John W. Cook, class of 1889

This is a photograph of John Welsey Cook, an alumnus of the School for Christian Workers (now known as Springfield College), Class of 1889, seated in a chair.John Welsey Cook helped gather the funds that began the first library at Springfield College. Cook began his career in the YMCA in 1887, when he was hired as the General Secretary at the Armory Hill YMCA branch in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from the YMCA Training School in 1889, Cook held the position of Assistant State Secretary for Massachusetts and Rhode Island from 1890 to 1891. From 1892 to 1893, he was the YMCA State Secretary of Connecticut, and from 1894 to 1901, he served as the General Secretary at the facility in Bridgeport, Conn. From 1902 to 1907, Cook was the YMCA State Secretary of New York. From 1909 until his retirement on June 1, 1924, he served as General Secretary to the YMCA facility in Brooklyn, New York. He died November 2, 1948.In the verso of the photograph a caption reads "John W. Cook Gen. Sec. Brooklyn YMCA Close friend of Dr. Doggett MV20M"; An older version of the history of Babson Library on the college's website, says, "The history of the library goes back to the late 1800s, when Jacob T. Bowne donated to the young Springfield College a personal library of books related to YMCA history. One of Bowne's students, John W. Cook began the campaign to create a true library for the College. His colleague, Charles Marsh promised Cook $38,000 if other donors would provide the remaining $25,000 needed."; The physical photograph has a border that is not captured in this digital image; The physical photograph has water damage on the border and some border missing on the lower left hand side