" to historical manuscripts and personal papers.

Durrett's Filson Club has changed its name to the Filson Historical Society and is now located in the Old Louisville neighborhood. The Filson Historical Society has a research facilities which includes a manuscript collection as well as a library that includes rare books, periodicals, maps, and other published materials. The Filson also maintains a small museum.

Selected publications Night Scene at Drennon Springs (1850) Thoughts Over the Grave of Rev. Thomas Smith (1852) Old Year and New in the Coliseum at Rome (1856) John Filson, the First Historian of Kentucky (1884) The [Kentucky] Resolutions of 1798 and 1799 (1886) An Historical Sketch of St. Paul's Church, Louisville, Ky (1889) The Centenary of Kentucky (1892) The centenary of Louisville (1893) Public Library Paper: Supplement (1893) The Romance of the Origin of Louisville (1894) Boonesborough. Its Founding, Pioneer Struggles, Indian Experiences, Transylvania Days, and Revolutionary Annals (1901) Introduction to The Battle of New Orleans; Including the Previous Engagements Between the Americans and the British, the Indians, and the Spanish, which Led to the Final Conflict on the 8th of January, 1815 by Z. F. Smith (1904) The Quest for a Lost Race (1907) Traditions of the Earliest Visits of Foreigners to North America, the First Formed and First Inhabited of the Continents (1908)